Challenge

They had an upcoming limited edition capsule capital collection that had a shorter product development lead time than usual, leading to the following challenges:

• Unable to quickly visualize high-quality prototypes, leading to the reliance on costly and time-consuming samples, eating into the development time
• Inability to research and experiment with the designs due to the short product development lead time and poor quality of the Adobe Illustrator
• The current quality and limited presentation options of the collection
• The rigidity of the samples and inability for quick iteration based on merch feedback

These challenges directly affect the adoption rate, speed to market, and the quality of the final garments created.

A missed opportunity of 1% of collection revenue

Solution 

To address these challenges, the brand implemented Make the Dot’s platform to assess whether it could increase the quality and prototyping iteration speed, thereby reducing the physical samples required while reducing the collection sign-off time, increasing the number of designs adopted, and increasing the speed to market. 

Make the Dot believed we could help in the following areas:

• Improved design assets that reduced the need for expensive and time-consuming physical samples 
• Improved product prototypes allowing greater visualization, configuration, and experimentation.
• A productive design process that increases the amount and quality of items of clothing produced per designer 
• The ability to use these digital prototypes in virtual showrooms and marketing campaigns, reducing the number of costly marketing photoshoots

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Results 

Based on these challenges and our solution, the following results from integrating Make the Dot into the product development and sales process were achieved:

• Digital prototypes were 95% similar to physical samples 
• Productivity gains allowed the team to grow the number of styles produced without also growing headcount, resulting in lower cost per garment made
• Faster collection sign-off and speed to market, meant products were with end-customers faster
• Greater prototype visualization and experimentation with designs lead to higher quality end products created 
• The ability to quickly iterate on buying team feedback lead to a higher adoption rate and more styles offered to end consumers

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Development lead time was reduced from 6 months to 6 days and adoption increased  40%