iconic french riviera

Testimonial
ICONIC FRENCH RIVIERA
BRAND ENHANCES TRADITION
W I T H L E C T R A T E C H N O L O G Y
CHALLENGE
SOLUTION
Façonnable was exploring ways to check and track major
events in the product lifecycle in order to enhance collection
development. Structuring information presented to supply
partners and allowing information to be easily archived and
analyzed to support development and brand evolution were
top priorities. Product quality, on-time deliveries, and business
growth were key goals when researching ways to control the
development process and harmonize communication from
design to the final product.
MARKETS
Menswear, womenswear
LOCATION
Nice, France
To maintain their high-end positioning worldwide, Façonnable
needed a strong development process. A desire to control fit
for an international consumer base, improve quality and
stabilize costs motivated Façonnable to implement
Lectra Fashion PLM throughout product development, from
line planning to production. “With Lectra Fashion PLM, we
now have a common thread running through the company that
allows us to be more professional and more precise,” says
Amélie Serri, Product Manager.
LECTRA SOLUTIONS
Including
lectra.com
A
t�Façonnable, collections begin and end in Merchandising.
But it wasn’t always this way. Before adopting
Lectra Fashion PLM, every season held uncertainties,
with development scrambling to deliver collections without
a central calendar or controlled workflow. “There was
no visibility on what was happening,” says Peter Nyhan,
Merchandising Director.
TRADITION MEETS TECHNOLOGY
But this is changing. Façonnable has reclaimed its Côte d’Azur
roots, reviving a 60-year tradition of classic French refinement
and impeccable craftsmanship to strengthen the brand’s image
and develop new compelling lines for men and women. Many
of the 900 products Façonnable develops over 4 seasons have
become iconic, thanks to an enduring attention to distinctive
design, fabrics, and finished product quality. To preserve this
tradition of craftsmanship while supporting expansion into new
countries, Façonnable has initiated a company-wide technology
overhaul, which included implementing Lectra Fashion PLM
throughout product development to bring order and clarity to
a brisk collection process.
CONSOLIDATED CONTROL
Every collection now begins with a matrix that Merchandising
prepares for Design and Product Development. “No one can
create anything in Lectra Fashion PLM unless Merchandising has
validated it. That way the full power of the brand is managed per
the matrix,” explains Peter.
Target financial objectives and a clear brand strategy give Design
the key elements they need to work with Product Development to
meet business objectives each season. Part of this information is
gathered from past sales, which allows Merchandising to evaluate
what was designed, projected, and actually sold in order to budget
and project for the next season.
This visibility is possible because Lectra Fashion PLM requires
users to provide a certain minimum of information in order for
products to advance through a series of defined development
stages. “There wasn’t a standard workflow before; this is now
100% controlled. Each piece has a status that tells us where it is in
respect to the season calendar,” says Peter.
NO MORE (EXPENSIVE) UNPLEASANT
SURPRISES
A controlled workflow not only saves time and confusion, it is
helping Façonnable achieve their financial objectives as well. “One
of the biggest improvements has been the ability to control cost
from the beginning,” explains Guilaine Ipert, Director of Production.
Entering product information early on prevents unpleasant
surprises late in the process. “We know the price objective from
step one, so I’m able to ask the right questions before they have
an impact on production,” she continues. “If I need to see
Merchandising because a fabric is too expensive, I have the time
to take action and make corrections to achieve my objective.”
An alert is raised when information such as references or prototype
approvals is missing and the product is not allowed to pass to the
next step. The result is a far more coherent line plan process and a
structured workflow that keeps Design and Product Development
on track to meet production deadlines.
REVIVING A TRADITION OF CRAFTSMANSHIP
The secret to the Façonnable fusion of classic French style
with impeccable craftsmanship lies in the details. An idea for an
improved polo collar or better fit might start in Design or Pattern
Development, but suppliers
must execute these details
To stay ahead in
with technical precision.
today’s market requires
“Our goal today is to do
whatever it takes to increase the ability to satisfy demand
for new designs quickly.
the quality of our product,”
says
Joëlle
Hoareau,
Product Technician.
Along with the technical prototype, suppliers have access to a
spec pack generated in Lectra Fashion PLM with visual indications
showing details of the end product all in one place. “They can
see references, embellishments, where we added new elements
and how they are positioned,” says Joëlle. “They have everything
they need in real time.”
lectra.com
Pattern Maker Olivier Brenas explains that, “To stay ahead in
today’s market requires the ability to satisfy demand for new
designs quickly while guaranteeing the same fit and quality
Façonnable is known for.”
