ITALY: Eldo Selects Dassault Systèmes’ PLM Solutions for its Italian Fashion Label FREESOUL

Dassault Systèmes today announced that Eldo S.r.l, a Florence, Italy-based holding company, has selected ENOVIA Apparel Accelerator for Design and Development to rapidly bring new clothing lines for its FREESOUL brand of denim products to the market.

Launched in 1994, FREESOUL is one of Europe’s top denim fashion brands. The company creates and markets denim wear, casual pants, skirts, dresses, tops, jackets, knitwear and accessories to independent retailers and retail chains in more than 25 countries worldwide. Using the ENOVIA Apparel Accelerator will enable FREESOUL to more efficiently and cost-effectively take products from concept to store – giving consumers the right products at the right time.

Ernesto Barbieri, Eldo’s chief executive officer, explains, "FREESOUL employees are passionate and committed to delivering the latest fashion trends to consumers. In order to meet a relatively short window of opportunity at retail, we will use the ENOVIA Apparel Accelerator to improve global collaboration with our production centers and vendors, enabling them to stay ahead of the latest consumer trends and meet time to market requirements.

"Based on the DS V6 architecture, the ENOVIA Apparel Accelerator for Design and Development can be deployed in a matter of weeks and comes complete with industry-specific best practices for apparel design including pre-defined work processes, industry-specific data models, reports, role-based user interfaces and document management capabilities. Leveraging this off-the-shelf PLM solution will enable FREESOUL to reduce sample development time and increase seasonal options. It will also enable the company to collaborate with suppliers around the world, tracking prices to control costs and improve margins."

About FREESOUL
Eldo S.r.l., Florence, a 100% subsidiary of Eldo Holding S.r.l., Prato, is the operating business of the brand name FREESOUL, a Top-10 European denim fashion label. The company designs, creates, markets and services casual and denim wear such as trousers (five-pocket denims, chinos and workers), skirts, dresses, tops, shirts, sweatshirts, jackets and knitwear, including accessories, to independent retailers and retail chains in over 25 countries worldwide under the brand name FREESOUL. It excels from its competition by offering creative, fashionable products in the affordable luxury segment. In 2007, the company received the ?Musik Express Award? for its distinctive and creative denim designs. In 2007 FREESOUL generated sales of approx. EUR 35 million with some 70 employees.

Read about Dassault Systèmes ENOVIA in the PLM directory