PRIORITY ISSUE: DIGITIZATION
A comprehensive drive for digitalization is necessary for a responsive and collaborative supply chain. Digitization not only enhances technical capabilities but also necessitates changes in processes and relationships between buyers and suppliers. IAF’s approach includes:
- Integrating education and training to support new digital processes.
- Promoting standardization, especially for creating authentic digital twins of fabrics and garments.
- Launching the Digital Fabric Roadmap (DFR) in collaboration with MODINT and AMFI to accelerate 3D virtual visualization and standardize materials simulation.
Digital Fabric Roadmap (DFR)
IAF, Dutch fashion and textiles association MODINT and the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI), powered by ClickNL, have drafted the ‘Digital Fabric Roadmap’ (DFR). All three organisations are fully aware that 3D virtual visualisation of garments is one of the prime challenges, and also one of the prime opportunities for the fashion and textile industries. 3D virtual visualisation or creating a true to life virtual garment sample or digital twin requires the fabric used in the sample to look, behave and drape exactly the same as the physical sample. But when it comes to materials simulation based on physical and mechanical properties, the industry is still underdeveloped. There is lack of experience, but also a lack of standardization of gathering and communicating the data on which the digital twins are based. Standardisation efforts have certainly commenced, led by large brands and retailers and the major technology suppliers. But the ‘rest of industry’ as represented by industry associations across the world is insufficiently connected to these efforts.
The Digital Fabric Roadmap aims to act as a catalyst for a global and industry-wide collaboration on this topic. Proposed actions in this roadmap range from stimulating companies to simply get to work and start digitizing their fabric and garment samples to specific calls for further standardization of measurements and communication. Aided by the Digital Fabric Roadmap the IAF and MODINT are taking a leading role in our industry’s drive to accelerate the implementation of 3D virtual visualization.
On Thursday April 22, Matthijs Crietee took part in Talking Threads, the Textile Innovation Show by WTiN, where he explored the road map to the digital future in the apparel market. Please watch the full episode below.
