Maximilien Abadie on Reshaping Fashion with AI and Consumer-first Mindset

Lectra, a French technology company, is reshaping fashion's future with AI and a consumer-first mindset. The company designs and manufactures one-third of the world's clothing and plans to invest heavily in the fashion industry. Lectra's deputy CEO, Maximilien Abadie, believes the industry is entering the "fourth industrial revolution" and is shifting from a top-down "push" model to a consumer-driven "pull" model, where brands must understand consumer demand and drive production and distribution accordingly.

Lectra, a French technology company, is at the forefront of the fashion industry's digital transformation, with a focus on AI and a consumer-first mindset. The company, which designs and manufactures one-third of the world's clothing, plans to invest heavily in the fashion sector. Maximilien Abadie, Lectra's deputy chief executive officer, envisions a future defined by AI, cloud computing, and real-time data analysis, marking the beginning of the "fourth industrial revolution" in fashion [1].

Abadie believes the industry is shifting from a top-down "push" model, where brands dictate trends and drive production, to a consumer-driven "pull" model. In this new paradigm, brands must understand consumer demand and adapt their production and distribution strategies accordingly. "Everything goes in parallel now," Abadie said, emphasizing the importance of brands understanding consumer demand, identifying trends, determining pricing, and positioning products competitively simultaneously [1].

Lectra's aggressive acquisition strategy, which includes the recent purchase of Launchmetrics, reflects its commitment to this transformation. Launchmetrics provides brands with analytics tools to evaluate ROI from runway shows and media campaigns, as well as assess consumer brand sentiment. The platform's AI-driven analysis of social media posts and articles allows brands to gauge consumer perception in real-time, a crucial aspect of the "see-now, buy-now" model [1].

Lectra's TextileGenesis platform is another key component of its sustainability efforts. By tracing certified fibers across the supply chain, the platform aims to improve transparency and reduce the risk of fraud or greenwashing. To date, it has tracked 2.6 billion garments and has over 15,000 suppliers participating across Asia, Europe, and South America [1].

In the Indian market, Tryo, a next-generation fashion shopping marketplace, has raised Rs 3 crore in pre-seed funding to launch operations in Bangalore. The funding will be used to accelerate product and technology development and strengthen partnerships with leading Indian fashion brands. Tryo aims to reimagine how consumers shop for apparel online by offering a "try-before-you-buy" model, allowing users to order up to ten fashion items for zero rupees, try them at home, and pay for what they keep [2].

Both Lectra and Tryo demonstrate the potential of technology to transform the fashion industry. As the sector continues to evolve, these companies are at the forefront of driving innovation and sustainability, shaping a future where consumer demand dictates production and distribution, and where technology enhances, rather than hinders, creativity.

References:
[1] https://wwd.com/business-news/technology/lectra-maximilien-abadie-ai-fashion-sustainability-1238029417/
[2] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/sme-sector/tryo-raises-rs-3-crore-in-pre-seed-funding-to-launch-try-first-pay-later-fashion-marketplace-in-india/articleshow/123117801.cms