Global communities: Emerging Technologies in the Apparel Industry

GLOBAL COMMUNITIES:
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN THE APPAREL INDUSTRY


Laura Nugent










Fordham University
CTGE 6265
Prof. K.P. King Ed. D







GLOBAL COMMUNITIES:
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN THE APPAREL INDUSTRY.


Just like technology is transforming education so is technology transforming the apparel

industry and all the workers involved. The research that I did for this essay was on the specific

High- tech companies around the globe that are developing new and emerging technologies

for the apparel industry. In my findings, I discovered that South Korea is one of the leaders in

advanced technology possibly because the government offers funding for research and

collaborates with academia to form a new fashion paradigm that serves the consumer.

I chose a few of the many technologies that companies have and I retrieved images that represent

the uses of the software. Since the introduction of the World-Wide-Web in 1995, many

software’s were developed for web-based collaboration. The web gave apparel companies great

connectivity between design, sourcing, manufacturing and merchandising. Today the entire cycle

of product development is a global community in itself. Technology has been growing by leaps

and bounds in the apparel industry from simulated software to digital color matching to avatar

creation for fitting garments and 3D draping. After video and simulation advances, new industry

software’s surfaced for digital imaging, 2D-3D pattern visualization, avatar development for

mobile phones and e-fit and design simulations for runway presentations. Some examples follow.

.


WEB-BASED COLLABORATION

Assyst/Bullmer Technology: The figure below is from Assyst/Bullmer, a German technology

company, 2007. It illustrates the Product Lifecycle Management software solutions of an

apparel company. It is a collaboration of many processes from the planning stages to the final

collection presentation.






Product Data Management/Product Life Cycle Management software solutions




DIGITAL IMAGING

Audaces Technology, Brazil 2007: Developed a way to capture the image of several patterns on

a camera and then download them input them into a computer all at once. Digitizing patterns one

at a time on an electronic table was the usual method for inputting a pattern into the computer.

Now with this latest software, one shot of several pieces with a digital camera makes the task

faster and stills maintains accuracy. see the picture below.


Computer Input



2D-3D PATTERN VISUALIZATION

Gerber Technology, USA, 20078 developed 2D-3D pattern visualization for customized garment

fitting and draping. See the images below.

The top illustrations show a 2D pattern being fitted to an avatar.

The bottom illustration shows how a 2D garment would look draped on figure.





These are avatars that simulate a figure on a fashion runway.




AVATAR SIMULATION

SK C&C Technology, Dr. Jae-Hyun Chung Seoul, Korea 2007 developed the Ubiquitous

Fashion System (u-Fashion) .Trying on a garment through your internet browser and also your

mobile phone. Prof. Chang comments that in the future you will be able to shop online, through

mobile devices and TV, see the figures below.



.
Internet browser





Mobile Phone



There is a tend toward “Mass Customization”meaning that you may be able to purchase tailor-

made clothes in a virtual way (like ‘cut to order’). You can have an avatar created from your

body scan then clothing can be draped on the avatar.





E-FIT AND DESIGN PRESENTATIONS

Tukatech Technology, Ram Sareem, 1997 developed technology that can eliminate the need for

making a sample. Buyers would purchase garments by looking at a design on a 3-D model. It’s

Designing a garment without making a sample. Their E-Fit Simulator software provides the

ability to view a model in a draped garment in 3D and simulate movement for fit and

comfort. An entire line of clothing for a store can be designed and approved electronically

without costly samples being made. See an example of a designed garment.



E-fit and Design presentation



To give a brief history of computers in the garment industry. The first computerized piece of

equipment for the apparel industry was created by aeronautical engineers from Gerber Scientific

Corporation in 1975. It was a huge computerized cutter that was automated to lay up several

layers of fabric that was to be cut into garments for production sewing at a manufacturing plant.

That computerized cutter which spearheaded technology in the apparel industry is on permanent

exhibit in the Smithsonian. The next technology the aeronautical engineers developed for the

apparel industry was CAM Computer Aided Manufacturing. Grading and marker-making

became automated. Almost every large apparel manufacturers saw the great advantage in saving

time and money invested in the new technology. Then about 1990, along came the entire CAD

Computer Aided Design programs. These programs were much more difficult to learn and

manufacturers were slow to adopt them because their personnel were not receptive to learning

the computerized methods for the job they had mastered so well throughout their professional

careers. In addition to that they were digital immigrants.


How do people learn these new technologies? Not too easily because these software’s are not

“over the counter” purchases. Manufacturer’s send out a few employees to learn systems and

often they appoint an employee to be an “in-house” trainer. So these technologies can be learned

over a period of time and they are adapting it to real-life situations. Many hi-tech technology

companies donate systems and software to colleges or adult education centers where they could

reach the young learners, the future workforce. The “digital natives” have an advantage here

because these technologies are second nature to them and they are readily hired if they have

these skills. There are some employment agencies that offer computer training

seminars because they were getting requests for employment but they didn’t have a bank to

skilled people to fill the positions.


How do companies afford the equipment? Much of the equipment is leased with an option to

buy because the cost for a work station setup could be $3,000.-$20,000.



Technology is continually transforms the apparel industry faster than most people can keep up

with it. Just like in education, there needs to be ongoing training. Adult Education Professional

Studies seminars are the best way to keep up with new and emerging technologies.

Some CAD programs are quite complicated and they require a few years to learn.

The learning and adaptation of new and emerging technologies in the apparel industry aids

globalization which brings economic development to third world countries. It helps in the

distribution of world wealth.



References

Audaces Technology, USA, 2007

Gerber Technology, USA, 2007

Assyst/Bullmer, Germany, 2007

Tukatech, Korea, 2008

SK C&C, Korea , 2008