Lectra has announced its new Privilege Partnership with Ravensbourne, a specialist higher education institution innovating in digital media and design.

 

Cooperation between Lectra - the world leader in integrated technology solutions dedicated to industries using soft materials - and Ravensbourne started in 2006 with an Advanced Partnership and the institution is equipped with Kaledo®, Lectra’s professional fashion design software platform, and Modaris®, its pattern making solution.

 

“We are delighted to sign a Privilege Partnership with Ravensbourne as we share the same passion to educate tomorrow’s fashion professionals. We felt that it was time to move to a higher level of partnership, as Ravensbourne has shown a great commitment to Lectra and digital creativity through the years,” said Mark Lyness, Managing Director, Lectra UK Ltd.

 

On top of their wide range of CAD solutions already in place, they are continuously willing to explore and add our latest technology into their portfolio. Ravensbourne has a great international reputation within the fashion community with alumni including Stella McCartney and Bruce Oldfield.”

 

The Privilege partnership will allow both parties to work more closely together to enhance the student experience. Lectra will organise workshops for Ravensbourne’s fashion students enabling them to test their CAD skills and extend their knowledge by having access to Lectra’s solution experts.

 

Another of the key aims will be to help the institution to build links with Lectra customers in the region in terms of providing work placements or industrial projects so that students gain a good grounding in all the skills they will need upon graduating.

 

As a new Privilege Partner, Ravensbourne was invited to participate in Lectra’s International Education Congress in Shanghai last November. The objective of the Congress was to bring Education partners together to encourage exchanges and to share and enrich experiences.

 

Dorota Watson, Ravensbourne’s Subject Leader for Fashion, said: “It was a fantastic opportunity to network with other institutions and to share digital practice. A very good vehicle for Lectra to receive feedback from education users and establish commonality across the continents. I found it an invaluable opportunity to experience production first hand.”

Ravensbourne, one of the most famous design institutions in the UK, is proud to be actively working towards a fully digital environment. The institution has 1500 students and 150 staff members.  

 

Ravensbourne includes a Fashion Design Foundation course and offers a world famous BA fashion course and now also a Masters in Fashion. The degree course has various pathways offering options for Menswear and Womenswear and also for Accessories. It recently moved to a brand new building at Greenwich Peninsula next to The O2, and has new state of the art facilities.

 

Ravensbourne’s Director, Professor Robin Baker OBE, commented: “It is a great opportunity to increase our level of partnership with Lectra. We are driven by the creative use of digital technologies and using the power of it to maximise creativity as well as taking advantage of the practical benefits the technology brings.

 

“As a part of the partnership, we plan to integrate other innovative Lectra solutions, such as Modaris 3D Fit virtual 3D prototyping solution, into our digital solution portfolio. The new fashion CAD suites with the most up-to-date software and hardware solutions will provide a great opportunity for students to learn, experience and gain valuable knowledge on solutions that are widely used in the industry.

 

“This combination of technology and embedded best practices will allow students to develop creative ideas, to transform them into designs, but most importantly—to turn them into concrete industrialised products. Our learning and teaching bridges the gap between educational and professional experience.”

 

Launched in September 2007 as a major component of the new Lectra education programme, the Privilege Programme comprises a personalised approach focused on the development of common projects, such as conferences, internships, support for students, shared information and data related to best industrial practices, and is based on strong, long-term, mutual commitments.

For years, Lectra has supported education by offering the use of its technologies and expertise. As an industry leader, Lectra is responsible for contributing to the development and preparation of students for life-long careers. To date, more than 800 schools and universities worldwide have integrated Lectra solutions into their curricula.

 

Ravensbourne is a world-class digital destination developing talented individuals and leading-edge businesses through learning, skills, applied research, enterprise and innovation. Ravensbourne has recently moved from Chislehurst to a magnificent new building next to The O2.

It is a university sector college innovating in digital media and design, with a vocationally focused portfolio of courses, spanning fashion, television and broadcasting, interactive product design, architecture and environment design, graphic design, animation, moving image, music production for media and sound design. It is a centre of excellence, industry accredited and a Skillset Media Academy.

 

Lectra is the world leader in integrated technology solutions that automate, streamline and accelerate product design, development and manufacturing processes for industries using soft materials. Lectra develops the most advanced specialized software and cutting systems and provides associated services to a broad array of markets including fashion (apparel, accessories, footwear), automotive (car seats and interiors, airbags), furniture, as well as a wide variety of other market sectors, such as aeronautical and marine industries, wind power, and personal protective equipment. Lectra serves 23,000 customers in more than 100 countries with 1,350 employees and $252 million in 2010 revenues. The company is listed on NYSE Euronext.

 

For more information, please visit www.lectra.com

®: Kaledo and Modaris are registered trademarks of Lectra.