The body shows through the pants in areas of tight fit In this example, the pants gape at the waist and other areas indicating they are too large.
Example of Pants that are too big A good fit can be seen when the pants fit snugly at the waist and hips and hang softly away from the legs.
Ideal Fitting Pants Future projects are as numerous as they are varied. A virtual fit study will follow the virtual try-on study. Researchers will investigate how well people can determine fit from a 3D virtual image. The study will consist of women from India and the U.S. The participants will examine 3D images previously generated from scans. From these images researchers hope to determine whether scanned images can be used to generate an effective virtual fit experience. Professor Ashdown will soon be collaborating with colleagues from the University of Minnesota, Oklahoma State, and the University of California at Davis in a project funded by the USDA. Researchers will investigate the design of disposable coveralls for the agriculture sector. Sounds simple; not quite, the challenges are numerous. The fabric, being disposable, is not robust, ripping easily. And finding the right fit is not only a comfort issue but a safety one as well. The coveralls need to fit well to protect the wearer against hazards such as asbestos and pesticides, yet baggy enough to allow ease of movement. Adding to the challenge, Ashdown explains, is that agricultural workers come in all shapes and sizes imaginable. Another project in the queue involves the integration of pattern fit and design. Fit can be tweaked by using different pattern designs that are more forgiving as well as materials and design features such as elastic and gussets. Different combinations of pattern design, materials and features will be investigated. This is just a snippet of what Professor Ashdown has up her sleeve. The Department of Textiles and Apparel at Cornell is no doubt a busy and exciting place. For more information, visit www.explore.cornell.edu/bodyscanner.
COLOMBIATEX de las Americas 2006 [TC]² was part of the 18th edition of Colombia’s premier supplier show to the apparel trade, Colombiatex de las Americas. This year INEXMODA, the show organizers, added the words “de las Americas” which means “of the Americas,” and it was truly an international event. We had visitors in our stand from Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru, in addition to the home crowd of Colombia. In its beginnings, this show was only 1,484 sq. meters with 73 exhibitors. This past event for 2006 boasted over 6,500 sq. meters of show space with over 400 exhibitors from Colombia as well as from the US, Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, and Peru. During the 3 days of the exhibition, over 8,500 attendees flocked to the fairgrounds. Pro-Export’s Apparel Manager, Claritza Rojas, announced that $33.1 million in commercial transactions were done, mostly with the US and Venezuela. Some 642 international buyers were present during the event, making this show a “must” on the international agenda. [TC]² thanks the SPESA organization that most graciously shared their booth space. The global environment of the apparel industry certainly has caught on in Colombia. During the show, the main topic was how the FTA negotiations with the US were coming along. You could compare the pace of the negotiations to that of a long distance runner. We all would want the speed of a dasher, but nevertheless, Colombia will arrive at the end of 2006 with an FTA that will permit this thriving Colombian industry to compete for its share of the US market. Colombian apparel is second to none in regard to quality and price, and because of its proximity to the market place, with the correct business practices (such as Lean Manufacturing), it is a powerful contender. Global, in other words China, had its implications in this South American country during Colombiatex 2006. The different sewing and textile chambers of Colombia met with their President on the last day of the show, to demand that he uphold the restrictions that were imposed (in August of 2005) to imports from that country due to their unfair pricing principles. Another characteristic of these times in the land of the emeralds is their President, Alvaro Uribe. This extremely outspoken “paisa” (as people from Medellin are called) has gotten a strong grip on the country’s problems and has a popularity rating of over 70%. A true believer in the FTA initiative of the Americas, President Uribe has seen the benefit of a strong textile / apparel supply chain in Colombia with regard to creating employment for its 40+ million inhabitants, that faced an un-employment rate of 11.7% at the end of 2005. Columbia’s economy is ranked among the top 5 in Latin America. Medellin, called the “silver cup”, is a lovely city nested in between two mountain ranges that stretches in a south-north direction along side the Medellin River. The valley is called Aburra and is home to approximately 3 million “paisas.” Medellin and the surrounding area of the State of Antioquia harbor roughly 50% of the sewing trade in Colombia. In this region, an estimated 100,000 direct operators generate much of Colombia’s $50 million monthly exports to the US. These hard working operators turn out jeans, ladies intimate wear, shirts, men’s suits, fashion wear and also leather goods. During the Colombia visit, [TC]² conducted a two day workshop with 67 participants on Lean Manufacturing for a leather goods manufacturer. The program included several hands on exercises targeted for the 20+ suppliers of the leather company. Lean manufacturing is performance without waste and in an industry where the raw material (leather) is more 60% of the product’s cost, waste is a crucial element in profitability. The Colombian leather industry exported $101.1 million worth of products in 2005 mainly to the US and Venezuela. Lean Manufacturing (or in Spanish MANUFACTURA ESBELTA) is becoming a mainstay in the Colombian sewing trade. With partnership through Grupo Ingenieros XXI, headed by Juan Fernando Vasquez, [TC]² has hosted three lean manufacturing workshops, and other programs are projected for this year through Colombia’s public training institute, SENA. Contemporary Vision
Karla Colletto, educated in New England, gained experience early on by working on custom bridal gowns and sportswear pieces. After enlisting Lisa Rovan as a business partner, the Karla Colletto company quickly focused in on the then-quiet world of swimwear. What was needed was someone who understood how a woman needed to fit in something so revealing and still feel and look great. Karla Colletto took to the task of hand-making individual suits for individual bodies, and it worked. Using unique fabrics, whimsical cut-outs and unexpected details, Karla Colletto carved out an exciting niche in an otherwise mundane market. Stunning, original suits replaced the standard suit made from a traditional mold. Karla Colletto is inspired by technological advances, computer-generated imaging and the endless possibilities of hyper-innovation textiles. Superior synthetic materials are paired with ahead-of-their-time manufacturing techniques. “I’m consistently challenged by technology,” says Karla Colletto. “The fact that I can create a new garment based on recent innovation is truly rewarding.” Luxurious Italian micro-fibers in rich colors and striking patterns are at the heart of each Karla Colletto suit. In-house manufacturing ensures the intricate dressmaker-like quality that lends these pieces their highly-developed sense of style. With a striking yet utterly feminine look, Karla Colletto pieces embody and transcend the quintessential swimsuit. Without a doubt, the woman who chooses a Karla Colletto piece is subject to the personal attention that Karla Colletto is known for and the glamour of the perfect swimsuit. For more information, please visit www.karlacolletto.com. February
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For detailed information about industry events, visit www.techexchange.com Thanks to the techexchange site sponsors Apparel Magazine, Gerber Technology, Intentia, Lectra and Methods Workshop. A Look Ahead in the Newsletter Body Scanning University Research View previous editions of this newsletter [TC]² If you are not on our mailing list and wish to receive this bi-weekly newsletter, via email: If you would prefer not to receive this free bi-weekly newsletter, and wish to be removed from our mailing list:
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Karla Colletto’s name is also her swimline. Not just any swimline – one with unmatched sophistication, style and fit. When Sports Illustrated went looking for swimsuits for their models – they chose more than just one to highlight. What is described as aquatic couture blends traditional tailoring with future-forward fabrics; a look that’s bold and alluring and one-hundred percent couture is what Karla Colletto is all about.
