KARACHI, Pakistan — Khaadi, a top fashion brand in Karachi, Pakistan eliminated paper pattern-making from product design and development using fashion technology solutions from Tukatech. Khaadi’s team of nearly 60 fashion and textile designers use TUKAcad for digital pattern-making, grading and marker-making; TUKA3D for virtual sample-making; and TUKAcloud for web-based design collaboration and communication.
Previously the Khaadi design team worked manually. They drafted patterns by hand on paper and assessed design and fit with physical samples. Saira Shamoon, Fashion Design Department Head for Khaadi explains, “There was a lot of human error. When it went into production, we saw a lot of fit and grading issues.” Shamoon attributes these issues to the minute differences in the “hand” of each designer. These small differences translate to bigger disparities in bulk production.
With a vision to expand Khaadi into new global markets, the IT team also saw a need for more robust infrastructure in the design department. “Growing globally requires scalability,” asserts Rehan Qadri, Khaadi’s Chief Technology Officer. “Scalability requires lower lead times, higher levels of technology, and higher levels of automation.” For this reason, Khaadi initiated a digital transformation in their design studio.
Now the fashion designers work from graded digital pattern blocks in TUKAcad. This frees them to make style line changes without disturbing the fit. Since every style comes from the same blocks, fit is more consistent between styles. In addition, the fashion designers simulate their styles in TUKA3D. They understand how each garment will drape and fit with real-time motion simulation.
The draped silhouettes become like digital “blanks” for Khaadi’ s textile designers to visualize their artwork. They arrange repeats, placement prints, and embroideries on the 3D sample. Then each department reviews the full collection digitally on TUKAcloud, before any physical samples are made.
Since design evaluations now happen virtually, the team makes decisions quickly without wasting resources. Shamoon details, “We’ve reduced the army of people we had to hire to do pattern-making, cutting, sewing, printing, and embroidery just to see a sample.”
Both Shamoon and Qadri are excited to use TUKAcloud as a web-based digital sample-room. According to Qadri, “The designers focus on the creativity, rather than getting involved with administrative or operational issues.” Shamoon echoes, “TUKAcloud enables the designers to work on their own time and share ideas quickly. They focus on the creative end more than get stuck up in meetings.”
Savannah Crawford, Chief Collaborator for Tukatech, explains, “One challenge that comes with a digital design process is to keep all the files and communication organized. TUKAcloud serves as a centralized hub for all the digital samples across Khaadi’s different departments, as well as the associated technical files, and design elements.” The designers then use TUKAcloud as an asset library and reference point for new style ideas.
Tukatech’s team of fashion technology experts trained Khaadi’s design team on-site. After the completion of training, each designer received a certificate of proficiency and achievement.
The Khaadi designers have embraced their new digital workflow. Shamoon is please to say the inconsistencies from manual pattern-making are no longer an issue for the designers. “They see the flexibility in it, the possibilities in it, and the correctness in the technology.”
Add Comment