Fashion industry in India saw unusual growth in the last decade. The industry is expected to grow further in the coming years. The export of garments is expected to reach $14 billion by the end of this fiscal year. An upward movement is likely to be seen in all the charts relating to fashion.

Technology has a considerable role to play in the success of the fashion industry in India. It helps in easing the work of the fashion designer. Various mechanisms have been put to work for the comfort of the fashion personnel. RFID readers, high-tech machinery, and different types of software have been put to use.

Software applications have proved useful in almost all the areas. Be it manufacturing units, corporate offices, hospitals, or other such premises; software is used in every arena. It was only natural for fashion professionals to have made use of this advanced facility!

A number of apparel manufacturers or merchants make use of apparel software. This software is available in various types and can be used to accomplish various tasks. Some of them help in creating exotic designs while others may help in documenting the details relating to your business.

Product Data Management (PDM) software is one of the many applications used in the fashion industry. Its main purpose is to record the data relating to other aspects of fashion designing like marketing and promotion. It also makes it easy to share the collected data.

One step ahead of PDM software in the fashion industry is the use of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). This application costs more than the former and has better features integrated into it. It can manage the entire lifecycle of the product in contrast to the former.

Fashion Toolbox is one of the most popular software in the field of fashion technology. It can produce extremely realistic photos. Other than that, it can also take care of textures and patterns to produce good-looking designs. It may cost more as compared to the rest but it serves the needed purpose.

It is necessary to take care of all the redundant data. ERP software helps in managing this redundant data efficiently. It is the best if installed for work that requires team effort. Above all, it reduces manual efforts and speeds up the entire task. Inaccuracies can be removed from completed tasks.

Software can also be used in the retail houses of the fashion industry. It assists personnel in managing stock and inventory related data. It can generate detailed reports on the information collected at regular intervals of time. It can also take care of the cash involved in the entire process.


Marker making software is another of the most recognized software in the fashion industry. Its main benefit is that it lets you save on the fabric. It lets you estimate the consumption of fabric during the entire making procedure, prototyping, material purchasing, and production.


The software that dominates all others is Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software. It helps the designer to create the design as a digital image and to make on the spot changes to the design if it does not look good on the image. It saves the time and energy of the designer.


Eshwar Rao, Product Manager GT India, IIGM Bangalore remarks, "The most widely used software for fabric consumption and pattern development is 'Pattern Development' and 'Marker Making'. 3D technology will rule the market in the coming years as it lets you see the garments virtually even before it is stitched."


It has become an accepted fact that the use of software is sure to increase productivity. It makes the task of a fashion designer easy. It is used across various sectors and the fashion industry can simply not be left out! Its use is recommended on an even larger scale.


References:


1)     Thehindubusinessline.com

2)     Business.com

3)     Howtodothings.com

4)     Lectra.com