CAD tech gives makeover to fashion industry

Amritsar, July 14

If fashion is all about ‘my kind of clothes’, then the glamour industry has found its perfect partner in technology. With every change of concept, colour palette and style, there is some or the other software helping out the designers set the right tone for the season. How? Through Computer Aided Design (CAD) technology and umpteen softwares that has made life easier and more creative for them.

There is basic designing software for selection of the colour palette, choice of embellishments, silhouettes or patterns… all help designers in deciding. Like a 3D collection showcased at the LFW by designers Jai Parvesh, CAD was used to make shoes and bags. Softwares like I-photo, which makes it possible to see how a colour would look in sunlight as well as under artificial lights, Tuca for pattern making and Ramsete for textile designing have come as an added advantage for designers. "Today’s design concepts are wackier, experimental and so more techno-savvy. Digital art or CAD could help designers visualize and implement their creativity to maximum benefit. Right from conceptualization to implementation, use of a computer has only been an added advantage,” shares Payal Gulati, a designer from city. “One can see what colour, pattern and fabric design would work with as a combination. Fabric design is one application, which fashion designers use different softwares and technology for creating abstract designs. Final products are a wide array of different styles of clothing aided by technology,” she says.

INIFD, region’s premier fashion institute, too runs basic Cad courses for the students to get familiarize with technology. “The importance of technology in any industry cannot be denied and so fashion and interior design industry has seen a lot of changes through computer-aided design concepts. Right from Coral Draw to advanced softwares, the designs have only improved the working of the industry,” shares Neelu Gauri, head, INIFD, Amritsar.

Use of technology has reduced the wastage of material, resulting in cost-cutting. “Getting 3D images of creations on different softwares, gives a fair idea on how much fabric and embellishments are required for the outfit. It not just saves time, but reduces wastage,’ she says. Academic courses in the fashion designing institutes are also as much about teaching sketching and drawing as about mastering such softwares. Vishal Sood, CAD technology expert, who teaches at INIFD, says a lot of interior design industry experts use it to get better structural and creative outputs. “It has become a USP for clients and established brands with its effect,” he says. Vishal feels that the use of technology will only increase with time in the industry mostly associated with creativity. “Everyone wants an effective way to reduce input and increase the output. What better way to do it with a click of a finger?”