South Korean Fashion Company ShinWon Corporation (CEO: JJ Park) has unveiled its new R&D Design Center in New York, the heart of global fashion, further advancing its global expansion efforts. This strategic expansion, following the opening of its Guatemala sales office last year, aims to foster deeper connections with global clients and enhance ShinWon’s competitive edge in the evolving fashion landscape.

With face-to-face collaboration regaining importance in the post-pandemic world, the New York R&D Design Center will serve as a key hub for strengthening communication and design partnerships with international buyers. Currently, ShinWon operates seven overseas manufacturing subsidiaries in countries such as Guatemala, Nicaragua, Vietnam, and Indonesia, known for their exceptional knit and sweater production capabilities. ShinWon’s robust manufacturing foundation has enabled long-standing collaborations with leading global brands like Patagonia, Columbia, GAP, Target, and Walmart.

Sue Lee, Vice President of ShinWon’s Export R&D Division, stated, “While online collaboration became the norm during the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for physical spaces where designers and brand partners can collaborate in person has grown significantly.” She added, “By positioning the R&D Design Center in New York, we can work closely with local trend researchers, allowing us to efficiently identify and seamlessly integrate the latest market trends.” Lee also noted that in August, more than 80% of the new season design meetings scheduled for Q3 with major buyers were held at the New York location, marking a smooth transition for the center. The New York R&D Design Center is expected to play a key role in real-time communication with buyers, enhancing responsiveness and delivering customized design solutions.

The New York R&D Design Center is set to function as a global design hub, leveraging advanced digital technologies. Buyers will be able to experience virtual showrooms and fabric showcases, replicating the process of reviewing physical samples and enabling immediate feedback. Lee emphasized, “In virtual showrooms built in metaverse-like spaces, we can offer tailored services to clients while implementing sustainable design processes.” Additionally, the fabric, graphic, and style libraries from ShinWon’s Seoul headquarters will be replicated in New York to ensure a consistent design experience.

ShinWon is also integrating cutting-edge technologies such as 2D/3D styling and VR stores to enhance its design processes. The company’s 3D virtual showroom enables visualization of garments on virtual mannequins, allowing buyers to simulate real-world wearing effects. Buyers can utilize 360-degree zoom features and experiment with various colors and patterns, simulating a real-store or runway environment to experience the 3D samples from multiple angles.

Moreover, ShinWon is leveraging AI-driven technologies to improve market intelligence and data analysis, assisting buyers in making informed decisions. By analyzing online market sales data, tracking trends, and employing social media analytics, the company delivers comprehensive insights into consumer preferences. These AI-driven tools enable the company to forecast future trends through machine learning, identifying category-specific designs and colors popular with consumers. ShinWon is also investing in generative AI research to further streamline its design processes. These innovations align with ShinWon’s commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. By reducing the time and resources required for design and sample production, the company not only increases efficiency but also contributes to more sustainable design practices.

Lee concluded, “With the New York R&D Design Center, we will solidify trust with our global buyers and further strengthen our competitiveness in the global fashion market.” With these innovations, ShinWon is well-positioned to reinforce its leadership in the global fashion industry.

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Jaya Dandey, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The premium beauty sector in Asia’s physical retail is thriving, driven by a combination of strong consumer demand, innovative retail strategies, and an increasing emphasis on personalized shopping experiences. The high single-digit growth rates of prestige beauty categories is notable even in the context of broader retail performance, where beauty products are often seen as high-margin categories that outperform other areas such as food sales.”

