Apparel Magazine Names Two Lectra Customers Among Top 50 Innovators

Phi and HMX Sportswear Honored for Their Work With Lectra’s Integrated Technology Solutions

NEW YORK, NY–(EMWNews – July 30, 2008) – Lectra, the world leader in integrated

technology solutions dedicated to the fashion industry, announced today

that Apparel magazine, the leading b-to-b publication for apparel and

apparel retail executives, has named two of Lectra’s customers — Phi and

HMX Sportswear — as honorees in its inaugural Top Innovators issue.

“Apparel Magazine salutes 50 forward-thinking firms, including Phi and HMX

Sportswear, that are shaping the fashion industry,” said Jordan Speer,

editor-in-chief, Apparel. “We are honored to profile their leadership and

resourcefulness and their use of Lectra’s cutting-edge solutions as a

strategy that has contributed to their success.”

Winners in Action

Phi, a leading designer and manufacturer of clothing for the sophisticated,

urban woman, was founded by designer Susan Dell, wife of Texas computer

magnate Michael Dell. She launched the fashion label in 2004, enlisting

designers, sewers and pattern makers from Donna Karan, Calvin Klein and

other top apparel companies, which is produced in Italy and currently

retails in Neiman Marcus, Colette in Paris and Restir in Tokyo. Previously,

Phi’s busy pattern makers were doing everything by hand. A solution was

needed to allow them to focus on perfecting product quality instead of

tedious tasks. Multiple solutions from Lectra were implemented, including

Modaris Expert, the benchmark pattern-design solution for the fashion

market. These solutions have boosted productivity, ensured consistency of

pattern pieces, and allowed for multiple resources to work on the same

styles. “In less than three-months, the system was rolled out and fully

embraced in time for development of their spring collection,” says Tank.

“Phi is dedicated to growing its business and presenting the market with

the best in quality and high-fashion, and each year continues to implement

and invest in technologies that help it to do so,” according to Mehul Tank,

Phi’s CFO. “We are proud of this award and look forward to our continued

partnership with Lectra.”

Since its inception, the strategy for HMX Sportswear, a division of

Hartmarx Corporation that manufactures sportswear for men and women, has

been to create and market national and dedicated large store brands. The

widely distributed Jack Nicklaus, Monarchy Collection, Lyle & Scott, Austin

Reed and Pusser’s brands all embody consumer-specific visions, a factor

that is helping them to gain traction in their respective target markets.

HMX Sportswear replaced competitive software with the Kaledo Suite,

including Kaledo Style, Print, Knit and Weave, to aid in its design

process. Kaledo allows designers to work and communicate more efficiently

and seamlessly on one platform. This allows them more time for creativity

and selling of their brands. By gaining efficiencies in the design process,

HMX expects to see significant cost and productivity gains throughout the

collection planning, merchandising and manufacturing processes, while

accelerating product development.

“Kaledo allows us to make modifications to designs in an easier fashion

while allowing us to try different techniques which were otherwise

difficult to achieve,” notes Eric Prengel, Group President. HMX primarily

uses CAD storyboards to sell its products. With Kaledo’s Vector-based tool,

the storyboard’s overall appearance and design are cleaner and more

accurately reflect the true design. “Great design is the cornerstone of a

successful fashion company,” says Eric Prengel. “Innovative products and

streamlined product creation cycles are key. With all designers at HMX

working off one platform, communication will be more efficient and quick,

ultimately decreasing the tie to market while maintaining their

creativity.”

“Lectra is proud that such an esteemed publication like Apparel is honoring

two of our customers,” according to Jerry Inman, Vice President of

Marketing for Lectra. “Phi and HMX Sportswear are fine examples of how

companies are using Lectra’s solution to innovate while improving their

design process and growing their businesses.”

About Apparel

Apparel magazine and apparelmag.com offer technology and business insight

from concept to consumer, providing competitive, actionable information to

executives representing the world’s most successful apparel brands,

retailers and manufacturers. Its targeted content and research addresses

Retail Intelligence, Supply Chain, Sourcing & Logistics, Concept-to-Spec

and Fiber-to-Fabric. An Edgell Communications brand, Apparel also produces

the Apparel Executive Forum, Apparel’s Tech Conference, Apparel’s Tech

Conference West and Apparel’s Sourcing Summit.

For more information visit www.apparelmag.com or

www.edgellcommunications.com

About Lectra

Lectra is the world’s leading provider of integrated technology solutions

for the fashion industry (apparel, accessories, and footwear). Lectra

offers a wide range of software, automated cutting systems, and high

value-added services covering the entire value chain, from design through

manufacturing to retailing. Lectra Fashion PLM (Product Lifecycle

Management), specifically designed for fashion companies, integrates

process optimization and collections life cycle management. In close

association with the fashion industry, Lectra develops solutions based on

several decades of shared experience.

Lectra serves 20,000 customers in more than 100 countries with 1,550

employees and $297 million in 2007 revenues. The company is listed on

Euronext Paris.

For more information, please visit www.lectra.com

Contact: Melissa Gass email: tel: 770.422.8050 ext. 182