[TC]² Technology Communicator
Intro to Apparel Manufacturing
June 7-11, 2010
Still Accepting Registrations!
Get up-to-speed quickly on the entire apparel manufacturing process. This is your opportunity to participate in one of our signature courses. It provides a great overview of the manufacturing process, its techniques, its systems, and its business strategies. Guaranteed to energize, motivate, and educate, this is one class you won't want to miss.
SEMINAR HIGHLIGHTS:
• Learn textile fundamentals to help build a foundation for successful apparel manufacturing • Improve your understanding of the integral components of apparel manufacturing and its support systems • Receive an overview of the various technologies utilized in the apparel industry • Increase your awareness of the key apparel terms and concepts • Understand the various apparel manufacturing systems and business strategies |
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Program designed for Customer/Vendor Partnership Teams, Quality Assurance Specialists, Engineering Trainees, Management Trainees, Retail Managers, and Production Planners.
For additional information or to register, call Debra Gill at 919.653.3501, or use our contact form.
Apparel Sourcing Show 2010
Guatemala City, Guatemala, Central America
March 23 - 25, 2010
By Arturo Rodriguez, [TC]² Industry Services for Latin America
Vestex is on its 19th edition as Central America’s premier textile / apparel trade show. With over 100 US brands visiting the 3 day event, the 2010 APSS show was a success.
As part of their academic program, Mike Fralix and I were invited to give presentations to the audiences. Mike discussed how to help organizations open their minds to different ways of thinking about the services that they provide…called “Providing Service in a Global Supply Chain.” I presented the Human Side of Lean, in an hour presentation called “Lean Practices in Product Development and Manufacturing.” To an audience of some 30 attendees, I presented case studies of Lean implementations that we have done in Bolivia, Colombia and Honduras where the main factors have been the element of employee involvement (after the proper introduction and training).
During the 2010 event, Vestex put on a first-class CAFTA-DR Leader’s Forum on the second day. During this almost 4 hour session, some 13 textile / apparel experts from Colombia, Guatemala, Nicaragua and the US presented on topics ranging from the economic impact of gloomy 2009, the US Trade policy on CAFTA to Moving Forward through Innovation. Some points made included:
• The US market encompasses 22% of the world apparel market and that in 2009, the CAFTA region was its second largest supplier.
• Raising prices to the US consumer is not an option.
• CAFTA should be a trade priority.
• Success stories in the CAFTA region need a story teller.
• If I could get the same service level in CAFTA as in the Far East, it would be unwise for me to sit in an airplane 27 hours vs. some 3 hours it takes to land in the Aurora airport in Guatemala.
• “Do your internal homework, reconnect with your customers and recognize that product development is essential,” a comment from Carlos Arias from Denimatrix.
At the inaugural breakfast on March 23rd, ex-Guatemalan President, Alvaro Arzu mentioned that in his recent book “Hecho en Guatemala”
(Made in Guatemala) he states that Guatemalans have a conquered the risk semblance – meaning due to their resilience to adverse conditions they are ready to succeed in any condition.
Deborah Belguim, Senior Editor at California Apparel News, comments in her April 2nd editorial entitled Apparel Producers in Guatemala Getting Back on Track - “With more than 90 percent of its apparel exports going to the United States, Guatemala was hard hit by the U.S. economic recession. After consumers curtailed spending, the Central American country’s apparel exports to the United States declined 21 percent to $1.1 billion in 2009."
Times have changed. Textile mills are booked up to at least May or June 2011, and apparel manufacturers are breathing a sigh of relief. “Better winds are blowing this year,” said Carlos Amador, President of Agexport, the Guatemalan Association of Exporters.
