1. Creating Efficiencies in The
Apparel Product Development
Phase With The Use Of Digital
Models: A Design Case Study
Layken Cahall
Apparel Design Major
University of
Delaware
2. Topics Covered
➔ Define Product Development
➔ Apparel Life Cycle
➔ 3D Digital Models for Destination Maternity
● How-to-measure tutorials
● Pattern Design Software
➔ Findings of Research / Goals for Research
3. What is Product Development?
“The strategic, creative, technical, production
and distribution planning of goods that have a
perceived value for a well-defined user group
and designed to reach the marketplace when that
group is ready to buy.”
Garner, Myrna. Keiser, Sandra.Beyond
Design: The synergy of apparel product
development.
4. Apparel Product Devel. Life
Cycle
Sales, Heinritzh. Inside Apparel
Design:An Overview. 30 May,2010.
How Long Until An Idea
Becomes A Finished Product?
➔ Depends on many factors
● size of collection
● how many pieces a designer
/ company wants
➔ Planning begins months to a year
ahead before reaching the consumer
➔ Companies define fit and quality.
This gets carried out to factories
and vendors.
● Fit quality is not
subjective!
5. Research Methods:
➔ Destination Maternity Corporation
● Create supply chain efficiencies to improve
standardization of fit quality
● Pregnant/post-pregnant consumer
➔ Digital Models
● How-To-Measure Tutorial Videos
● Pattern Design Software (PDS)
○ Optitex
6. Addressing Efficiencies: How-To-
Measure Tutorials
➔ Overseas Vendors
➔ Addressing language barriers:
○ pictures and/or videos = the best form of
communication
◆ Words-> short term memory
◆ Pictures ->long term memory = easily
understood
◆ Combining pictures and words can be effective
Parkinson, Mike. The Power of
Visual Communication. 2012
8. Addressing Efficiencies:
Pattern Design Software (PDS)
➔ Types of PDS
● Optitex, Gerber, Lectra
➔ Optitex
● Develops innovative, user friendly 2D and 3D CAD solutions
for all fashion related industries
● Optitex’s solutions are designed to facilitate collaboration
among partners throughout the manufacturing process.
○ Digitizing
○ Plotting
○ 3D
○ Grade
○ Made To Measure
11. Findings
➔ Process of development is much quicker
through the use of pattern design software.
● A few days of developing a single garment in many
colorways vs a month (or longer)
● Optitex cuts cost, time and materials in half for
their customers-> Sustainable!
12. Goals For Future Research
➔ Videos : Create an
easily understood
resource for foreign
vendors
◆ included in PLM
◆ enhance standardized
fit
◆ track the improvement
of fit quality
➔ Pattern Design Software:
Optitex
◆ Demonstrate to DMC
designers the value
of 3D Technology .
◆ Enhance the future
for DMC
○ Standardize fit
quality
○ Reduce discrepencies
○ Reduce Materials
Used
○ Reduce lead times
○ Increase money saved
13. Thank You
➔ University of Delaware Undergraduate Research Program
➔ Assistant Professor Kelly Cobb, Department of Fashion and
Apparel Studies
➔ Destination Maternity Corporation and Optitex
14. Resources
Ahr, Lauren. Optitex Support for stitching. Phone call held July 23, 2014.
Cobb, Kelly. Kowalski, Mari. Ross, Kelli. Meeting to discuss Optitex and upcoming projects. Meeting held July 3, 2014.
Garner, Myrna. Keiser, Sandra. (2008, September). Beyond Design: The synergy of apparel product development. (pg42). July 20, 2014.
Harrop, Mark. Shaw, Julia. (2012, January 19). Optitex and PLM: Solutions That Fit. Retrieved July 8, 2014 from
http://www.optitex.com/en/node/1210?page=1
Jessica. (2011, December 26). Overview of The Apparel Production Process. Retrieved August 3, 2014 from http://cosewn.com/overview-of-the-
apparel-production-process/
Optitex Training: PDS Courses. (n.d.). Retrieved July 7, 2014 from http://www.optitex.com/Help/en/index.php/Training:Main_Menu
Parkinson, Mike. (n.d.). The Power of Visual Communication. Retrieved August 8, 2014 from http://www.billiondollargraphics.com/infographics.html
Shaw, Julia. ( 2012, March 22). A complete Review of 3D. What Has 3d Done and How Far Can It Go? Retrieved July 8, 2014 from
http://www.optitex.com/en/2012_Webinar6_Season3.
Shaw, Julia. ( 2014, Jan 16). Optitex Educational Webinar: Learn Everything There Is To Know About 3D Software Solution. Retrieved July 22, 2014
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhBhl5KR0Ok
University of BedfordShire (2014). How To Cite Computer Programs and Source Code. Retrieved July 14, 2014 from http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/guides/a-
guide-to-referencing/cite_computer_program
(2011). PDS: Optitex. [Computer Program]. Accessed July 2-11, 2014
(2013). iMovie. [Computer Program]. Accessed June 25, 2014
Editor's Notes
http://cosewn.com/overview-of-the-apparel-production-process/ (also refer to pg 42 in prod. devel. text book). When referencing sampling and production, discuss the use of tech packs and PLM. In later slides you will reference that HTM vids and opti stuff gets embedded into the PLM
http://www.billiondollargraphics.com/infographics.html. Dr. Lynell Burmark, Ph.D. Associate at the Thornburg Center for Professional Development.
Begin at 2:04.
during speech, be sure to mention that opti provides a large library of fabrics, but you are also able to customize a library or upload your own specific fabrics (which was what we did: Hochi). The cardigan seen on the screen shot is the flat pattern of what you see on the right. also mention that the pics you are about to show ARE the same cardigan just as a different colorway. BE SURE TO MENTION THAT BUILDING THE PATTERN IS 2D SUITE OF OPTI...STITCHING IS 3D
explain process seen here. go through each pic and mention that avatar can have various poses. BE SURE TO MENTION THAT THIS IS THE 3D SUITE OF OPTITEX
“designers need to get used to this software to the point that they need it”
