Across the globe, brands, retailers and apparel manufacturers are increasingly focusing on integrating 3D technology. Creating a 3D design, rendering it on a fit model and converting it into 2D pattern eases product development process. This not only reduces costs by eliminating material, labour and shipping expenses but also speeds up the design process, enabling faster revisions in 3D samples before producing physical prototypes. It promotes sustainability by reducing fabric waste and the carbon footprint associated with producing and shipping physical samples.
Additionally, 3D technology provides accurate fit assessments and realistic visualisations, leading to better-fitting final products. However, implementing 3D technology at the factory level presents challenges and a significant portion of the industry is not yet prepared to adopt these techniques. Even companies currently using 3D technology encounter issues. Despite these obstacles, stakeholders are actively working to overcome them.
3D brings tangible benefits for factories
The fashion industry spends an estimated US $ 6-8 billion annually on sample making. Bangladesh, being the second largest apparel exporting nation in the world, contributes to this significantly. Creating a physical sample usually takes a week, with additional time required for washing and shipping, often taking another week. If the sample is rejected, it has to be remade, further extending the timeline. By adopting 3D technology, factories could reduce the number of physical samples per garment from at least four to just one. This shift could save the industry between US $ 4.5 billion – US $ 6 billion each year, while also eliminating raw material waste, sample waste and landfill contributions along with saving enormous time.
One of the leading garment manufacturing groups in the country, HAMS Group, opted for 3D even before it came into limelight during pandemic. Akib Rahman, Director of the company shared, “We have invested in CLO3D majorly to reduce sampling costs and ease the product development processes which has led us to reduce time taken in approval sample process to just 7 hours which earlier took 2 weeks.”
TRZ Garments is another leading outerwear manufacturer of the country which started using 3D technology on the push of its clients and now the company is using it for design aspects also. “As a manufacturing company with a core interest in design, I’ve observed significant advancements in 3D technology,” commented Zarin Rashid, Director of TRZ Garments, adding, “We can now produce 3D models that showcase our design capabilities more effectively to the buyers than ever before.”
Buyers’ push accelerates implementations!
Digital adoption doesn’t happen overnight or in one step; it takes time. This involves investing, choosing the right software, buying hardware, recruiting skilled workers and training them, testing the tools and continuing the training, amongst other tasks. However, this doesn’t mean that RMG companies should wait for their buyers to ask for it. Insisting on this point, Aurelie Rob, Digi-Hub Manager at Astra (Bangladesh) Supply Chain Service Ltd., said that to stay ahead, apparel manufacturers must take the initiative and be ready. “Digital tools are constantly evolving, with new software releasing every few months. This requires continuous learning, extensive training and agility to develop according to the new tools, so it is good to start early,” she says. Aurelie also emphasises that while manufacturers used to be solely responsible for production, this role has shifted. Brands are now delegating many tasks to manufacturers, including designing. Operations have also significantly improved between manufacturers and brands in terms of design collaboration.
Using 3D in right way works as ‘perception killer’
A segment of the industry perceives that 3D technology is not as effective when it comes to critical products like lingerie or outerwear. However, according to tech experts, it is not entirely true that one can’t use 3D technology for complex products. While it may not be useful for all purposes, it can be employed to visualise designs, though there might be limitations in fitting.
“For denim, you need a soft body to wear it; you cannot wrap it around a body and create the right denim. So, you have to create your own offsets in denim to create it in 3D. The same goes for lingerie. There are limitations because it is very body-hugging, but we have maps like stretch, strain and stress maps. These maps allow you to see how tight the garment is and where to make decisions faster and more easily,” said Harsh Kumar, Business Development Manager of CLO Virtual Fashion.
3D software players offer numerous benefits
Leading the charge in this technological revolution are several key 3D virtual sampling providers, such as CLO Virtual Fashion, Tukatech, Browzwear, Optitex etc., each offering unique software solutions tailored to the needs of the fashion industry. By understanding the capabilities and advantages of the features offered by these tools, apparel factories can make informed decisions about integrating 3D virtual sampling into their production processes, ultimately driving innovation and maintaining a competitive edge in the market. CLO Virtual Fashion’s software, CLO3D, is a versatile 3D garment visualisation tool that supports the entire fashion design process from ideation to production. It features highly realistic garment simulation with accurate fabric properties, allowing designers to visualise how different materials will behave. The software includes 2D pattern drafting and 3D virtual sewing, providing a comprehensive design toolkit. With an extensive library of materials, trims and avatars, designers have a wide range of options to choose from. CLO3D also offers animation and motion simulation for dynamic garment testing as well as real-time rendering and photorealistic visual outputs. Additionally, its collaborative features enable easy sharing and reviewing of designs in real-time, enhancing communication and efficiency in the design process.
Browzwear’s VStitcher software is a comprehensive 3D design and development tool that allows for detailed virtual garment creation, draping and visualisation. VStitcher offers true-to-life 3D garment simulation, providing designers with a realistic view of their creations. It seamlessly integrates with Adobe Illustrator, allowing for a smooth transition from 2D designs to 3D models. The software also features realistic fabric and material simulation, ensuring that the textures and behaviour of different materials are accurately represented. Collaboration is made easy with tools that facilitate the sharing of designs and receiving feedback in real-time. Additionally, customisable avatars and sizing options are available to ensure accurate fitting, enhancing the overall design and production process.
Tukatech’s 3D software, TUKA3D, is a powerful tool designed to streamline the fashion design and production process. It offers highly realistic garment simulation, accurately representing fabric properties to give designers a true-to-life view of their creations. The software supports 2D pattern drafting and 3D virtual sewing, providing a robust platform for comprehensive design work. TUKA3D includes a vast library of materials, trims and avatars, allowing for extensive customisation and experimentation. Additionally, it features animation and motion simulation, enabling dynamic testing of garments. The real-time rendering and photorealistic visual outputs ensure that designs are visually compelling and production-ready. TUKA3D also enhances collaboration with its tools for sharing and reviewing designs in real-time, facilitating better communication and decision-making throughout the design process.
Optitex offers two main software solutions: Optitex O/Dev and Optitex O/Cloud. Optitex O/Dev is a comprehensive 2D and 3D CAD/CAM software suite for fashion and textile design, while Optitex O/Cloud is a cloud-based platform for collaboration and sharing 3D assets. Key features include 2D pattern design with 3D garment visualisation, realistic draping and fabric behaviour simulation, integration with PLM and ERP systems for a seamless workflow, virtual sampling and fit analysis, extensive digital fabric and trim libraries and cloud-based collaboration tools for easy sharing and feedback. These software solutions are instrumental in modernising the apparel manufacturing process by reducing the need for physical samples, speeding up the design process and enhancing collaboration across the supply chain.
Way forward
Along with the training thrust of tech-providing companies, organisations like Bangladesh Apparel Exchange have initiated a training program which will offer courses on digital design 3D modelling and virtual prototyping to upskill workers. Industry believes that the way Bangladesh’s RMG industry has improved in sustainability, it will also be adopting digital transformation. Tech providers are well aware of the challenges and some are actively working to overcome them. CLO Virtual Fashion is one of the leading companies in 3D technology and has initiated various efforts in Bangladesh.
Harsh Kumar shared, “We are creating an ecosystem where academic institutes are becoming our academic partners. We now have BUDS, BGMEAFT and CLO University teaching CLO.”
Various reports highlight the less investment in technology by the fashion sector. A McKinsey report said that the global fashion industry only invests two per cent of its annual revenue in technology adoption which also goes for the brands. With the growing thrust on investment in technology, things should improve.
