Paris, November 30, 2006 – Microsoft has chosen to associate Lectra with the worldwide launch of Windows Vista, its new operating system, on November 30, 2006. 

Microsoft was particularly attracted by Kaledo 3D Trend, the new Lectra project developed with Windows Vista. Through the integration of Windows Vista into the development of its design software, Lectra, the principal technology supplier to the fashion industry, enters a new phase in the universe of fashion designers by offering them an interface that is perfectly adapted to their mode of artistic expression. With Kaledo 3D Trend, Lectra’s animated, interactive trend board, technology becomes transparent in the service of creative freedom in a three-dimensional universe.

Lectra in the spotlight on November 30 in Paris

Lectra CEO Daniel Harari will participate at a round table dedicated to Windows Vista’s contribution to innovation at the gala event on November 30 in Paris, led by Microsoft France President Eric Boustouller in the presence of Jeff Raikes, President of Microsoft’s Global Business Division. This event is one of a series of events related to the launch of Windows Vista held in world capitals on the same day. Daniel Harari will explain the challenges faced by fashion companies today, and how Lectra’s response to those challenges has been strengthened by the incorporation of this new technology into its new design solution. Lectra is one of three software publishers (along with Dassault Systèmes and Cegid) whose solutions will be highlighted at the event.

Technology in the service of user friendliness

“The 2D and 3D animation possibilities offered by Windows Presentation Foundation simplify the development of 3D applications, enabling partner companies to create particularly innovative new types of applications,” said Eric Boustouller. “By marrying our expertise with companies like Lectra, which have a perfect understanding of their customers’ businesses, we can bring constant innovation to fashion designers in need of powerful, professional tools that are simple and easy to use.” 

Lectra’s R&D teams relied on Microsoft’s .NET Framework 3.0 platform; this application represents a major advance, providing all the foundations necessary for quickly developing an innovative user interface that combines 3D, 2D, transparencies, multimedia and animations.

Showcasing collections changes dimension 

“For 33 years, Lectra has been revolutionizing fashion industry processes,” said Daniel Harari. “With Windows Vista we will enrich our Kaledo design offering, which is the market’s leading designer-dedicated solution. With the new Kaledo 3D Trend concept, we enable designers to easily access 3D technologies to showcase their new trends, and to accelerate decision making and collections releases. In a world as globalized as that of fashion, the visual aspect is fundamental, as it allows participants to overcome communication problems.”

Kaledo 3D Trend permits designers to create and animate trend boards by composing a collection environment in three dimensions and adjusting styles and designs with other multimedia components such as sound or video. Designers can now easily create an atmosphere and conduct a realistic virtual stroll through a three-dimensional universe in which all of their ideas are expressed with force.

As a result, fashion companies can show and explore all the dimensions of a trend board to validate the collection, present it to sales people and to customers to ensure an efficient promotion of the collection.
Kaledo 3D Trend will be commercially released in 2007.