In this digital age, we have switched most of our mundane paper pen tasks to digital screens. Chores like writing, sketching, drawing are done using digital means instead of traditional techniques. So is the case in the fashion design industry, like many other industries this firm is also benefiting from many digital tools to create, draw, and introduce new design styles in the market.
The fashion design industry emphasizes on pinpoint accuracy in designs, and these designing tools help them achieve that along with error-correcting and roll back features for added convenience.
What is Fashion Design Software?
A fashion design software in simplest terms allows users to convert their creative renderings from paper to digital form utilizing appropriate tools and technological understanding. Fashion design software has different types of features that enable users to design graphical vectors and fashion apparel templates for different kinds of consumer or organizational needs.
They provide users with a sense of transparency, which allows them to rectify their error and revise a design multiple times, a feature not available in traditional designing techniques.
Best Fashion Design Software for Windows, Mac and Linux
The solutions listed below arm a user with all the appropriate tools required to produce quality fashion products.
1. Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is a robust fashion design suite by renowned developers Adobe that specializes in graphics design. It is the business standard vector illustrations platform. Illustrator is utilized by a considerable number of designers and artists, equipped with all the drawing tools need to change straightforward shapes and structures into versatile works of art.
It is carefully designed according to the needs of small to medium businesses. It possesses state of the art vector-graphics editing, faster image rendering, versatile brushes, shape tools, and a cloud design that helps different team members to work on a single project simultaneously. Adobe Illustrator is a smart choice for all fashion design needs.
Features
- Simplified Vector Paths
- Freeform Gradients
Pros
- Support for various devices
- Built-In Design Templates
Cons
- GPU-Intensive
Pricing
- Single app: $20.99/month
Download: Adobe Illustrator for Windows | Mac
2. PatternSmith
As the name implies, PatternSmith is a platform that has been designed specifically for making patterns. It is considered to be an improvement over the standard CAD software. CAD software are used to make any type of design, from bicycles to handbags. PatternSmith, in contrast, is made explicitly for the textile industry to help design clothing or different kinds of patterns.
PatternSmith creates patterns that are directly translated by a fabric cutting machine. It communicates instructions straight to the cutting table. It handles designs, transforms them for best productivity, and channels them to the mechanized cutting table for quick and precise cutting.
Features
- Direct Communication with cutting table
- Optimized nesting
Pros
- More accurate than CAD
- Create ready to cut patterns
Cons
- Frequent Crashing
Pricing
- On Quote
Download: PatternSmith for Windows
3. Rhino 6
Rhino 6 is quicker and can manage bigger models and design groups. It can make, alter, break down, archive, render, invigorate, and interpret curves, surfaces, and solids, point clouds, and polygon meshes. There are no restrictions on complexity, degree, or size past those of your hardware limitations.
The Rhino 6 improvement process began with the overriding objective to remove a large number of work process bottlenecks. It comes with built-in plugins like VRay and Grasshopper, which allow even more possibilities. The software can be used as a beginner or to create even the most sophisticated models and designs.
Features
- Uninhibited free-form 3-D modeling tools
- Options Editor
Pros
- No special hardware is needed
- Short learning curve
Cons
- Sometimes the performance can be lacking
Pricing
- For Windows/Mac: $995/user
Download: Rhino 6 for Mac | Windows
4. TUKAcad
TUKAcad is a pattern designing platform that possesses advanced functionalities and process engineering to enable precise pattern development, industry-grade rules, and pinpoint nesting for every style conceived. It is explicitly made for pattern makers, by pattern makers.
Ideal for the fashion industry, it is a robust pattern making, grading, and marker making system that empowers a seamless production process and reduce operating cost. TUKAcad is an advanced apparel pattern design solution that is suitable for large scale manufacturers and small designers because of its flexible nature.
Features
- Before and after wash shrinkage
- Manual or automatic marker making
Pros
- Integration of artwork and logos
- Dynamic blocking and measuring function
Cons
- Requires formal training
Pricing
- On Quote
Download: TUKAcad for Windows
5. CLO 3D
CLO3d is a 3d fashion design tool that helps design articles of clothing business. It has modules supporting alternatives required by the fashion industry, for example, the different sizes of garments, shapes, new brands, hues, and so on. It is exceptionally acclaimed among all famous fashion creators with clients from everywhere around the world.
