The facilities
mentioned above are part of amazing world of fashion design software, a world of
Mitchell Dobelsky of Fashion Matters stumbled into accidentally in 1996 while
surfing the net. Dobelsky has been enamored with the software creative
contribution and professional prowess ever since. Part of his job is to inspire
apprehensive designers and industry professionals to ditch their pens and take
the giant leap into computer software design technology.
In the clothing
industry, the medium is still relatively new and scary and there is much
resistance to change. But according to Dobelsky, computer technology is
here to smooth the way to design perfection and better economical
production standards. However, there is a code red warning. Once a designers
initiated into using fashion design software, there is no returning to the old
fashioned methods.
“Our software is
visually-based and specifically designed for clothing designers. We mainly use
images and icons,” said Dobelsky whose first sale of his
advanced textile software, Colour Matters CM32 Professional occurred in
Australia during 1997.
Clothing companies
Swiss Models, Simon deWinter and Australian Fabric Wholesalers were quick to
embrace the new technology and soon reaped the benefits of efficient production.
One reason for this was that all three were spending hundreds of thousands of
dollars a year on sampling costs. They were all seeking to reduce their costs in
this area and realized the opportunity when it was presented to them.
With this software
employed at design stage, marketing departments are able to create a higher
standard of finished artwork integrating the components of fabric and design in
one finish. This means no more bits of fabric stuck on clippings and colour
charts.
Colour Matters CM32
Professional costs AUS$7000 to AUS$17,600 and is suitable for large companies
involved in heavy production. The print module includes a complete set of
illustration imaging and layout tools, modules for weaving and plaids and 3-D
draping and 3-D knits.
A less comprehensive
software option is Fashion Toolbox, which is suitable for smaller design
businesses or for students. It is true colour software with design and colour
management tools for prints, checks and knits. At AUS$995 it includes three
months of telephone support.
