Transform Your Product Development with AIMS360’s Apparel PLM Software

In today’s competitive fashion industry, apparel PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) is more than a tool—it’s your brand’s competitive advantage. AIMS360’s fashion PLM software delivers robust material tracking, streamlined production management, and real-time warehouse visibility, all tailored to the unique needs of apparel brands.

Why Choose AIMS360’s Fashion PLM?

Our PLM software for fashion isn’t just another generic solution. AIMS360’s PLM apparel software is designed specifically for the complexities of the apparel supply chain, offering full visibility from materials to finished goods.

End-to-End Material Tracking for Apparel Brands

What is material tracking?

Material tracking is the ability to monitor the movement and usage of all components—such as fabrics (cotton, denim, silk), trims (buttons, zippers, labels), and labor—used in apparel production.

Example:

A denim brand uses AIMS360 to track which rolls of indigo denim, branded leather patches, metal buttons, and thread lots are used in each style and production run, ensuring they always know material availability and consumption.

• Fabric, Trim, and Labor Tracking: Manage inventory, costs, and allocations for fabrics, trims, and labor in real time.
• Material and Trim Images: Attach and share images for each material or trim, reducing confusion (e.g., distinguishing between a metal zipper and a plastic zipper).
• Bill of Materials (BOM): Build and manage detailed BOMs for every style, including all necessary fabrics, trims, and steps in the production process.

What is a bill of materials (BOM)?

A BOM is a comprehensive list of all materials, components, trims, and labor needed to produce a single style.

Example:

For a printed t-shirt, the BOM includes 100% cotton jersey fabric, neck labels, care labels, screen print ink colors, and labor for cutting, sewing, and printing.

Cut Ticket Management

What is a cut ticket?

A cut ticket is a production order that specifies how many units of a style should be cut from specific fabric lots or rolls.

Example:

A fashion brand creates a cut ticket for 500 units of a best-selling blouse, instructing the factory to cut those units from particular lots of white silk and assign specific trims like shell buttons and woven care labels.

• Cut Tickets in AIMS360: Link every production run to specific materials and labor, ensuring accurate usage and traceability throughout the process.

Garment Dye Tracking

What is garment dye?

Garment dyeing is the process of dyeing fully sewn garments, rather than dyeing the fabric before cutting and sewing. This technique is popular for unique washes and rapid color changes.

Example:

An LA-based brand produces a batch of t-shirts in natural cotton, then creates a garment dye order to turn 200 pieces “vintage rose pink” for a limited collection.

• Garment Dye in AIMS360: Track each dye lot, assign costs, and record which units received special treatments, linking back to BOM and production records.

Screen Printing Management

What is screen printing?

Screen printing is a method for applying graphics, artwork, or logos to finished garments using ink pushed through a stencil.

Example:

A streetwear label submits a production run of 800 sweatshirts, then issues a screen printing order to add the season’s graphic logo to the front, specifying ink colors and artwork files.

• Screen Printing in AIMS360: Track printing jobs by style, order, and ink color, linking back to BOM and inventory.

Production Tracking

What is production tracking?

Production tracking monitors every stage of the manufacturing process, from sourcing materials to finished goods.

Example:

A production manager uses AIMS360 to see which orders are in cutting, sewing, dyeing, screen printing, or finishing, with real-time updates on which materials (like elastic bands or decorative trims) are being used at each stage.

Vendor Purchase Orders (POs)

What is a vendor PO?

A vendor purchase order is an official document issued to suppliers to buy raw materials, trims, or finished goods.

Example:

A purchasing manager generates a PO for 1,000 yards of organic cotton jersey and 5,000 brass buttons from preferred vendors, which are automatically tracked and linked to production.

• Vendor POs in AIMS360: Create, manage, and track the status and receipts of all material and trim orders.

Receiving

What is receiving?

Receiving is the process of logging materials or finished products as they arrive from vendors or subcontractors.