CLO’s robust simulation engine allows users with countless layers and details. It is not only limited to garments design; it can create any kind of technical clothing with intricate pattern detail. Anything fabric-related can be designed using CLO, including hats, bags, wallets, to swimsuits.
Features
- Real-Time Interactivity
- Evolved Design
Pros
- Streamline Work Process
- Pattern Grading
Cons
- Difficult 3D draping
Pricing
- Individual: $50/month
Download: CLO3D for Windows|Mac
6. SmartDesigner
SmartDesigner is a creative and automated design solution for attire and textile-related enterprise. As a pioneer of the ASP-based apparel and fashion design platform, it is rated as one of the most robust CAD software for fashion brands in this fast textile industry.
SmartDesigner is a complete fashion design platform catering to serve SMBs and fashion startups. It provides support for both Windows and Mac. This cloud-based system offers Pattern, Color & Art Storage, Pattern Layout, CAD Tools, Textile Pattern Design, Fashion Illustrations all in a single interface.
Features
- Pattern Making
- Weave Design Mode
Pros
- Cloud-Based System
- Pattern, Color and Art Storage
Cons
- No offline support
Pricing
- On Quote
Download: SmartDesigner for Windows
7. Techpacker
Techpacker is a web-based solution for amateur fashion designers and small brands to handily build up their design models with production lines far and wide. Techpacker permits users to effortlessly team up with different creators and your industrial facilities, making consistent item improvement.
Track your progressions as you go, and work together through email with your colleagues and your processing plants worldwide. Users can set reminders, plan updates, and effectively allude back to any past adaptation of their tech pack.
Features
- One-click shareable libraries
- Progression Tracking
Pros
- Instant updates from your team
- No setup or training required
Cons
- The system has Bugs and Glitches
Pricing
- Create: $29/month/billed annually
Visit: Techpacker
8. C-DESIGN Fashion
C-Design is an all in one clothing design software; it is a premium solution to create a complete apparel collection. The new highlights and improvements of it make it the present most developed and versatile fashion design platform in the market.
C-DESIGN is constructed on the primary platform of the award-winning CorelDRAW® graphics engine. However, it does have a lot of extra features developed especially for the fashion industry professionals. C-DESIGN Fashion software is the choice of many famous fashion brands like ZARA, Tara Jarmon, Rouje, among others.
Features
- Create reusable templates
- Automated gradations
Pros
- Trusted by renowned fashion brands
- Collaborative work environment
Cons
- Expensive compared to competitors
Pricing
- On Quote
Visit: C-Design Fashion
9. Vetigraph
Vetigraph is a suite of CAD frameworks that empower fashion houses, clothing brands, and apparel designers to use innovation in planning and assemble fashion products more effectively and productively. Aside from the style business, Vetigraph frameworks have been applied in different fields like automobile, aviation, and home decor.
Vetigraph has all the tools and features to guarantee that each procedure is precise, advanced, and streamlined, bringing about the creation and usage of sophisticated creative models or structure techniques. Users can control and reduce operational costs at the early stages and set prices conveniently using Vetigraph.
Features
- Automatic printing or cutting
- Fashion Illustrations
Pros
- Rich design database
- Compatible with other software
Cons
- Only for enterprise use
Pricing
- On Quote
Download: Vetigraph for Windows
10. Tailornova
Tailornova is a patent-pending web-based fashion design platform that enables you to create countless designs simpler and quicker. Imagine your manifestations in 3D and get custom-fitted prototypes quickly. It allows reviewing 3D articles of garments, level outlines, and measurable sewing designs, available to download, cut, and sew.
Its built-in style templates allow users to create billions of unique styles and patterns explicitly made for any type of body shape and size. Its designs are customized in model and size. They can be accessed from any web browser or downloaded in PDF format to be printed.
Features
- Instant Virtual 3D Try On
- Custom-fit Patterns
Pros
- Machine learning support
- Automated pattern measurement
Cons
- Lacks flexibility
Pricing
- Beta Special: $29/month
Visit: Tailornova
Final Thoughts
All these platforms are equipped with the necessary tools a fashion industry firm needs to produce quality fashion design products. These solutions cater to the needs of an enterprise-level fashion house to a mediocre startup business or individual designer needs.
These software have variable functionalities, versatile features along with support for on-premise or remote access, native mobile app support, and flexible pricing plans. The decision can be made according to the customer base, the scale of a business or the type of merchandise a fashion brand specializes in production.
