Kaledo® By Lectra Now Sets the Standard For Design At US Universities
Over 60 Top US Design Universities Empower Students With Lectra's Kaledo Solution
Atlanta, GA--(Marketwire) - Lectra, the world leader in integrated technology solutions dedicated to industries using soft materials -- textiles, leather, industrial fabrics and composite materials -- is pleased to announce that more than 60 leading universities across the United States have adopted Kaledo®, Lectra's professional fashion and textile design platform. As more schools switch to Kaledo, either for first-time use or to replace U4ia and Primavision, Lectra's previous textile and fashion design offer, this new solution has now become the standard for both fashion designers and students looking to fulfill the changing skills requirements within the industry.
"In the current business climate, it is more important than ever for design students to be fully prepared to enter the job market when they graduate. With Kaledo, Lectra enables them to benefit from the latest advances in design technology for both textile and fashion. It helps them put theory into practice, preparing them to meet the demands of the sector and fulfill the expectations of Lectra customers," said Roy Shurling, President of Lectra North America.
With Kaledo, students learn how to develop new designs and collections and make modifications quickly, capitalizing on their original ideas and ensuring the quality of their styles. They can also create feasible textiles and digital trend boards, while expressing their creativity and refining their technical skills. The combination of an artistic eye and technical know-how is very valuable, and Kaledo provides the forum to facilitate collaboration and the application of both skill sets.
"Our move to introduce Kaledo into the Parsons Associate Degree Fashion Digital curriculum was made in order to engage our students in the methodological and artistic approaches that designers use when interfacing creative practice with technology, without comprising the design aesthetic," said Luciana Scrutchen, Coordinator, Digital Associate Degree Program, Parsons The New School for Design, New York.
Kaledo enables students to create highly realistic simulations of prints, weaves and knits, and to develop variations in just a few mouse clicks. "Lectra's Kaledo solution is a valuable asset to our fashion design curriculum. It allows the faculty to demonstrate concepts of textile design, including pattern repeat, knit and weave structures, and professional-quality fashion presentation in a more effective and exciting way for our students," said Sharon Levine, Fashion Design CAD Technician, Columbia College, Chicago.
"We have been using Lectra software in our apparel and textile design program for more than a decade. Now, we can benefit from the use of Kaledo -- an innovative, powerful and easy-to-use solution," said Diane Sparks, Professor of Textile and Apparel Design in the Department of Design & Merchandising, at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.
"Kaledo's user-friendly interface has allowed my classes to explore more functions, because students pick up quickly on how to use the program," commented Constance W. Collins, Master Instructor, Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago.
"We have been a Lectra partner for many years, and we are delighted to benefit from Lectra's major innovations. We look forward to training the next generation of surface designers on Kaledo," said Karen Gentile, Chairperson Textile/Surface Design, Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), New York.
With more than 35 years of experience and investment in innovation for fashion, and a history of collaboration with some of the biggest names in the industry, Lectra contributes to preparing students for lifelong careers. It has developed partnerships with more than 800 schools worldwide. Lectra's education partners include fashion and design schools and universities, engineering schools, particularly those related to textiles and information technology, professional fashion associations, and incubator projects.
"Lectra has demonstrated its commitment to helping improve student learning and success through education. We are honored that so many prestigious fashion programs have selected Lectra to prepare the next generation of fashion designers," concluded Roy Shurling.
For more information on the Lectra Education Program, please visit www.lectra.com/en/education or contact Hari Kenkare on +1 212-730-4444, ext: 236.
About Lectra
Lectra is the world leader in integrated technology solutions that automate, streamline and accelerate product design, development and manufacturing processes for industries using soft materials. Lectra develops the most advanced specialized software and cutting systems and provides associated services to a broad array of markets including fashion (apparel, accessories, footwear), automotive (car seats and interiors, airbags), furniture, as well as a wide variety of other market sectors, such as aeronautical and marine industries, wind power and personal protective equipment. Lectra serves 23,000 customers in more than 100 countries with 1,400 employees and $214 million in 2009 revenues. The company is listed on Euronext Paris.
For more information, please visit www.lectra.com
®: Kaledo is a registered trademark of Lectra.
SOURCE: Lectra