11 Nov Specialist IT Training with Optitex

As part of Fashion-Enter Ltd’s (FEL’s) commitment to the £10m Affordable Workspace program with Islington Council and the GLA FEL creates a cross section of seminars and workshops to support their 9 designers based at the Durham Road workspace.

The latest workshop available is the innovative Optitex course which offers state-of-the-art software that allows designers to reduce costs of sampling by preparing artwork, construction and fit digitally rather than on a mannequin and form. This is now such a major step forward within the industry and there are companies within the UK that no longer sample at all – everything is submitted digitally and the customers have the confidence that the resulting digital designs will translate to fit perfectly.

The software is over £230,000 but can be made available for a highly discounted price, after training, for the desingers so they can create their own avatar for fit and then design and pattern make using the tools of the program. 

Included in the seminar Claire reviews the different jobs available throughout the sector and draws on her experience of how the industry is currently working. One case study is company Alison Hayes who has over an £80m turnover and now creates their samples virtually thus providing a more ethical and sustainable way of garment and sampling making. 

FEL CEO Jenny Holloway commented: “With the accuracy of Optitex it is now possible to stop garment sampling and all the costs that sampling has. We have estimated that to make one sample for a buyer it has a true value of  £300. This includes sourcing of material, designing a print, ordering a sample length, creating a first fit pattern, creating the sample using cutters time, machine time, pressing time, QC time and then transporting the sample to the buyer is also expensive. All of these processes take time too…think of the hours we can save by creating virtual samples. As part of our career and mentoring program we bring to life all the different types of careers that are available within fashion today and Optitex is really leading the sustainable way forward.”

 
The course has been excellently received, feedback has included:

“The course was very informative, engaging and user friendly. I have learnt so much during the 2-day session.”

“This has allowed me to expand my knowledge going forwards.”

“Claire is a good tutor, she explained the software in detail and made it user friendly.”

“I’ve really enjoyed the two days. Claire is very knowledgable and went through everything at a good pace.”

“I really feel confident going forwards using Optitex.”