Tim Hill, Key Account Director, SE Asia, GlobalData, notes: “Consumers are becoming more discerning, not only regarding product quality, but also in terms of the shopping experience. They like to try multiple products in person before making an informed choice, especially in the premium domain where prices can run high. Though companies are eager to leverage these consumer preferences and enter the market, they sometimes face infrastructural challenges. A key strategy to overcome this is to partner with omnichannel players such as beauty ecommerce giants, which are increasingly moving into the physical retail space. Individual consultation stalls in these stores promote customer engagement with a wide variety of brands. “The ability to integrate online and offline experiences will be vital for survival in this rapidly changing landscape. Maintaining a robust omnichannel presence allows retailers to connect with consumers across various platforms, including online and physical stores. This strategy not only caters to different shopping preferences but also ensures that brands remain accessible to a wider audience. A hybrid approach allows these companies to leverage their online success while maintaining a physical presence, creating a seamless shopping experience for consumers. “Southeast Asia is home to a burgeoning upper middle class, who are eager to splurge on luxury beauty. They are more aware of international brands, and given their higher disposable incomes, they are willing to spend on premium beauty products. GlobalData 2024 Q2 Consumer Survey reflects this, wherein about 25% of respondents deemed low price as good value for money while purchasing beauty and grooming products, and a much higher 34% responded that high-quality ingredients represent more value for money.” Luxasia, Southeast Asia’s leading network in beauty and luxury, has enabled market entry and penetration for several brands. It recently captured the Vietnamese market by launching escentials, an omni-retail concept for luxury fragrances, in one of the country’s prestigious malls. Similarly, premium skincare brand SK-II launched a unique concept store at the Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Indian beauty ecommerce giant Nykaa is actively expanding its physical retail spaces across the nation. Dandey concludes: “By returning to the essentials of the beauty industry—where sensorial experiences are paramount—brands can cultivate customer loyalty in a competitive market. As the premium beauty sector evolves, embracing omnichannel strategies and personalizing experiences will not only ensure success but also foster enduring relationships with discerning consumers, shaping a vibrant future for beauty retail.”

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Figure: The GAIA Bag Plant-Powered Innovation £400

Launching on 3 October 2024, The GAIA Bag marks a significant milestone in material innovation and the culmination of a two-year collaboration between PANGAIA and NFW. MIRUM® is a high-performance material derived from natural inputs including clays and natural rubber sourced responsibly. This edition showcases the most traceable and low-carbon version of MIRUM® to date. NFW’s Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) identified the cotton fabric backer as the highest-impact ingredient, reinforcing the significance of PANGAIA’s role in a consortium offtake, supporting a field-level coalition dedicated to regenerative cotton farming practices. Results of these farming practices have demonstrated their benefit when in the spring of 2023 the central valley of California flooded, and the Climate Beneficial fields were used as sponges to absorb runoff from adjacent conventional fields. Greater hydrological function, biodiversity, and organic soil content were all reported to have improved. The result is The GAIA Bag, produced by Veshin Factory, featuring Climate Beneficial cotton sourced from the California Cotton & Climate Coalition (C4), a Fibershed project. This cotton is grown using regenerative methods that actively help rebalance the carbon cycle.

PANGAIA was founded as a platform for launching and scaling next-generation materials, with the mission of bringing problem-solving innovations to the world through premium lifestyle products and experiences. The selection of the groundbreaking 100% bio-based MIRUM® featuring a regenerative cotton backing offers a cruelty-free alternative to the traditional leather industry, which relies on animal hides, leading to the annual slaughter of over 1.4 billion cows, goats, and sheep. This practice is both cruel and often unregulated. Even more, MIRUM® is plastic-free which offers an alternative to fossil-fuel-derived materials that are ecosystem-destroying and harmful to wildlife. This innovation exemplifies PANGAIA’s mission to lead with purpose by providing high-performance alternatives to conventional materials.

The mono-material construction ensures durability and lightweight comfort while underscoring PANGAIA’s commitment to creating products that contribute positively to the planet. Its timeless, oversized silhouette features slim shoulder straps and an internal pocket for everyday essentials. The PANGAIA logo is laser-engraved using a subtractive process, eliminating the need for additional hardware.

Inside the bag, a printed text box highlights the material innovation, reading:
“This Tote Is Made From Mirum®, An Animal And Plastic-Free Alternative To Leather. This Edition Is Backed With Climate Beneficial Verified Cotton, Grown Using Regenerative Practices That Contribute To Rebalancing The Carbon Cycle.” The GAIA Bag is more than just a product; it’s a statement of regenerative innovation and a step towards an Earth Positive Future.

