The apparel industry seems like a natural fit with 3D technology, so why is its adoption so slow?
According to industry insiders that have embraced the technology, it’s a worthwhile investment, but the biggest factors to blame are:
- Experience with the benefits and gains that can be had by implementing 3D applications
- The lack of a skilled workforce
The advantages to using 3D in product development are apparent, explains Eryn Gregory, owner of Ergodesign and specialist in the field of 3D applications, and the practice has been growing in the last 3-5 years:
“The need to deliver fresh product faster and with less impact on the environment has mandated that apparel brands take a serious look at how to satisfy this demand,” she says. “3D processes allow fashion brands in particular to make better decisions, faster and with more confidence along the entire development cycle.”
[Related reading: How Technology is Changing The Future of Fashion]
One obvious 3D application for the apparel industry is that brands can ‘test-market’ styles on their websites, Gregory explains, without significant investment in materials.
“These consumer insights have the ability to impact which garments are adopted in a range and can direct the supply chain to create only what’s ordered while eliminating waste in the process.”
Like many other industries undergoing digital transformation, the need to reskill apparel industry employees is key for the successful adoption of 3D technology — especially since, at its core, the industry has been using much of the same processes for decades:
“The apparel sector has lagged behind its industrial and architectural design peers with the adoption of 3D in large part because of the limitations of life-like, digitally rendered ‘soft’ materials, along with the reluctance of an existing supply chain that has relied on deeply embedded legacy systems and processes.”
Echoing the sentiment is Idy Lee, Senior Vice President at Li & Fung Sourcing, which provides 3D printing services to apparel manufacturers. Businesses that understand 3D’s inherent value in the sector — for initial decision making, product creation, prototyping and line-planning — are increasingly adopting it. But better understanding and reskilling among front-line workers is key to driving transformation:
“With the evolution of the technology, it is important for the workforce to understand the fundamentals in building the foundations of 3D and knowledge of construction in apparel,” says Lee.
Popular athletic brand Under Armour is one company that has successfully embraced 3D technology, using it to cut time and cost with respect to product design and development, and to minimize physical sampling.
And according to UA’s Vice President, Apparel and Accessories Development and Supply Chain Operations Jami Dunbar, it’s a game-changer. “The beautiful thing about it is that there’s a great deal of collaboration across brands. Everyone protects their IP, but we all know working together is the way forward, and the way we’re all going to be able to visualize and make great product.”
[Related reading: How Tech Is Rewriting the Rules of Couture]
