28 November, 2024

A.P.C. Deploys Global Growth Strategy and Strengthens CSR Commitment with Centric PLM

The Parisian fashion brand goes live with Centric Software’s PLM solution, the cornerstone of a major business transformation and development project

CAMPBELL, Calif., November 28, 2024 – Centric Software^®, the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) market leader, is delighted to announce that A.P.C., the French mid-range men’s and women’s ready-to-wear brand, has successfully completed the first phase of its Centric PLM^TM implementation. Centric Software provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to plan, design, develop, source, buy, make, price, allocate, sell and replenish products such as fashion, luxury, footwear, outdoor, home and related goods like cosmetics & personal care as well as multi-category retail to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals.

Founded by Jean Touitou in 1987, A.P.C. offers authentic, affordable and durable ready-to-wear collections for both men and women. With an international presence, A.P.C. runs a diversified distribution network that includes independent boutiques, wholesalers, websites and distribution licenses.

Faced with strong growth in international markets, an increase in the number of SKUs and growing operational complexity, A.P.C. decided it needed a PLM solution. In January 2023, the company selected Centric PLM to structure collection planning and strengthen environmental responsibility. In the longer term, A.P.C. also plans to integrate Centric PLM with ERP and set up a supplier portal.

“Our PLM project is a major business growth initiative to support our strategy of handling global complexity, standardizing our workflows and enabling sustainability. Our creative studio staff are by no means the only ones involved. We intend to drive radical change across all our processes, in how we communicate, and in the way we work,” says Fabrice Henneron, Studio Director at A.P.C. “The Centric PLM deployment project has refocused our entire organization.”

After defining A.P.C.’s specific requirements, Centric held a series of workshops to present, configure and test the different modules before go-live. “We received excellent support from Centric’s experts right from the start,” says A.P.C. PLM Project Manager, Alexis Freitas. “The workshops helped raise awareness of the importance to adopt change and quickly swept away any reluctance among our teams.” Centric’s technical expertise and the close partnership set this deployment apart from more conventional ones. “Centric’s fashion expertise was invaluable when it came to deploying the solution. The Centric team is always available to highlight industry best practices, which they know intimately, gently steering us toward the most effective solutions for our organization’s specific needs,” adds Henneron.

At the end of this first deployment phase, A.P.C. has already reduced its over-reliance on spreadsheets and significantly improved communication among its teams, who now have a centralized product data repository. The second phase will integrate Centric PLM with the Fairly Made environmental score calculation platform.

“Centric Software is a technology partner we can grow with. Like a parent with their child, they take us by the hand and teach us how to thrive. Adopting Centric PLM will spur A.P.C. to achieve its full potential,” concludes Henneron.

“We are proud to support A.P.C. as they continue to modernize and grow their operations,” says Fabrice Canonge, president of Centric Software. “This first phase shows promising results and sets the stage for a rewarding long-term partnership. We look forward to seeing the benefits of the upcoming deployment phases as they continue to extend their adoption of Centric solutions.”

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A.P.C. (www.apc.fr) Founded by Jean Touitou in 1987, A.P.C. is a French clothing brand renowned worldwide for the creativity, authenticity and durability of its products. While the name A.P.C. itself is associated with raw denim, the brand offers a wide range of clothing and accessories for women and men in search of bold style that won’t overshadow their personality. Jean Touitou works with his wife, Judith Touitou, the artistic director of A.P.C. The initials A.P.C. stand for Atelier de Production et de Création (Production and Creation Workshop), as the brand considers these two fashion fundamentals to be equally important. Without production, creation is merely an idea. And without creation, a piece of clothing will never come to life. The style of A.P.C. is deliberately understated. Jean Touitou embodies the lack of extravagance and excess characteristic of A.P.C. clothing. The chic, easy-to-wear clothing—in timeless styles and made from high-quality materials—focuses on the essentials. Since 2023, A.P.C. has been owned by the L. Catteron investment fund.