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The event highlights collaborative efforts and Naia Renew’s circular applications to advance eco-friendly solutions in the home-textile industry.

Naia from Eastman is proud to feature at NYC Market Week in the Lenzing Group’s NYC Showroom, celebrating the third anniversary of the Fiber Innovation Center. Alongside partners like TENCEL Fibers by Lenzing, 37.5® Technology, UNIFI®’s REPREVE®, and CiCLO® Technology, Naia is demonstrating how collaboration can lead to responsible innovation in the home textile sector.

During the week in New York, Naia Renew’s deluxe applications, from bedding and pillows to duvets and towels are in the spotlight. Known for its luxurious softness, durability, and environmental credentials, Naia Renew is produced using 60% sustainably sourced wood pulp and 40% certified recycled content*. This unique fiber combines performance with sustainability, providing a solution that reduces landfill waste and minimizes carbon footprints while maintaining the premium quality expected by consumers. Visitors attending the home-textile event at the Fiber Innovation Center can see how Naia Renew’s versatility benefits both manufacturers and consumers. Recent successes include a new fabric blend of 70% TENCEL and 30% Naia in the Chinese home textile market, offering premium performance with a reduced environmental impact. Naia Renew also partners effectively with other technologies, such as UNIFI®’s REPREVE® and CiCLO® Technology, to enhance biodegradable development and create truly circular home textiles.

“We aim to provide sustainable options that maintain the high standards of quality and comfort consumers expect while promoting environmental responsibility,” says Chad Doub, Global Segment Market Manager at Eastman. “Through collaborations, we are advancing circularity and driving responsible change in the home textiles industry.” The Fiber Innovation Center, located at the Lenzing Group’s NYC Showroom (530 7th Ave Ste 808), presents an exciting opportunity for brands and buyers to discover innovative, sustainable solutions and explore the future of eco-conscious home textiles.

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Taking place alongside Glee – the UK’s leading garden and outdoor living trade show – from today until Thursday at the NEC Birmingham, Source Garden is a unique sourcing platform where worldwide responsible manufacturers are united with retailers, garden centres, brands, and contractors who are looking to explore sourcing and private label opportunities. Brands and retailers in attendance today include Sainsburys (Argos), B&Q, Kingfisher, Blue Diamond, Aldi, Tesco, Home Bargains and many more.

Suzanne Ellingham, Event Director of Source Garden says, “I’m so happy to launch Source Garden. It is perfectly placed to nurture new ideas, find inspiration, bring knowledge about what goes into responsible products and manufacturing methods. We are passionate about creating connections, bringing the brightest minds in the industry together, connecting all elements of the retail supply chain and ensuring our buyers find exactly what they are looking for.” Building the foundations of new product lines, Source Garden aims to provide the best in responsibly sourced garden products including outdoor entertaining, garden tools, outdoor decoration, pets, landscaping, and retail services. Visitors discovered new ideas and inspiration that champion environmentally friendly and fairtrade practices. Ruizhi Gao, Assistant Manager, of exhibitor Guangzhou Konda Import & Export said, “We are located in Guangzhou, China, and we are a factory which produces durable and realistic artificial flowers and plants suitable for indoor and outdoor use. We came to Source Garden to exhibit for the first time last year and had a great show. We are very excited to be exhibiting again this year. I spoke to some of our clients before I arrived, and I expect to meet them here, they plan to visit the show!”

The new Ask the Experts sessions offer a chance for visitors to connect with industry leaders and learn how to continue building more ethical and sustainable practices within their business. Taking place in the Buyers Lounge in Hall 6, visitors are invited to book in free 20-minute consultations on topics including buying, merchandising, sustainable storytelling, supply chain resilience, retail trends, creative marketing strategies, and digital marketing techniques. Retail consultancy, Retail 100 are delivering sessions on all three days of the show, covering the following topics; buying, merchandising, sourcing and regional differences, brand development, sustainable storytelling and building your brand narrative, assortment review, supply chain resilience, and retail insight – future trends, consumer behaviour, in-store experiences.

