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Testimonial

W I T H L E C T R A T E C H N O L O G Y

BRAND ENHANCES TRADITIONICONIC FRENCH RIVIERA

S O L U T I O NC H A L L E N G E

M A R K E T S

Menswear, womenswear

L O C A T I O N

Nice, France

L E C T R A S O L U T I O N S

Including

Façonnable was exploring ways to check and track major events in the product lifecycle in order to enhance collection development. Structuring information presented to supply partners and allowing information to be easily archived and analyzed to support development and brand evolution were top priorities. Product quality, on-time deliveries, and business growth were key goals when researching ways to control the development process and harmonize communication from design to the final product.

To maintain their high-end positioning worldwide, Façonnable needed a strong development process. A desire to control fit for an international consumer base, improve quality and stabilize costs motivated Façonnable to implement Lectra Fashion PLM throughout product development, from line planning to production. “With Lectra Fashion PLM, we now have a common thread running through the company that allows us to be more professional and more precise,” says Amélie Serri, Product Manager.

A controlled workflow not only saves time and confusion, it is helping Façonnable achieve their financial objectives as well. “One of the biggest improvements has been the ability to control cost from the beginning,” explains Guilaine Ipert, Director of Production.

N O M O R E ( E X P E N S I V E ) U N P L E A S A N T S U R P R I S E S

Entering product information early on prevents unpleasant surprises late in the process. “We know the price objective from step one, so I’m able to ask the right questions before they have an impact on production,” she continues. “If I need to see Merchandising because a fabric is too expensive, I have the time to take action and make corrections to achieve my objective.”

An alert is raised when information such as references or prototype approvals is missing and the product is not allowed to pass to the next step. The result is a far more coherent line plan process and a structured workflow that keeps Design and Product Development on track to meet production deadlines.

T R A D I T I O N M E E T S T E C H N O L O G Y But this is changing. Façonnable has reclaimed its Côte d’Azur roots, reviving a 60-year tradition of classic French refinement and impeccable craftsmanship to strengthen the brand’s image and develop new compelling lines for men and women. Many of the 900 products Façonnable develops over 4 seasons have become iconic, thanks to an enduring attention to distinctive design, fabrics, and finished product quality. To preserve this tradition of craftsmanship while supporting expansion into new countries, Façonnable has initiated a company-wide technology overhaul, which included implementing Lectra Fashion PLM throughout product development to bring order and clarity to a brisk collection process.

Every collection now begins with a matrix that Merchandising prepares for Design and Product Development. “No one can create anything in Lectra Fashion PLM unless Merchandising has validated it. That way the full power of the brand is managed per the matrix,” explains Peter.

Target financial objectives and a clear brand strategy give Design the key elements they need to work with Product Development to meet business objectives each season. Part of this information is gathered from past sales, which allows Merchandising to evaluate what was designed, projected, and actually sold in order to budget and project for the next season.

This visibility is possible because Lectra Fashion PLM requires users to provide a certain minimum of information in order for products to advance through a series of defined development stages. “There wasn’t a standard workflow before; this is now 100% controlled. Each piece has a status that tells us where it is in respect to the season calendar,” says Peter.

C O N S O L I D A T E D C O N T R O L

t�Façonnable, collections begin and end in Merchandising. But it wasn’t always this way. Before adopting

Lectra Fashion PLM, every season held uncertainties, with development scrambling to deliver collections without a central calendar or controlled workflow. “There was no visibility on what was happening,” says Peter Nyhan, Merchandising Director.

A

The secret to the Façonnable fusion of classic French style with impeccable craftsmanship lies in the details. An idea for an improved polo collar or better fit might start in Design or Pattern Development, but suppliers must execute these details with technical precision. “Our goal today is to do whatever it takes to increase the quality of our product,” says Joëlle Hoareau, Product Technician.

Along with the technical prototype, suppliers have access to a spec pack generated in Lectra Fashion PLM with visual indications showing details of the end product all in one place. “They can see references, embellishments, where we added new elements and how they are positioned,” says Joëlle. “They have everything they need in real time.”

R E V I V I N G A T R A D I T I O N O F C R A F T S M A N S H I P

To stay ahead in today’s market requires

the ability to satisfy demand for new designs quickly.