[TC]² Activity
Cool Zone Demonstration
SPESA EXPO
May 18-20, 2010 – Georgia World Congress Center
By Karen Davis, [TC]²
[TC]² presented an all-new COOL ZONE v2.0 exhibit which highlighted current and future technologies that support a totally digital supply chain for the fashion industry. In addition to [TC]² 3D body scanning, avatar creation, virtual dressing, and the SizeUSA sizing study, participants included:
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Advanced Innovative Technologies – provided a rotary heat transfer machine for the digital printing demonstration
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American & Efird - threads used to assemble all digitally printed products
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Carr Textile – fabric used for tote bag assembly
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Gerber Technology ContourVision - integrated vision technology with DCS3600 cutting system and V-Stitcher 3D design and visualization software
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Human Solutions - iSize global fit and size charts and Vidya by Assyst rapid pattern prototyping
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Juki – safety stitch and lock stitch sewing machines used in tote bag demonstration
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Lawson – enterprise software solutions
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Lea and Sachs – webbing for tote bag production
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Lectra - 3D shoe technical data management for footwear and 3D fit software products
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OptiTex Try-On - online 3D collection modeling and “in action” with the 3D Runway Designer
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PAD System PAD Elite - on-screen digitizing, pattern design, and auto-marker generation
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Schmetz – sewing needles
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TradeCard and Avery Dennison – factory floor automation showcase
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Tukatech – virtual try-on technology including
[TC]² gratefully acknowledges the above partners who helped make the Cool Zone an exciting destination for Expo attendees. Some images from the Cool Zone follow.
In addition to the Cool Zone exhibit, [TC]² staff moderated panels or presented educational programs on a wide variety of topics during SPESA Expo. Seminars were well-attended, and many participants enjoyed thought-provoking sessions from a variety of speakers. [TC]² thanks the many colleagues who took time to prepare and present educational offerings.
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| The scanner goes up at the Georgia World Congress Center | Doris Holt of [TC]² with digitally printed totes |
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| The Gerber DCS 3600 cutter is showcased | [TC]² features a Full Package Center Model |
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| NX-16 3D body scanning, avatar creation, animation and virtual fashion demonstrations brought many visitors | On-site tote bag production attracted show attendees |
Member Profile - Optitex
By Karen Davis, [TC]²
OptiTex develops innovative, user-friendly 2D and 3D CAD solutions for all cut-fabric and fashion-related industries. OptiTex's solutions are designed to facilitate collaboration among partners throughout the manufacturing process. The company is also active in e-commerce, providing online sales tools to promote branding and customer loyalty.
OptiTex’s latest application, OptiTex 3D Virtual Clothing, allows retailers and online shopping sites to model their fashion online with a full 3D catalog that allows to visualize the full garment collection on a 3D model. The try it on demo was created for customers to visualize what they can do with their own clothing lines.
OptiTex’s 3D Runway Designer 10 has new customizable features and options, allowing designers the freedom to change textures, materials, colors and stitches or add logos on screen without using a single piece of fabric. The garment can then be seen “in action” on OptiTex's dynamic 3D models, all of which are fully adjustable to reflect any body-type. 3D Runway Designer software promotes international collaboration in the fashion world by providing a program in diverse languages.
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OptiTex’s on-screen environment is customizable to enhance the designer’s creative process. The accuracy of the images eliminates material, energy and time waste, providing rapid ROI as well as an environmentally friendly application. Valuable additions to the OptiTex software also come in the form of new, versatile avatars geared towards the male fashion market. The Adam and Tim avatars provide clothing designers with a significant advantage by enabling a garment to be reviewed, refined and measured before the first piece is ever cut. Designers can now stage a virtual fashion show for potential investors, without having to create samples of the actual line, saving significant upfront costs.
[TC]² gratefully acknowledges sponsorship by OptiTex of the Cool Zone at SPESA Expo 2010.
Important Dates
June
7-11 |
Intro to Apparel Manufacturing seminar at [TC]². Click here for details. |
For detailed information about industry events, visit www.techexchange.com
Thanks to the techexchange site sponsors
Apparel Magazine, Gerber Technology, Lawson, Lectra, Methods Workshop and Reach Technologies.
A Look Ahead in the Newsletter
SPESA Expo Review
View previous editions of this newsletter
[TC]²
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