Today, visitors booked in with Louise Welsby, Managing Director of Buy-From about to discuss topics including; creative marketing strategies, business communication and growth, brand development, innovation and storytelling, empowering people through effective communication, and retail insights and predictions. Amy Hobson, Digital Marketing and social media Trainer from Social B was also on hand to discuss franchising, retail business development, digital marketing and converting customers, using social media platforms to engage with your audience, and retail insight. Tomorrow, Edwina Mullins, Director of Social B is onsite to talk about digital marketing techniques and strategy, social media plans, go-to-market insights, capability development, digital transformation and innovation tapping into the need for companies to connect with their customers through storytelling and marketing strategies. Thursday welcomes Therese Oertenblud, Founder of Small Business Collective offering advice on creating a purpose-driven brand, strategic sales, effective goal setting, wholesale supply chain, and building tools for business growth.

Source Garden takes place from 10^th – 12^th September at the NEC Birmingham. Register for your Source Garden free ticket at www.source-garden.com to shape the future of gardening.

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peaq, the layer-1 blockchain for DePIN and Machine RWAs, announces the expansion of its ecosystem as SPIN.FASHION joins to bring luxury on Web3 rails, DePIN-style. EU-compliant and serving companies like Kering, Vogue, Galeries Lafayette, and H&M, SPIN.FASHION is building an industry-leading smart-products operating system platform for minting, connecting, and selling next-generation phygital NFTs. It tokenizes real-world art and luxury objects to turn them into on-chain RWAs with 3D digital twins for immersive extended reality (XR) experiences. SPIN.FASHION offers the only end-to-end software and hardware solutions, including proprietary smart radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags enabling companies to build digital environments and interact with customers in novel ways, providing immersive product and brand experiences. The tags also enable supply-chain traceability for a tangible proof of the object’s authenticity and provenance, connecting the physical world and on-chain data through an IoT network. It will also leverage peaq to power a circular economy model at scale, aimed at making the art and luxury industry more sustainable.

From Starbucks to Nike, countless brands have flirted with NFTs, but the technology’s highest potential is undoubtedly in the art and luxury market, where authenticity is the name of the game. Working as immutable, uncensorable proofs of provenance and authenticity, NFTs grant collectors and connoisseurs the confidence that the objects of their desire — a luxury watch, a high-end car, or a coveted art piece — are no counterfeits, but valuable works of high craftsmanship. As the luxury world treads into a phygital reality, they can play an even bigger role for the industry, enabling a variety of immersive 3D experiences and interactions with the gaming industry.

SPIN.FASHION is the leading platform for minting, connecting, selling and purchasing art, luxury, and culture objects on-chain. As part of Project Horizon, an EU funding program for circularity projects, SPIN.FASHION is co-creating the framework for fully-compliant NFT-based Digital Product Passports, which will be mandatory for all textile products sold in the EU by 2030, with an estimated 62.5B DPPs for garments required globally in the next five years. SPIN.FASHION has already onboarded more than 100 brands and creators in its closed invite-only beta pilot phase and will be launched to the public with peaq as the default chain in late Q3 2024. Its platform is already home to over 80,000 digital and physical items for art and luxury enthusiasts and is set to onboard over 1M items in the next 12 months.

Leveraging peaq as the layer-1 blockchain for its platform, SPIN.FASHION will use a variety of peaq’s Modular DePIN Functions as part of its core infrastructures. It will use self-sovereign peaq IDs as the identity standard on the platform, outfitting every RFID tag — a smart tag placed on luxury and art objects and connected with their on-chain passports — with a peaq ID. It will enable creators to mint phygital NFTs on peaq and use peaq as the home for digital twins of real-world art and luxury items. It will also use peaq as the backbone of its traceability and circularity system, deploying smart contracts on peaq to enable Web3-powered luxury trade, and launch its token natively on peaq. In the future, the peaq integration may also provide the digital backbone for SPIN.FASHION-powered XR experiences.

