California Apparel News

The apparel industry has another online collaboration resource available, but this time, it is one that does not require months of implementation or a big learning curve. Everything is based on visuals.

Amsterdam-based Global Apparel Network has brought its Visuality software product to the U.S. market. The company recently opened a New York office and plans to launch a Los Angeles office, as well.

Visuality allows retailers and workers in the product development pipeline to collaborate on garment production through a type of customized e-mail. Garments are not the only elements that are involved; retailers can also network on store designs and marketing campaigns.

The company launched in late 2003 in Europe and has since gained 50 customers, including Esprit, Gap Inc., O’Neill Europe and several European divisions of Liz Claiborne. Company executives said Visuality is not a traditional product data management (PDM) product or CAD product. They said it works on a more visual level, using images from any source, such as a digital camera, scanner or CDROM. With the images, users can create storyboards, folios or slideshow presentations that can include detailed notes, captions and personal comments. They then are able to share their work by simply sending a “v-mail.”

A v-mail links users to a visual file via the Internet, without requiring them to download attachments or wend their way through networks or servers. The recipients do not even have to have the Visuality software; they can still provide input, engage in running dialogues or view the products using a PC or Apple Macintosh computer.

The v-mail system is intended to improve the traditional tasks of organizing e-mail attachments and tracking the threads of communication that are amassed during product development.

“The driving force behind the development of Visuality was to significantly increase speed time to market by dramatically improving the quality of communications within these industries,” said Chief Executive Officer Joe Shohfi. “We designed a product that works the way fashion people think, work and communicate.”

Shohfi said the product differs from existing design, PDM, digital asset management and other image cataloging systems because it focuses on enabling visual collaboration in the real-world fashion environment.

Setup requires only a simple download of the software, which is configured to work with any firewall or proxy settings in a Microsoft Windows or Mac environment and does not need any servers or networking infrastructure. Users can work offline without a constant network or Internet connection because their work is automatically updated during each connection.

The product is significantly less expensive than traditional enterprise solutions, said a company spokesman.

For more information, visit www.visualitylife.com, or e-mail info@visualitylife.com.

Nano-Tex Does Battle With Static Cling

Emeryville, Calif.–based Nano- Tex LLC has introduced a permanent anti-static treatment for synthetic fabrics such as polyester fleece.

The treatment, called Resists Static, reduces static cling and electrical shocks and repels substances including lint, animal fur and dust. Through the use of nanotechnology, which studies fabrics at the molecular level, the anti-static treatment helps reduce the buildup of electrical charges on fabric. The company claims the technology is the first permanent one in the industry.

The product can be applied to fleece, activewear, uniforms, suit linings and slacks at the mill level during production. Nano-Tex is working with several major retailers and will introduce the product to the general trade in the coming weeks.

The company expects to have a big impact on the $3 billion fleece market, one of the fastest-growing segments of the apparel business.

Using nanotechology, Nano-Tex has also developed stain repel-and-release treatments as well as moisture-wicking products for wrinkle-free cotton garments. More than 80 mills use the products. For more information, visit www.nano-tex.com.