Carpisa adopts TXT Retail for collection design, production and sourcing: everywhere, anytime, ‘end-to-end’

This article is brought to you by Retail Technology Review: Carpisa adopts TXT Retail for collection design, production and sourcing: everywhere, anytime, ‘end-to-end’.

TXT Retail has announced that Carpisa, a leading brand in the fashion handbags, luggage and accessories sector, has successfully deployed the TXT PLM solution to integrate and streamline all phases in the collection lifecycle: from the early design and collection planning stage, to prototyping and costing, up to sourcing, supplier collaboration and final development.

Set up in 2001, in just a few years Carpisa has become a business phenomenon, offering trendy products with high quality and wide-ranging Italian design. Since the very beginning, a small turtle has been the logo of the company, which has built a retail network that today comprises of over 600 stores in 35 countries. The world of Carpisa includes several product types: fashion handbags, suitcases and small leather goods, as well as fashion accessories.

"Carpisa is, in the most positive meaning of this expression, a 'fast-fashion business','' explains Simone Padrin, Retail Merchandising Manager at Carpisa. "We develop over 3000 SKUs per year, and with such a wide assortment and pace of innovation, we need to be fast-efficient at every stage of the product lifecycle. Moreover, as the company grows, our product offering keeps growing. Having a tight control over processes, synchronised operations as well as accurate and secure information at all levels, is simply strategic in such a dynamic context."

TXT PLM is helping Carpisa manage all collection information, from early design up to the next phases of sourcing and development, including the management of images, material and technical specs. The workflow capabilities of the tool enable the synchronisation of all teams through 'to do' lists and alerts. The web interface of TXT PLM allows mobile workers within the company, as well as sourcing teams, to work on the set of data which is relevant to them, anytime, anywhere.

"A key benefit of the system is the visibility and monitoring of timelines, which helps orchestrate the work of so many different teams and to hit the market with the right products in a timely manner," adds Padrin. "This is a crucial element for a company with such a strong product focus, wide assortment and tight timelines for development."

According to Carpisa, over 20 designers use the solution, together with product managers, planning and procurement teams, as well as a sourcing team of over 30 people. The system integrates with the company's ERP system (SAP FMS – Fashion Management Solution), already in use.

"Roll-out of TXT PLM has been fast and smooth," adds Padrin. "The solution is flexible to our specific needs, while building and leveraging on a set of functionalities which are proven and robust."

"Carpisa has a clear vision of PLM and the benefits that an integrated end-to-end process and solution can bring, in terms of time-to-market and merchandising precision. We are proud to support the PLM journey of such a talented, fast-growing company and pleased of their recognition for the work done so far," comments Simone Pozzi, EVP Managing Director at TXT Retail.