“We are thrilled to leverage peaq’s Modular DePIN Functions to build some of SPIN.FASHION’s key functions and use it as the main chain of choice for our luxury brands, artists, and creators. On peaq, we are building the most user-friendly, sustainable, and scalable minting infrastructure for smart-products in the industry. It’s exciting to see regulation stepping in to kick off the new RWA-Based DePIN circular economy. We have been building for this vision for almost a decade, and the application of on-chain DPPs seems to be the trigger for a butterfly effect that will reshape the world,” says Lor Albrighi, Co-CEO & Founder of SPIN.FASHION.

“The luxury and art industry stands to gain a lot from joining the Web3 RWA segment, with the added benefits of greater traceability and liquidity,” says Leonard Dorlöchter, co-founder of peaq. “With its knack for innovation, EU compliance, and a vast network of industry partnerships, SPIN.FASHION is well-positioned to be the Web3 gateway for the creative community, and we are thrilled to see it build its multi-faceted platform on peaq.”

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Suzanne Ellingham, Event Director of Source Fashion says, “The UK has always been recognised as a centre for excellence in manufacturing fabrics and textiles, alongside garment manufacturing itself. Small makers and manufacturers proudly take their place alongside global manufacturing powerhouses, to ensure that if you are looking to manufacture close to home, there are people here you can partner and work with. It’s incredibly important as we move forward as a responsible sourcing show, that we support our UK fashion industry in any way that we can, because our visitors are looking for those options.”

FIGASTORE are a womenswear supplier based in Leicester with its own design team and pattern room offering a quick turnaround on samples and a full design service from research through to design development. The business has its own factories in the UK, Morocco and Pakistan. Rosie Clarke, Design Manager at Figastore says, “We’re really excited to be part of Source Fashion after visiting the show for the first time in February. It’s a great opportunity to showcase our company to potential new customers and we are looking forward to meeting new brands and retailers.”

TS Knitwear UK are specialists in crafted knitwear and jersey designed and manufactured in Leicester. A second-generation family run business established in 1976, TS Knitwear offer experience, a high tech fully fashion knitting plant, and the latest in seamless garment technology. An extensive supply chain in the UK and Europe and access to a vast array of yarns and fabrics, coupled with dyeing facilities in France, enables maximum flexibility and speed. Providing a spectrum of gauges from 3 through to 14, TS Knitwear can cater for all types of clients, with a variety of construction methodologies including overlocking, cup seaming and linking. Charanjit Biring, Director of TS Knitwear says, “We are excited to participate in this year’s Source Fashion exhibition. As a leading manufacturer of high-quality knitwear, TS will showcase its latest collections, innovative designs, and sustainable manufacturing processes. TS is thrilled to join this vibrant community and engage with fashion professionals, buyers, and industry experts from around the globe.” 

Varsity City is the UK’s leading supplier of authentic American Varsity Jackets, offering custom varsity jackets, baseball jackets, college jackets, team jackets and letterman jackets. Syed Kazmi, Founder of Varsity City says, “We’re super excited to be able to exhibit at Source Fashion. As a UK company having the ability to showcase our offerings in London to the world is a wonderful opportunity. Looking forward to meeting buyers from all over.”

On a mission to solve global lost property pile ups with digital nametags is BoomerangTag. The BoomerangTag can be applied to any material with The Indestructible, or clothing with the Iron-On. Nametags are outdated and often don’t do the job they’re supposed to, i.e. return your stuff. 7.9 billion items are misplaced each year in the UK and 110 days of our life is spent looking for lost items. Lost belongings usually end up in the bin, and most lost property sits for 6-12 months and then is binned – being lost was its first step to becoming waste.

With BoomerangTag, once scanned and registered, owners can leave and receive digital notes on items so finders can return lost belongings. The BoomerangTag community also aims to create a more circular economy in a future where every relevant product has a BoomerangTag and can actively play a part in reducing the giant pile of global lost property. Owners can also rehome and list items for free should they need to find a home for their tagged items. Charles Braham, Founder of BoomerangTag says, “We’re looking forward to meeting brands at Source Fashion who are looking to reduce waste in the fashion industry, we are on a mission to solve global lost property with our digital nametags so we can’t wait to highlight this to eco-conscious brands at Source Fashion.”