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lectra.com

Lectra in FashionWith nearly 40 years’ experience in fashion and apparel, Lectra’s mission is to provide a complete spectrum of design, development, and production solutions to confront 21st-century challenges. From first creative spark to final product, our professional services address an end-to-end process. We support theday-to-day operations of our customers in over 100 countries for around-the-clock process optimization. From fast fashion to luxury to ready-to-wear, Lectra’s 23,000 customers in markets as diverse as casual, sports, outdoor, denim, and lingerie represent every development and sourcing model imaginable. Beyond suppliers and manufacturers, they are the brands you love and the stores where you shop.

Having precise information from the beginning of development also allows suppliers to provide production with accurate prices based on product reality, which was not always the case. “A product could end up being 60€ when it was supposed to be 50€, only we wouldn’t find out until it was too late,” says Guilaine. “By the time Production gets involved, it’s usually too late to react about changing materials or product manufacturing.”

A B O O S T F O R Q U A L I T Y C O N T R O LFaçonnable also counts on Lectra Fashion PLM to make quality requirements stick. Michel Dezert, Quality Manager, needs to have a very clear understanding of products and their parts to be sure each one meets quality standards. The solution has made it easier for Michel to assure that fabrics have been tested and approved early enough to guarantee final product quality. “It has made it easier for everyone to stay within deadlines and have quality information earlier on,” he says. Having a centralized system also makes it easier to clear up problem areas before they reach production. If a fabric doesn’t pass a quality test, for example, they can search the collection to see where that fabric is used and decide if it should be changed before the order is passed. “Now we can say, there’s a problem, what can I do to avoid delaying production given the status of the product?” Guilaine explains.

Lectra Fashion PLM has given Product Development and Produc-tion visibility they never had before. “Today we have a way to trace everything that has been validated. We can see if we have approved something, who approved it, what reference it was given—we are more efficient because this has all been standardized,” says Amélie. Without Lectra Fashion PLM, Production had no way to guarantee that products were being launched with all the necessary informa-tion and knowing what was up-to-date was a perpetual challenge. “Before, it was possible to send an incomplete product file to a supplier with no way to know what was missing,” explains Guilaine. “If the name of the fabric was not entered, I simply didn’t order it.”

S T R E N G T H E N I N G T H E L I N K B E T W E E N P R O D U C T D E V E L O P M E N T A N D P R O D U C T I O N

A PLM implementation requires process understanding and the right technology solution delivered with the appropriate support. Lectra’s work with Façonnable began with a process analysis, followed by regular trainings to share best practices and ensure that implementation met users’ needs and expectations. “Support from Lectra experts has been constant throughout the integration of the solution,” explains Allison Smith, Calendar and Special Project Manager. “Everyone involved has access to the solution, which has refined their understanding of the collection lifecycle. As a result, people are more efficient and accountable, thanks to improved collaboration and communication within the organization.” With Lectra Fashion PLM, Façonnable is achieving their goals of streamlining process, shortening lead times and continuing to deliver high quality products to their customers.

A PA R T N E R S H I P F O R C H A N G E

C O N S I S T E N T B R A N D I N G F R O M S H O W R O O M T O S H O P F L O O R

s Façonnable positions itself in new regions, it’s very important they retain control over the brand in key

locations.“The stores should show where the brand is going,” says Peter. Information about each product can be accessed in Lectra Fashion PLM, then used to visualize the collection and build offerings for specific regions and stores. The commercial teams receive this information, which ensures that they present pertinent collections that consistently reflect the Façonnable brand anywhere in the world.

AThe insight Production now has into product development directly impacts the quality of supplier relations. Production now receives a single report containing vital product history, which they share with suppliers, who in turn no longer have to guess what to do when pieces are missing or unclear. “I think it will solve a large number of problems,” says Guilaine. “Our reports are more thorough and structured.” With everything from start to finish contained in the spec pack, suppliers can launch production on time and with fewer questions.

B E T T E R S U P P L I E R R E L A T I O N S

Pattern Maker Olivier Brenas explains that, “To stay ahead in today’s market requires the ability to satisfy demand for new designs quickly while guaranteeing the same fit and quality Façonnable is known for.” To that end, Façonnable uses Lectra’s pattern making technology to get development teams working together efficiently for higher output. Additionally, new libraries for sketches, trims, fabrics and colors allow pattern makers and product developers to launch new styles based on validated information, which saves time and reduces the risk for error.