Perry Ellis International (PEI) is a global fashion house with an impressive portfolio of lifestyle and sports brands, redefining the retail business environment through innovative product design, cutting-edge technology, and dynamic marketing platforms.
As a leading designer, distributor, and licensor of high-quality men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, and fragrances, PEI is committed to empowering a creative and diverse team. With a vision to embrace its entrepreneurial spirit, adapt to change, and expand its global footprint, the company’s collections—ranging from men's dress and casual sportswear to women’s lifestyle collections—are distributed through major retail channels.
Perry Ellis International, with over 50 years of experience, is a renowned fashion house overseeing a diverse portfolio of over 20 brands. It includes nationally recognized brands like Perry Ellis, An Original Penguin by Munsingwear, and Cubavera, as well as licensed trademarks from third parties, including Nike for swimwear and Callaway for golf apparel and accessories.
"After starting to review 3D in 2017, we understood that it would be a game changer for us."
Perry Ellis International has partnered with Browzwear to develop a digital library from which both technical and fashion designers can work. This library features authenticated digital assets validated by fit, fabric, and pattern. As a result, the 3D garment becomes the definitive source of truth.
"Having this digital twin allows us to significantly expedite the fit process while saving both time and money."
PEI's team effectively utilizes both Browzwear's platforms, VStitcher and Lotta, as a cohesive unit. The design team's workflow begins with the VStitcher platform, where the 3D team creates and simulates patterns on avatars. Once these patterns are validated and the digital library is built, it is handed off to the design team. The design team then uses Lotta, which allows them to design freely while staying within the constraints of the pre-defined patterns. This process ensures that the designs are accurate and consistent, streamlining the workflow from pattern creation to final design.
"The cool part about Browzwear is that they have two different platforms within one product, VStitcher and Lotta. And we successfully utilize them both as a team."
Working in 3D enables the Perry Ellis International team to think smarter from the earliest stages and carry that through the entire design process. This approach has fundamentally changed how they present themselves as a company. They can now show their merchandising, sales, and overseas manufacturers exactly what the product should look like, which is a complete game changer for them.
One of the greatest benefits the PEI team has found with using 3D technology is the ability to work quickly in real time. There's no need to wait for printing or waste ink and paper, enabling them to make much faster decisions about what will work for their customers. It has also led to significant cost savings for the merchandising department by dramatically reducing the sample budget. They can show one physical sample in one colorway and then display other colors on 3D models, eliminating the need for multiple physical samples.
With Browzwear, the Perry Ellis International team has significantly reduced the number of physical salesman samples needed. This transformation has streamlined their workflow, allowing them to cut back on the number of physical samples needed while still maintaining high standards of quality and accuracy. The reduction minimizes costs and enhances efficiency in the design and merchandising processes, ultimately leading to a more agile and responsive approach to market demands.
"We call this process not fast fashion, but smart-to-market because it makes us smarter in our decisions. With Browzwear, we have been able to reduce our physical salesman's samples by more than 50% in total, and in some brands by 75%."
"Browzwear has truly laid out a roadmap to digital success by providing a wealth of resources." - says Ashley Heller, the Senior Manager of 3D Technical Design. These include learning tutorials from Browzwear University and one-on-one training classes that facilitate the entire process. This comprehensive support ensures that users can fully leverage the platform's capabilities.
"With Browzwear's support, we are now delving into the intricacies of fit, marking an exciting new phase for the company." - says Ashley. This collaboration enables Perry Ellis International to refine its processes and enhance its designs with greater precision. The journey into mastering fit through 3D technology represents a significant step forward, promising to elevate the quality and accuracy of their products.
"My advice for companies is that if they're not doing 3D right now, they should definitely jump into it right away. At the beginning, changing processes can be a bit challenging, but the benefits of working in 3D are countless."