Example:

When 1,000 zippers and 500 spools of polyester thread are delivered to the warehouse, staff scan the shipment, updating inventory instantly.

• Receiving in AIMS360: Barcoding and system integration allow for immediate updates and reduce errors in material counts.

Work in Process (WIP) Inventory

What is work in process (WIP) inventory?

WIP inventory represents materials and partially completed products that are currently being manufactured but not yet finished.

Example:

2,000 jacket shells are in the sewing department and not yet finished; these are tracked as WIP so the team always knows what’s committed but not yet complete.

• WIP Tracking in AIMS360: Allocate and monitor inventory in all production stages for accurate cost accounting and real-time updates.

Allocation to Work in Process

What is allocation to WIP?

Allocation to WIP means designating specific materials or trims for use in ongoing production orders, ensuring they are reserved and not used for other jobs.

Example:

The system allocates specific rolls of wool and unique horn buttons for a 500-piece coat production, ensuring the correct dye lot and materials are used.

Warehouse Material Inventory Management

What is warehouse material inventory management?

Warehouse material inventory management is the process of organizing, scanning, and tracking every material—including fabrics, trims, and components—by barcode, lot, roll, or warehouse bin.

Example:

Warehouse staff scan each roll of fabric as it’s received, move trims like hangtags and metal snaps into their storage bins, and scan again when items are sent to production—maintaining a complete chain of custody and real-time inventory levels.

Spec Sheets, Fabric Content, and Compliance

What is a spec sheet, fabric content, and why is compliance important?

A spec sheet contains all the measurements, construction details, and technical instructions for a garment. Fabric content lists fiber composition. Country of Origin and HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) codes are crucial for customs, compliance, and international shipping.

Example:

A buyer requests the spec sheet, fabric content, and country of origin for a style being imported into Europe. The team instantly downloads this info from AIMS360.

Sample Tracking

What is sample tracking?

Sample tracking monitors the development, approval, and revision process for fit, size, and production samples.

Example:

A design team requests a size run sample of a new dress, tracks feedback and revisions, and stores all sample records and photos in AIMS360.

Costing and Margin Control

What is costing and why does it matter for margin?

Costing is the process of tracking the actual cost of all materials (fabrics, trims, thread), labor, and treatments for each style. Knowing your production cost enables you to set prices that maintain your desired margin and ensure profitability.

Example:

A brand calculates the true cost of each style by tracking all fabric (e.g., 2 yards of modal jersey per dress), trims (e.g., 5 shell buttons, a woven brand label), and special processes (garment dye, screen print). With AIMS360, the system instantly calculates total production cost per unit. If the production cost of a shirt is $12 and your wholesale price is $24, you know your margin is 50%. If material prices rise, AIMS360 helps you catch it early and adjust your prices or costs to maintain profitability.

FAQ: Apparel PLM & Fashion PLM Software

What is PLM in apparel and fashion?

PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) in fashion refers to software that manages the entire product journey—from concept and design through production, warehouse, and delivery.

Why is apparel PLM or fashion PLM different from traditional PLM?

Apparel PLM is uniquely built to handle fast-changing SKUs, complex BOMs, seasonal collections, fabric tracking, and production processes like cut tickets and dye lots, making it distinct from other industries’ PLM needs.

What’s the difference between fashion PDM and fashion PLM?

PDM (Product Data Management) manages design files and technical details. Fashion PLM covers the entire lifecycle: workflow management, supplier collaboration, production tracking, and full material traceability.

Ready to See the Power of PLM Apparel Software?

AIMS360’s apparel PLM delivers the industry’s most comprehensive solution for fashion brands looking to streamline product development, manage material tracking, and improve supply chain visibility. If you want to boost efficiency and accelerate your product lifecycle, discover how our PLM software for fashion can transform your business.

Contact us today to learn more about AIMS360’s fashion PLM software!

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