FBD_BModel · Project

Digital Platform for On-Demand Small-Batch Fashion Production Using Big Data

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Imagine you want custom-fit clothes that actually perform well — keep you warm, feel comfortable, move with your body — but today that means either expensive bespoke tailoring or settling for mass-produced sizes. This project built a digital platform that connects fabric suppliers, designers, and manufacturers so they can quickly produce small batches of personalized garments using big data and virtual try-on technology. Think of it like an Uber-style matchmaking system, but for the entire clothing supply chain — from thread to finished jacket. The platform lets consumers see and evaluate how a garment will look, feel, and perform before it's even made.

By the numbers

consortium partners across the supply chain

EU countries represented in the network

SMEs involved in development and testing

75%

industry partner ratio in the consortium

EUR 3,747,374

EU investment in platform development

deliverables produced including business cases

The business problem

What needed solving

European textile and fashion companies are trapped between two bad options: mass-produce standardized garments (and deal with unsold inventory and returns) or offer custom products at a cost that kills margins. There is no efficient way to coordinate small-batch production across fragmented supply chains of fabric makers, designers, and manufacturers while meeting individual consumer preferences for fit, comfort, and style.

The solution

What was built

The project built a digital technology platform with two main systems: an Interactive Design System (IDS) for data-driven product and design recommendations, and a Supply Chain and Production Management System (SCPMS) for dynamic supplier selection and production planning. It also created a virtual evaluation space for assessing garment comfort and performance, plus validated business cases for a B2B2C model.

Audience

Who needs this

Small-batch garment manufacturers looking to digitize their supply chainFashion e-commerce companies struggling with high return ratesWorkwear and sportswear brands offering customized functional clothingTextile industry digitalization consultants and system integratorsFashion-tech startups building made-to-order platforms

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Fashion & Apparel Manufacturing

SME

Target: Small-to-mid-size garment manufacturers

If you are a garment manufacturer struggling with unsold inventory from large production runs — this project developed a Supply Chain and Production Management System (SCPMS) that dynamically plans tasks and selects suppliers, enabling you to profitably produce small series of customized functional clothing. The platform was built with 16 partners across 7 countries, with 9 SMEs directly involved in testing the model.

Textile E-Commerce & Retail

any

Target: Online fashion retailers or brand owners

If you are a fashion retailer losing customers because they can't try clothes before buying online — this project created a virtual space where consumers can visually evaluate thermal comfort, skin touch, and pressure comfort of garments in relation to body movements. This could reduce your return rates by letting shoppers 'experience' the product digitally before ordering from a local EU supply chain.

Technical & Functional Textiles

mid-size

Target: Workwear and sportswear producers

If you are a functional clothing producer needing to offer customized protective or performance garments in small quantities — this project built an Interactive Design System (IDS) that recommends products and designs based on big data, connecting you directly with European fabric suppliers and production networks. The B2B2C business model was validated through pilot operations with 12 industry partners.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or adopt this platform?

The project received EUR 3,747,374 in EU funding to develop the platform. Specific licensing costs are not published in available project data. You would need to contact the consortium — likely ENSAIT (the coordinator) or one of the 9 SME partners — to discuss commercial terms.

Can this work at industrial scale for real production volumes?

The platform was designed specifically for small series production, not mass manufacturing. It integrates supplier selection, dynamic task planning, and production simulation across a network of 16 partners in 7 countries. Based on available project data, extensive pilot operations were conducted to validate the model.

Who owns the intellectual property and how can I access it?

As an EU-funded RIA project coordinated by ENSAIT (France), IP is typically shared among the 16 consortium partners according to their grant agreement. With 12 industry partners and 9 SMEs involved, exploitation rights are likely distributed. Contact the coordinator for licensing options.

Does the platform integrate with existing ERP or PLM systems?

The platform includes a Supply Chain and Production Management System (SCPMS) designed to connect professional networks of producers, designers, and retailers. Based on available project data, specific ERP/PLM integration details are not described in the published objectives, but the system provides data-based services including supplier selection and dynamic task planning.

How mature is the virtual try-on technology?

The project built an extended virtual space for displaying and evaluating fashion and functional performances, including thermal comfort, skin touch comfort, and skin pressure comfort in relation to body movements. The project completed its full duration (2017-2021) and delivered 16 deliverables including business cases, suggesting the technology reached demonstration level.

Is this limited to fashion or can it work for other textile sectors?

While the project focused on fashion and functional garments, the underlying platform — big data-driven supply chain management, virtual evaluation, and interactive design — was built for the broader textile industry. The consortium included partners from technical textiles and materials innovation, not just fashion.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a heavily industry-driven consortium: 12 out of 16 partners (75%) are from industry, with 9 being SMEs — a clear signal that the project was designed for real-world application, not just academic research. The coordinator is ENSAIT, a leading French textile engineering school, providing the scientific backbone. The 7-country spread (Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, UK) covers Europe's key textile manufacturing regions. With only 3 universities and 1 research organization, this project was built to produce commercially viable results, not just publications. The strong SME presence means the technology was shaped by companies that actually need to use it.

ECOLE NATIONALE SUPERIEURE ARTS INDUSTRIES TEXTILESCoordinator · FR
THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTERparticipant · UK
GRADO ZERO ESPACE SRLparticipant · IT
HOEGSKOLAN I BORASparticipant · SE
BEWARRANTparticipant · BE
DEUTSCHE INSTITUTE FUR TEXTIL- UND FASERFORSCHUNG DENKENDORFparticipant · DE
DOUËLOU NVparticipant · BE
TINEXTA INNOVATION HUB S.P.A.thirdparty · IT

How to reach the team

ENSAIT (Ecole Nationale Superieure Arts Industries Textiles), France — a top textile engineering institution. Use Google AI Search to find the project coordinator's contact details.

Order a report on this consortium See ECOLE NATIONALE SUPERIEURE ARTS INDUSTRIES TEXTILES profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to connect with the FBD_BModel team to explore licensing or partnership? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to the right consortium partner for your needs.

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