A digital transformation has swept across the globe since the response to the novel coronavirus forced most of us into a hiatus from ‘business as usual’. As soon as governments around the world unanimously decided lockdowns were the best way to control the spread of COVID-19 until effective vaccinations were developed and distributed, applications for communication, data assessment and visualisation have been the lifeline to many apparel brands as the textile industry strives to show resilience.
However, at a time where physical contact and travel have been severely restricted, the same period has actually been a boom-time for digital samples, according to Idy Lee, former head of digital product development at supply chain giant Li & Fung (LF), and now head of services at UNIFI3D, a 3D-as-a-service company operating under the umbrella of LF’s incubation, investment and operating platform, LFX, which was launched in April 2021 with the aim of capitalising on digital opportunities to enable supply chain sustainability. Lee spoke with Tony Whitfield shortly after the launch.