Faster Fashion - Driving supply chain efficiencies through digital label production at needlepoint.

The pace of change in fashion trends and the speed at which the garment supply chain needs to keep up with demand are ever increasing. For the leading brands and retailers, design, manufacture and supply cycles of three weeks are not unheard of.

Clearly the emphasis is on fast, local sourcing. However, this must not be at the cost of quality and consistency of garment components.

This same applies to labelling. The label may not be the most glamorous of garment essentials but it contains vital branding and care and content information. Effective labelling will enable identification of the garment through production processes, the supply chain, and then to point of sale and beyond. Consumers will take care instructions from the care label, but most importantly it will constantly reinforce the brand.

To ensure the maximum flexibility in providing labels at needlepoint, Paxar offers the ‘in-plant’ label system. In simple terms, in-plant printing gives the garment manufacturers everything they need to produce the labels they need, just when they need them. The system comprises a benchtop printer, user-friendly software, and the supplies you need to produce high quality fabric and paper labels. Labels can be produced instantly, even in short runs; inventory management is simplified; wastage is reduced dramatically.

Paxar has recently introduced the latest generation of care label printer: the Paxar SNAP 500™. This new printer represents the ultimate in cost-effective fabric label printing. It is both fast and reliable yet highly affordable. The Paxar SNAP 500 printer comes loaded with innovative features including remote diagnostics via the internet and voice prompts to help the operator – yes, a talking printer, and it is multilingual.

The actual label printing process is only part of the story. It is equally important that the data on the label is accurate. This can be no mean feat when the production locations are scattered around the world, thousands of miles from head office. Paxar’s SpecStar data management tool is proving to be the answer for many global brands and retailers. SpecStar combines the simplest of user interfaces with powerful internet tools to move label designs, data, logos – in fact any software component you might need to generate labels – anywhere in the world.

Labels can be downloaded and printed instantly, ensuring a rapid response combined with absolute label integrity. SpecStar effectively processes ‘digital labels’, delivering them to any production site in the world for fast, efficient conversion into their physical counterparts. Because the labels are in digital form they can be moved or modified easily and at low cost. This facilitates last-minute changes or even redirection of production into other sites to meet sudden changes in requirements. For many, SpecStar provides the ideal marriage of local production flexibility with central control of design and data.

Paxar’s SpecStar system also offers the benefit of feeding back information to brand or retailer headquarters where required. Garments become fully traceable throughout the supply chain from information held in a secure database. Brand protection can be ensured through the use of unique coding and sequential numbering – especially when used with any of Paxar’s highly specialised, security consumable options.

Paxar’s SpecStar is currently in use in over 2000 locations in 78 countries worldwide by a variety of manufacturers producing for major retailers and high street brands.

To read more about Paxar’s SNAP 500 label printer and software please click here. To read more about Specstar Click here.

You can also visit Paxar to learn more at Tissu Premier in Lille, France, (7th-8th September) at the Munich Fashion Start fair, Germany, (6th-8th September) and Mod’amont in Paris, France (20th-23rd September)

Paxar is a global leader in providing innovative merchandising systems to retailers and apparel customers. Paxar's leadership in products and technology, global manufacturing operations, worldwide distribution network and brand recognition are enabling the Company to expand its competitive advantage and market share.