Visitors will also discover Shirley®, who provide expert reassurance through technical services, OEKO-TEX® certification, and comprehensive range of independent testing services. A member of the OEKO-TEX® Association since 1994 and the official OEKO-TEX® institute in the UK, Kenya, South Africa and Singapore, Shirley® offer a collaborative, custom approach to help end consumers, brands and suppliers make informed decisions. With over 100 years pioneering experience and offices worldwide, Shirley® are at the forefront of textiles and garment industries, continuously evolving to meet the ever-changing demands of the global textile market.

 With over 30 years of experience, National Weaving is a family-run business that specialises in manufacturing high-quality woven and printed labels. With a flexible approach and minimum quantity requirements of only 100 labels, National Weaving are well-equipped to serve both start-ups and established brands alike.

Trade Fabrics are a fabric manufacturer based in the UK with over 30 years experience in the fashion industry. Offering an extensive range of knitted jersey fabrics produced in their factory in Leicester, they also offer digitally printed and pleated fabrics produced using state-of-the-art machinery.

As well as the UK, 25 countries, including Peru, Cambodia, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Italy, and Greece will be represented at Source Fashion. Large pavilions from industrial powerhouses China, India and Turkey have also been confirmed, as well as Tanzania, Madagascar and Nepal, making Source Fashion the biggest and most diverse sourcing show in the UK.

Register to attend the July 2024 show at https://www.source-fashion.com/visitor-registration.

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Going Digital for Sustainability

Digital tools allow companies to measure, monitor and manage their sustainability performance in real time. A Digital Dashboard can display data on resource consumption, wastewater, solid waste, risk ratings, audit scores, environment intensity and renewable energy generation all in one place. Integrating this data into systems like ERP or SAP makes it easier for businesses to track and improve their sustainability efforts.

Real-Time Data for Better Decisions

One big advantage of a Digital Dashboard is real-time updates. Updated daily, this tool gives stakeholders access to the latest data, helping them make quick and informed decisions. Whether it’s tracking energy use or managing waste, a Digital Dashboard provides the detailed information needed to drive sustainability initiatives forward.

Accurate Data Collection

Accurate data is crucial for sustainability reporting. Using a mix of IoT technology and manual data entry, companies can capture utility data directly from meters. This approach minimizes errors and ensures reliable data, helping companies meet regulatory standards and achieve their sustainability goals.

Comprehensive Utility Mapping

A Digital Dashboard offers a complete view of key utilities. From electricity and water use to fuel consumption and renewable energy generation, it covers everything. This comprehensive view helps companies understand their environmental impact and find areas for improvement.

Calculating Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Reducing carbon footprints is a key part of sustainability. A strong method for calculating Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from utility data, based on international standards, provides accurate insights. These insights help companies create effective strategies to lower their environmental impact.

Enhancing Social Compliance

Beyond environmental sustainability, social compliance is crucial in the apparel industry. Digital tools can help ensure fair labor practices and safe working conditions. Real-time monitoring and reporting on social compliance metrics, such as grievance, attrition, committee meetings and safety incidents, enable companies to adhere to international labor standards and improve worker well-being.

The Future of Sustainability: Digitalization

Looking ahead, further digitalizing sustainability data involves more automation, real-time monitoring, and advanced analytics. The benefits are clear:

• More Accurate Data: Automation cuts down on human errors, making data more reliable.
• Better Real-Time Monitoring: Instant data access helps quickly spot and fix issues.
• Smarter Decisions: Detailed analytics support better strategic choices.
• Easier Compliance: Simplifies following sustainability and social compliance regulations.
• Greater Transparency: Builds trust with customers, partners, and investors.

Supporting the RMG Sector

In the Ready-Made Garments (RMG) sector, digital tools are especially valuable. They help factories in this sector improve their environmental impact, ensure social compliance, and boost overall efficiency. By using digital dashboards and real-time data, RMG factories can reduce waste, lower energy consumption, and ensure safe and fair working conditions for their employees.

Leading the Way

Digitalization isn’t just a tool; it’s a partner in driving sustainability in the apparel industry. Advanced digital solutions offer the insights and tools needed to reach and surpass sustainability and social compliance targets. By embracing digital tools, companies can commit to environmental responsibility, social compliance, and continuous improvement.

