Fashion Innovation Lab
Merchandising Live on Digital Platform
The concept of 'Fashion Innovation Lab' (FIL) is one of its kind in India. The whole idea behind this lab is to digitally integrate the whole process from "concept to consumer". The FIL has the latest technology required for this.
As the customers require new styles and designs in the stores more frequently, the turnaround time from concept to consumer has been shrinking. This creates immense pressure on the manufacturers as they are required to do the same process from receipt of order to product delivery, while in between also getting the styles, fabrics, colours, patterns and fits approved in a lesser lead time than what they were doing till a few years ago. From the stretched out lead time of 120 days, already lead times have come to 45-60 days, even lesser for repeat orders.
However, the processes and the steps involved have not reduced. The lead times for physically making samples, transit time involved in couriers and transportation has not reduced. The digital world has a solution to these problems. Just the way the e-mails have substituted for postal letters to reduce time and cost while also increasing connectivity, the digital platform processes have already started stepping in to reduce the sampling and approval lead times and reducing cost in making approval samples, fit samples, etc.
Right from preparing a digital mood board, story board, colour story to preparing the technical specifications, garment sketches and illustrations, digital patternmaking to virtually fitting and testing the garment on the required size of the fit model, everything can be done. The lab also has ERP software. Except for the final production of the garment, most of the pre-production processes can be done in the FIL. Once the virtual samples have been made, they can be fitted on the virtual model created same as the buyer’s live model and the garment can be tested also on a moving virtual body. You can even create a virtual fashion show with the exact measurements of the models. The images or videos can be sent to the buyer for their comments and approval before the final garment is physically produced. This not only reduces lead time, it also reduces cost of sampling, saves transportation costs while also allowing the designers and buyer to comment on the fit and look of the garment. Today maximum time from the total lead time is spent on developing samples and getting them approved. Huge amount of money is also spent on this whole process. Things like ‘Virtual Prototyping’ and digitally working on the whole process not only resolves these problems, it is also promoting ‘sustainability’ and awareness towards avoiding wastages.
This lab can be used not just for teaching and learning, even the garment industry professionals can utilize the resources available in the lab along with the knowledge and expertise available at the Institute also tapping into the case studies and experiences of reputed buying houses and manufacturers.
As the customers require new styles and designs in the stores more frequently, the turnaround time from concept to consumer has been shrinking. This creates immense pressure on the manufacturers as they are required to do the same process from receipt of order to product delivery, while in between also getting the styles, fabrics, colours, patterns and fits approved in a lesser lead time than what they were doing till a few years ago. From the stretched out lead time of 120 days, already lead times have come to 45-60 days, even lesser for repeat orders.
However, the processes and the steps involved have not reduced. The lead times for physically making samples, transit time involved in couriers and transportation has not reduced. The digital world has a solution to these problems. Just the way the e-mails have substituted for postal letters to reduce time and cost while also increasing connectivity, the digital platform processes have already started stepping in to reduce the sampling and approval lead times and reducing cost in making approval samples, fit samples, etc.
Right from preparing a digital mood board, story board, colour story to preparing the technical specifications, garment sketches and illustrations, digital patternmaking to virtually fitting and testing the garment on the required size of the fit model, everything can be done. The lab also has ERP software. Except for the final production of the garment, most of the pre-production processes can be done in the FIL. Once the virtual samples have been made, they can be fitted on the virtual model created same as the buyer’s live model and the garment can be tested also on a moving virtual body. You can even create a virtual fashion show with the exact measurements of the models. The images or videos can be sent to the buyer for their comments and approval before the final garment is physically produced. This not only reduces lead time, it also reduces cost of sampling, saves transportation costs while also allowing the designers and buyer to comment on the fit and look of the garment. Today maximum time from the total lead time is spent on developing samples and getting them approved. Huge amount of money is also spent on this whole process. Things like ‘Virtual Prototyping’ and digitally working on the whole process not only resolves these problems, it is also promoting ‘sustainability’ and awareness towards avoiding wastages.
This lab can be used not just for teaching and learning, even the garment industry professionals can utilize the resources available in the lab along with the knowledge and expertise available at the Institute also tapping into the case studies and experiences of reputed buying houses and manufacturers.
Fashion Innovation Lab provides:
- Customised digital solutions to the apparel industry. FIL customizes short courses, training programmes, training and implementation in the areas of digital platform, Computer Aided Design, Virtual Prototyping for the apparel industry.
- FIL User Forum: Industry members can join the 'FIL User Forum' and use the facilities at attractive hourly charges.
- Career Advancement Programmes: To keep up with the changing world of Fashion and Apparel Design and Merchandising, Fashion Innovation Lab at IAM has announced short term Career Advancement Programmes. These programmes equip the students / participants to work digitally and be a designer / merchandiser of the future:
| Course Code | Title | Duration | Dates | Time |
| 003 | Technical Sketches and Tech-pack Development for Apparel | 2 full days | 15-16 July, 2010 | 10:00 am - 05:00 pm |
| 004 | Designer's Digital Tool-Kit (Corel Draw, Adobe Photoshop) | 5 half days | 19-23 July, 2010 | 10:00 am - 01:00 pm |
| 007 | Fashion Innovation and IT Integrated Merchandising | 6 months | July to December 2010 | 02:30 pm - 05:30 pm (twice per week) |
For more information please contact:
Ms. Seema Kumar
Assistant Professor
Institute of Apparel Management,
(Under the aegis of Apparel Export Promotion Council),
7th Floor, Apparel House, Institutional Area,
Sector - 44, Gurgaon - 122 003, Haryana, India.
Website: www.iamindia.in
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Ph : +91 124 2708201 to 02, 2708230(D)
Assistant Professor
Institute of Apparel Management,
(Under the aegis of Apparel Export Promotion Council),
7th Floor, Apparel House, Institutional Area,
Sector - 44, Gurgaon - 122 003, Haryana, India.
Website: www.iamindia.in
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Ph : +91 124 2708201 to 02, 2708230(D)