To that end, Façonnable uses Lectra’s pattern making technology
to get development teams working together efficiently for higher
output. Additionally, new libraries for sketches, trims, fabrics and
colors allow pattern makers and product developers to launch
new styles based on validated information, which saves time and
reduces the risk for error.
A BOOST FOR QUALITY CONTROL
Façonnable also counts on Lectra Fashion PLM to make quality
requirements stick. Michel Dezert, Quality Manager, needs to have
a very clear understanding of products and their parts to be sure
each one meets quality standards.
The solution has made it easier for Michel to assure that fabrics
have been tested and approved early enough to guarantee final
product quality. “It has made it easier for everyone to stay within
deadlines and have quality information earlier on,” he says.
Having a centralized system also makes it easier to clear up
problem areas before they reach production. If a fabric doesn’t
pass a quality test, for example, they can search the collection to
see where that fabric is used and decide if it should be changed
before the order is passed. “Now we can say, there’s a problem,
what can I do to avoid delaying production given the status of the
product?” Guilaine explains.
Having precise information from the beginning of development also
allows suppliers to provide production with accurate prices based
on product reality, which was not always the case. “A product
could end up being 60€ when it was supposed to be 50€, only
we wouldn’t find out until it was too late,” says Guilaine. “By the
time Production gets involved, it’s usually too late to react about
changing materials or product manufacturing.”
A PA R T N E R S H I P F O R C H A N G E
A PLM implementation requires process understanding and
the right technology solution delivered with the appropriate
support. Lectra’s work with Façonnable began with a process
analysis, followed by regular trainings to share best practices and
ensure that implementation met users’ needs and expectations.
“Support from Lectra experts has been constant throughout the
integration of the solution,” explains Allison Smith, Calendar and
Special Project Manager. “Everyone involved has access to the
solution, which has refined their understanding of the collection
lifecycle. As a result, people are more efficient and accountable,
thanks to improved collaboration and communication within the
organization.” With Lectra Fashion PLM, Façonnable is achieving
their goals of streamlining process, shortening lead times and
continuing to deliver high quality products to their customers.
CONSISTENT BRANDING FROM SHOWROOM
TO SHOP FLOOR
STRENGTHENING THE LINK BETWEEN
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION
Lectra Fashion PLM has given Product Development and Production visibility they never had before. “Today we have a way to trace
everything that has been validated. We can see if we have approved
something, who approved it, what reference it was given—we are
more efficient because this has all been standardized,” says Amélie.
Without Lectra Fashion PLM, Production had no way to guarantee
that products were being launched with all the necessary information and knowing what was up-to-date was a perpetual challenge.
“Before, it was possible to send an incomplete product file to a
supplier with no way to know what was missing,” explains Guilaine.
“If the name of the fabric was not entered, I simply didn’t order it.”
BET TER SUPPLIER RELATIONS
The insight Production now has into product development
directly impacts the quality of supplier relations. Production now
receives a single report containing vital product history, which
they share with suppliers, who in turn no longer have to guess
what to do when pieces are missing or unclear. “I think it will solve
a large number of problems,” says Guilaine. “Our reports are
more thorough and structured.” With everything from start to finish
contained in the spec pack, suppliers can launch production on
time and with fewer questions.
A
s Façonnable positions itself in new regions, it’s very
important they retain control over the brand in key
locations.“The stores should show where the brand is going,”
says Peter. Information about each product can be accessed
in Lectra Fashion PLM, then used to visualize the collection
and build offerings for specific regions and stores. The
commercial teams receive this information, which ensures
that they present pertinent collections that consistently reflect
the Façonnable brand anywhere in the world.
Lectra in Fashion
With nearly 40 years’ experience in fashion and apparel, Lectra’s mission is to provide a complete spectrum of design, development, and production solutions
to confront 21st-century challenges. From first creative spark to final product, our professional services address an end-to-end process. We support the
day-to-day operations of our customers in over 100 countries for around-the-clock process optimization. From fast fashion to luxury to ready-to-wear,
Lectra’s 23,000 customers in markets as diverse as casual, sports, outdoor, denim, and lingerie represent every
development and sourcing model imaginable. Beyond suppliers and manufacturers, they are the brands you love
and the stores where you shop.
lectra.com