Let’s set new standards for sustainable and ethical manufacturing together. With digital tools, we can create a more sustainable and socially responsible future for the apparel industry.

About the Author Abdul Azeez holds dual roles as Chief ESG Product Strategist at REDEFINE Technologies and Sustainability Project Lead at Redefine Management Services. Redefine has developed SATTVA, an acclaimed sustainability tool designed to elevate performance in sustainable practices. Trusted by prominent manufacturers such as Epyllion and Arabi Fashion in Bangladesh, SATTVA is recognized for its capability to drive meaningful improvements across environmental, social, and governance aspects within the apparel manufacturing sector. Diverzent is a partner of Redefine Technologies in Bangladesh.

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 Cologne, Germany – June 26, 2024, DMIx by ColorDigital GmbH announces the launch of DMIx SamplR, a cutting-edge hardware device designed to simplify and enhance the process of creating digital material twins. Designed to meet the needs of professionals in the fashion, footwear, automotive, and architecture industries, the DMIx SamplR promises to revolutionize the way materials are digitized, communicated and managed.

 This innovative scanner represents a significant advancement in the field of digital product creation (DPC), offering unparalleled accuracy, functionality and interaction for professionals in product sourcing and development.

“One Touch – Digital Twin Collaboration”

At the heart of the DMIx SamplR is its remarkable ease of use. With just one button, users can create precise digital replicas of flat physical materials. This device integrates advanced Apple iPhone technology and unique lighting, offering high-quality scans at 300 PPI. The result is an effortless, accurate color scan that seamlessly integrates into the DMIx platform.

 Key Features

·       Effortless High-Quality Scans: Achieve unparalleled scan quality based on Apple iPhone camera technology, ensuring detailed and accurate digital material representations.

·       Instant 3D Previews: View materials instantly in 3D quality, allowing for immediate evaluation and adjustment.

·       Remote Texture Development: Develop textures remotely without the need for physical samples, utilizing the device’s video feature for different lighting conditions.

 ·       Full DMIx Integration: Automatically upload scanned content to the secure DMIx platform, making it immediately accessible to other DMIx users and tools. Use the included, comprehensive DMIx 3D-Magic tool for tiling and appearance adjustments.

·       Comprehensive Texture Maps for 3D artists: Capture various texture maps, including diffuse albedo, normal map, glossiness, specular albedo, and displacement.

Industry Impact

The launch of DMIx SamplR marks a significant advancement in material digitization technology. By simplifying the scanning process and enhancing the quality of digital twins, DMIx SamplR addresses key challenges faced by professionals in design and production workflows. This innovation not only streamlines material management but also significantly reduces the need for costly and time-consuming physical sampling.

It facilitates better communication and collaboration between designers, manufacturers, and other stakeholders by providing a consistent and accurate digital representation of materials.

“We are thrilled to introduce the DMIx SamplR to the market,” said Gerd Willschütz, COO of ColorDigital GmbH. “This device embodies our commitment to bring innovation and excellence in the digital supply chain. With the DMIx SamplR, we are setting a new standard for material digitization, making it highly accessible and efficient for professionals across various industries. On brand and supplier side.”

 The DMIx SamplR will be available for order in the 4^th quarter of 2024.

The launch of DMIx SamplR marks a significant milestone for DMIx by ColorDigital GmbH, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and excellence in digital product creation. This new hardware device is set to revolutionize the way materials are digitized, offering unmatched precision, efficiency, and integration within the DMIx ecosystem and with leading industry applications. Find more information on www.dmix.info/SamplR

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Target Corporation today announced plans to roll out a new generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tool to team members at all of its nearly 2,000 stores by August, becoming the first major retailer to share that it is bringing this technology to its store team members across the U.S. The tool, called Store Companion, is a GenAI-powered chatbot designed by Target that can answer on-the-job process questions, coach new team members, support store operations management and more.

