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With a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and Big Data analytics, Lectra continues to strengthen its position as a leading driver of digital and sustainable transformation in the fashion industry.
Lectra’s latest move came just two days before Valia Fashion was presented to the media, when the company announced a strategic partnership with AQC, a French company specialising in AI for textile quality control. AQC develops innovative solutions based on machine learning algorithms that automate the detection of textile defects – a task traditionally reliant on highly skilled human operators. This €1.3 million investment, which secured Lectra a 30% stake in AQC, aims to accelerate the digitalisation of fashion brands’ production processes, contributing to the industry’s shift towards Industry 4.0.
Less than a month earlier, Lectra had formed another strategic partnership with Six Atomic, a Singaporean company focused on the use of generative AI for fashion design and development. Six Atomic’s technology automates repetitive tasks, such as creating modular pattern libraries and rapidly grading designs, allowing fashion brands to significantly reduce the development time of their collections. With a $2.5 million investment and an 18% equity stake in Six Atomic, Lectra further demonstrated its commitment to innovation by integrating solutions that enhance efficiency and improve collaboration between design teams.
“In recent weeks, and indeed earlier this week, we announced strategic partnerships with leading AI companies, reaffirming our commitment to innovation in the fashion industry,” said Lectra’s CSO and CPO during the prelude to the official presentation of Valia Fashion to the media on 9 October in Cestas. “These collaborations are crucial to our future vision. Six Atomic, for instance, is developing generative AI solutions focused on the fashion product development process, while AQC is working on automating textile quality control activities using machine learning,” highlighted Maximilien Abadie.
These recent partnerships complement the strategic acquisitions made by Lectra in recent years, which have expanded its Big Data analytics and AI presence in the market. In early 2024, Lectra acquired a majority stake in Launchmetrics, a leading American company in fashion marketing. Launchmetrics offers an innovative cloud-based SaaS platform focused on brand performance, helping companies optimise campaign launches and measure return on investment by aggregating and analysing marketing data. Lectra’s acquisition of 50.3% of Launchmetrics for $85 million allowed the company to expand its service offerings and strengthen its presence in digital fashion marketing, positioning itself as a key player in the Industry 4.0 revolution. The full acquisition, set to be completed in five phases by 2030, is expected to reach a total value of $240 million.
In 2022, Lectra had already acquired TextileGenesis, a traceability platform that uses “digital tokens” to certify the origin of sustainable materials throughout the supply chain. This technology is vital for brands facing increasing regulatory and consumer pressure to ensure transparency in their production chains. With TextileGenesis, Lectra provides businesses with a solid solution to trace materials from their origin to the final retail product, ensuring authenticity and compliance with environmental and social standards.
Another significant step was the acquisition of Retviews, a Big Data analytics platform that monitors over 5,000 fashion brands globally. Retviews uses AI to provide valuable insights into market trends, enabling brands to benchmark in real time, identify business opportunities, and adjust their collections more effectively.