Case Study: ADPL, LLC achieves nearly doubled orders and streamlined remote design collaboration with Aptean Apparel PLM (Aptean)

ADPL uses PLM and ERP to handle surge in knitwear orders and reduced staffing during the COVID-19 pandemic

ADPL, LLC is a New York–based fashion company that designs and executes Dillard’s private-label women’s lines across six brand teams, employing about 95 people including roughly 40 designers and tech/product-development staff. Before adopting PLM, many design and development tasks were manual or paper-based with inconsistent tech packs and limited visibility—challenges that were compounded by COVID-19 shutdowns, designers working from home, reduced staffing and a sudden market shift toward casual knitwear.

ADPL implemented cloud-based Aptean Apparel PLM (integrated with Aptean ERP) to centralize files, automate tech-pack creation, sample tracking, costing and line-sheet generation, and streamline vendor communication. The solution delivered real-time visibility and easier collaboration in a hybrid work model, freed designers from manual data entry, eliminated paper archives and even reduced reliance on pattern-makers; as a result ADPL handled surging demand—order volume nearly doubled, with one brand’s knitwear orders up 189%—despite teams operating at 40–80% capacity.

ADPL, LLC

Michelle Heyman

Senior Technical Designer