Store Companion’s goal is to make the teams’ jobs easier and allow them to work more quickly and efficiently, offering faster service and deeper guest engagement to make the shopping experience even better. The initiative is part of Target’s broader strategic approach to using GenAI across its business to empower its team, enhance the guest experience and support the company’s long-term growth.

“We know technology will continue to play an outsized role in the future of retail — for our team members, our guests and our business. With that in mind, we’re continually experimenting with new tools to make it even easier for our team to do their jobs and to bring more of what guests love about shopping at Target to life,” said Brett Craig, executive vice president and chief information officer, Target. “The transformative nature of GenAI is helping us accelerate the rate of innovation across our operations, and we’re excited about the role these new tools and applications will play in driving growth.”

How the Store Companion tool works

The Store Companion chatbot will be available as an app on store team members’ specially equipped handheld devices, providing immediate answers to their questions about processes and procedures. For example, team members can input prompts like “How do I sign a guest up for a Target Circle Card?” and “How do I restart the cash register in the event of a power outage?” and receive instructions and resources in seconds. The tool also serves as a store process expert and coach, helping new and seasonal team members learn on the job.

Testing, learning and improving the tool

“Generative AI is game-changing technology and Store Companion will make daily tasks easier and enable our team to respond to guests’ requests with confidence and efficiency,” said Mark Schindele, executive vice president and chief stores officer, Target. “The tool frees up time and attention for our team to serve guests with care and to create a shopping destination that invites discovery, ease and moments of everyday joy.”

To develop this best-in-class resource for its store team members, Target’s in-house technology team used real frequently asked questions and process documents from its store teams across the U.S. The team worked quickly, taking the project from its initial testing phase to planned rollout in just six months. Target is currently piloting the tool at about 400 stores, using the teams’ feedback to improve the experience ahead of the chainwide rollout.

Early feedback from pilot teams indicates that Store Companion is positively impacting their daily work.

“We’re hearing great feedback from our team about the new app,” said Jake Seaquist, store director at one of the pilot stores in Champlin, Minn. “Streamlining day-to-day tasks goes a long way with our team members and adds up to more time spent with guests and a better guest experience across the store.”

Since the pilot began, experienced team members have been sharing their expertise and adding materials to help shape the tool.

The power of AI across Target’s business

Store Companion is the latest example of how Target is accelerating its use of GenAI to create even more personalized and intuitive experiences for team members and consumers. In addition to Store Companion, the retailer plans to roll out another internal GenAI tool in the coming months, starting with its headquarters team members. When placed in the hands of Target’s most important asset, its team, this technology has the potential to transform day-to-day tasks and empower team members to be more efficient and spend time doing the most meaningful work.  

Target also is using GenAI to elevate its digital experience for consumers, including GenAI-powered product pages and search capabilities that curate the most relevant results and make it even easier for consumers to find everything they need when shopping on Target.com. For example:

• Enhancements to thousands of product display pages on Target.com this year have created more relevant, guest-friendly experiences. Target is using GenAI to summarize reviews and make the product descriptions on its site pages even more relevant to help shoppers make confident purchase decisions. It also enhances the items’ product titles with more robust information to help shoppers search and find the right items faster. More than 100,000 of these pages are expected to be complete by the end of the summer.
  
• Guided Search has begun rolling out on Target.com, which allows guests to search the site using conversational language and discover even more of the assortment through intelligent, curated results. For example, a search for “summer party” will return a broader range of relevant items, from party supplies and invitations to outdoor tableware, meat for grilling, a variety of snack and drink ideas and more. It also will help shoppers remember commonly forgotten items such as sun protection, insect repellents, outdoor games and other essentials. This enhanced search experience will continue to expand and will be available to all consumers later this summer.

In addition to these enhancements, Target will continue testing dozens of additional GenAI applications throughout 2024 and beyond. The retailer remains committed to the safe and responsible use of the technology and is focused on building a GenAI ecosystem that will continue to drive its business and enhance the team member and guest experiences while embracing the future of retail.

Miscellaneous

Statements in this release regarding the company’s future financial and operational performance and enhancements to its technologies and capabilities are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause the company’s results to differ materially. The most important risks and uncertainties are described in Item 1A of the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2024. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

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