Two key issues the apparel industry faces are long cycle times and complex supply chains. Creating a collection six to 18 months out, estimating how many you will need in each size and color, and shipping samples and garments around the world carry a great deal of risk. And there’s often as much as 40% waste in the supply chain.

As we’ve delved into the textiles and apparel markets since launching our Textiles section in January of this year, there is a refrain we hear over and over again from designers, brands, and manufacturers. It was best stated by OnPoint Manufacturing’s Matthew Cochran, who said, “The design, produce, and ‘hope to sell at MSRP’ model is unsustainable; and our model, when brought to complete fruition, will enable a ‘design, sell, and, produce model.’”

At FESPA 2018, scheduled for May 15 to 18 in Berlin, this model will be showcased in its new Print. Make. Wear. exhibit in Berlin. According to show organizer Duncan MacOwan, “In this exhibit, we’ll showcase a full end-to-end production workflow, from the first design steps through to make-up and ultimately sale of garments. We’ll have a design desk with different prepress software, we’ll digitally print the design, and we’ll include fixing, cutting, sewing, welding, accessories, and labels. We’ll then move to folding and packing, and also show these garments on a catwalk. And we’ll have a mock-up of a retail store. Visitors are invited to come take a tour, or have a walk around on their own. There will be a collection of several looks being created, full outfits with accessories such as ties, scarves, pocket squares, tied in from a design perspective. Visitors will not only have the educational experience in learning how digital—and even conventional—technologies can be used to streamline the design, manufacturing, and supply chain processes, but they will also be able to take away an accessory, or even a garment, as a nice way to remember the experience and some of the learnings.”