Advances in technology are helping to improve design outcomes and reduce waste in the fashion industry, placing importance on specialised digital skills.

Software program CLO3D offers a virtual environment for testing and refining designs, reducing the amount of fabric that is wasted during prototyping.

CLO3D users can create avatars, build garments and test fit and flow, long before any cutting or sewing of fabrics occurs.

TAFE SA’s Fashion Program is delivering introductory CLO3D training through a short course and micro-credential for those who want to advance their technical know-how and become familiar with the virtual workspace.

TAFE SA’s Helen Jansson, Principal Lecturer Fashion and Costume, says knowledge of the software, which is increasingly being used by fashion houses, is an asset for anyone wanting to work in the industry.

“CLO3D is gaining prominence in the fashion industry because it saves time and is a more sustainable way of designing, reducing textile waste,” she says.

“TAFE SA fashion and costume design students are now learning about CLO3D as part of their studies and for those already working in industry, we offer a short course and micro-credential that provide some introductory knowledge and skills.”

Sacha Roberts of The Couture Costumer participated in the TAFE SA short course, CLO3D for Fashion – Intro, to help her navigate the program.

“I had independently done some learning of CLO3D and found it quite overwhelming to get started,” she says.

“The course was a great ground-level introduction to the program, and now I feel as though I have a basic knowledge I can build on,” she says.

“Our lecturer, Marcia, was fantastic at keeping pace with the students and ensuring we didn’t fall behind—it’s easy to miss a step or get lost—and she was very patient with us.”

Sacha’s business specialises in costumes and dancewear and she plans to use her CLO3D skills to develop digitised patterns and grade them into different sizes.

Michele Ramos Kihara also took part in the CLO3D For Fashion - Intro short course, eager to develop her skills and potentially integrate the technology into her business.

“My idea was to explore the possibility of building realistic prototypes of rhythmic gymnastics leotards and showing them in detail to customers before production, making the process more efficient and precise,” she says.

Michele says she wanted to learn more about the program before deciding if it was suitable for her business.

“I was confident that TAFE SA would be the best place to start. I had the opportunity to learn from exceptional instructors who were very knowledgeable in the subject,” she says.

“The most interesting aspect of CLO is its contribution in terms of practicality and sustainability, as it helps users avoid unnecessary waste of time and materials.”

The CLO3D for Fashion – Intro is a six-week course (one evening per week), starting Tuesday, 26 May.

The micro-credential Digital Fashion with CLO3D is an introductory course for fashion and costume industry professionals wanting to upskill and develop a better understanding of the virtual sampling process. This course is online, self-paced, and takes approximately 15–20 hours.

For more information, please visit the TAFE SA website.