Industry Notes - November 2004
Bodyscanning Momentum Builds Bodyscanning has been in the spotlight and proven successful for several firms that are employing the technology in different ways, and interest in the technology is gaining momentum. . Intellifit, which offers a scanner and related software, was featured on NBC's "Jane Pauley Show" in early September. Then in early October at an AAFA- and NRF-produced sizing seminar, "response to Intellifit was amazing" among the more than 130 brands and retailers in attendance, says Edward Gribbin, president and COO. Intellifit's client base has grown to include After Hours Formal Wear, Charming Shoppes Inc., David's Bridal, Federated Department Stores, Li & Fung and VF Corp. Charming Shoppes' Catherines plus-sized women's clothing chain conducted a national study this year in conjunction with Intellifit to help it develop fit specifications and grade rules based on real consumer measurements. One of Intellifit's scanners went "on tour" across the nation to Catherines' stores. . BenchMark Clothiers' has been contracted to provide 12 of its 3-D body scanners to swimwear maker Lori Coulter LLC, which will use the technology to launch its TrueMeasure swimwear collection. BenchMark has partnered with [TC]2 on the development of its scanners. . Both [TC]2 and BenchMark showed their scanner technology at the most recent MAGIC show, where BenchMark's senior vice president Mike Hulsey says "a great amount of interest [was] generated." For more information: Intellifit, 215-242-5911, [email protected]; BenchMark, 501-827-4848, mhuls[email protected]; [TC]2, 919-380-2174, [email protected]
- Kathleen DesMarteau
DuPont has announced a joint venture with ingredient converter Tate & Lyle PLC to create products from renewable resources. This partnership will include the commercial development of a new bio-based 1,3 Propanediol (PDO), a key ingredient of Sorona. Sorona, a new polyester introduced last year and that recently has become commercially available, to date has been made of petrochemicals. PDO can be made in a one-step operation by using a specially developed organism to convert corn glucose directly into PDO through a fermentation process. This new process is more environmentally friendly and cost effective, says Carroll, and a new plant to produce bio-based PDO will be up and running in 2006, at which time all Sorona production will be converted to this method. For more information: www.dupont.com/sorona.
- Jordan Speer
Formafit, a business founded by consultant Nancy Johnson of Optimyze and industrial engineer Brett Stern, has patented a process called the Clothing CreatorT for the manufacture of clothing without direct human labor. With the Clothing Creator system, a bolt of fabric would feed onto a 3-D body shape, to which it would be heat molded. Then a garment would be produced as machines worked around the 3-D form to ultrasonically bond and cut the fabric. Formafit, which has tested the different components of the system and is seeking funding to build a prototype, projects the process will take an average of 45 seconds from fabric bolt to finished product. The system could manufacture garments made of primarily synthetic fabrics, as they can be heat molded. "We know this will never replace cutting and sewing . you could never produce a suit using this," says Johnson. Formafit is targeting textile mills, scrubs, hazmat uniform and activewear makers as prospective customers. Designed for a mass production environment, one Clothing Creator system would be the size of a small car. Formafit plans to license its use, with customers' up-front investment between the high $10,000s to low $100,000s, and then payment of royalties per product produced. For more information: 201-888-4122, [email protected], www.formatfit.com.
- Kathleen DesMarteau
Results of a study by Philadelphia University, based on survey responses from more than 40 apparel firms, indicate the role of apparel merchandisers has expanded to include more responsibility for defining the target market and preparing line plan summaries. But at the same time, merchandisers are less often running the show but rather sharing the responsibility when it comes to fashion forecasting and selection of styles for the seasonal lines, according to the study. The university's researchers point to several trends affecting the changing role of the merchandiser, including consolidation and dominance of large companies, which have large staffs sharing responsibilities; group management approaches; and the introduction of new technologies that enable interdisciplinary company staffs to participate in a wide range of activities. The dramatic movement to global outsourcing also may be redefining merchandising responsibilities, the study found. For more information: Professor Jeremy Rosenau, [email protected].
- Kathleen DesMarteau
Supersample Corp., which operates out of a small storefront on 24th Street in Manhattan, has been staying busy with demand for its specialized digital printing services. Last year the company, founded by former rotary screenprinter David Kushner and artist Robert Manning, patented a 24-bit TIFF RGB color management software and process. It uses the system and a 12-color digital inkjet printer to print what it describes as "exact replicas" of computer-generated designs or photographic images on any type of fabric. Supersample is exploring production-level applications for its system, which to date, has been used primarily for printing works of art, costumes and high-end designer goods. The firm charges about $100/yard for its printing services, but Kushner notes that as digital printing machinery and technology evolves, prices will decline dramatically. "Digital printing is what's coming," Kushner told Apparel. "It's going to take over the world." For more information: Supersample, 212-414-1680, supersample.com.
- Kathleen DesMarteau