The future of fashion is not predetermined, but there are clear disruptive trends that have the potential to reshape the extended value chain sooner, not later. From transparency and trust to the next stage of virtual runways, 2024 promises to have more action than ever, with technology impacting brands, retailers, and stakeholders across the entire scope 1-3 fashion value chain. Let’s dive into what I consider to be some of the most promising areas, where innovation has the biggest potential to unlock tangible transformation. Sustainability Storytelling: Data Democratisation, Transparency and ..read more

A C-Suite Guide to Navigating The New Year’s Digital Threads Fashion moves fast. And thanks to the accelerating effect of technology, this year we’re likely to see it move even faster. Before jumping into my predictions for 2024, though, I want to compare the coming wave of change to the early 90s, when the World Wide Web was invented and then commercialised. Because for people like me, who were well into their careers at that time, the anticipation and uncertainty that’s everywhere at the moment is going to feel very familiar. It goes without saying now, but the internet was a metamorphic m ..read more

Environmental sustainability has become a top priority across industries in today’s rapidly changing world due to climate change. The fashion industry, in particular, faces increasing pressure to adopt eco-friendly practices and reduce its high environmental impact. Combining PLM with sustainability initiatives can help businesses design and understand their impact on the environment in real-time. Key Takeaways: PLM solutions can help fashion businesses adopt eco-friendly practices and reduce their environmental impact. PLM offers a robust solution to track and report sustainability metrics ..read more

Key Takeaways: The footwear and apparel industry is rapidly adopting digital tools to gain or retain a competitive edge. Digital Twins hold great potential for businesses looking to simulate, test, analyze, and optimize their products and processes without relying on physical prototypes. Utilising Digital Twins in product design and development can accelerate the design process, reduce the number of physical prototypes required, and digitally test sustainable materials, processing methods, patterns, and styling details. Incorporating Digital Twins into supply chain management offers unparallel ..read more

Proof of value is an indispensable tool for justifying software implementations, driving continuous improvements, measuring ROI and cultivating a culture of success in the competitive world of fashion and sewn products. Key Takeaways: Proof of value is a robust evaluation process that measures the concrete benefits of implementing a PLM solution, providing data-driven evidence of how a future PLM solution will positively impact your business operations and pave the way for sustainable growth. One of the primary benefits of proof of value lies in its ability to drive continuous improvements wit ..read more

What started as a regular fireside chat with a good friend of mine, Kelly Vero from Nak3d, quickly spiralled from having no fixed agenda to being a lively debate about how digital product creation (DPC) and gaming – a space that Kelly has been involved in for 30+ years – are on a collision course. We discussed what’s been driving these sectors to collaborate more openly and with greater focus than ever before. This was a high-energy discussion, sharing lots of ideas around the topics of DPC-3D and gaming – so much so that we agreed it would be interesting to capture and share our thoughts on w ..read more

This article is part of a larger series on Sustainability Return On Investment (or SROI) and should be read in the order: What is SROI, and why do we need it? Preparing For Transparency With A Flexible Value Chain, Backed By Data Defining The ‘How’ And The ‘What’ Of SROI – Part 1 In this, the second part in our focus on defining what a Sustainability Return On Investment (SROI) looks like, we want to provide four distinct examples, each corresponding to a process taken from each of the 1 – 4 tiers of the supply chain. From a brand’s perspective, these examples correspond closely to real-world ..read more

To begin to manage, and then mitigate, its impact on people and planet, fashion must first put in the work to understand and quantify the resources used in product creation. Although fashion needs more time to comply with current (let alone future) legislation, there is always time to begin and profit from a sustainability-related project. This is the third article in our series on Sustainability Return on Investment (SROI); previously, in article one, we discussed the drivers for SROI. In article two, we discussed the priorities for SROI. Now we get deeper into the practicalities of obtaining ..read more

Our last article discussed some of the drivers that now makes SROI, or “Sustainability Return on Investment“, critical for brands, retailers, manufacturers, and suppliers. These drivers covered the initiatives the industry is trying to address, and the legislation that the US, EU, and UK are implementing that will no longer be self-governed by the industry, but objectively and independently measured by local, national, and federal government. What does this all mean? Ultimately, it all boils down to growth through cost saving (and avoiding hefty fines), revenue generation, and profitability. T ..read more

As the global mandate for verifiable sustainability grows, and enhanced scrutiny breaks through environmental and ethical commitments that aren’t backed by data, fashion needs to recognise the importance of sustainability as a return on investment. Let’s start by asking, what does SROI stand for? The answer is “Sustainability Return on Investment”. It’s a method of measuring the impact of an investment or project on society. It will enable brands, retailers, and their Tier 1-5 manufacturing partner stakeholders to calculate their economic, social, environmental, and manufacturing benefits when ..read more