Lectra partners with TELIO to support Canada's Breakthrough Designers competition

ATLANTA, March 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Lectra, the world leader in integrated technology solutions dedicated to industries using soft materials—fabrics, leather, technical textiles and composite materials—partnered with TELIO during the ninth annual Canada's Breakthrough Designers competition. TELIO is a leading importer/exporter and distributor of high-end textiles.

The annual design competition showcases Canada's young, up-and-coming designers and provides students with exposure to the Canadian fashion industry. More than 500 students entered the competition, with a total of 25 student finalists chosen by a distinguished jury of fashion industry professionals. The jury included Nicole Bridger, Vancouver Fashion Designer, Lolitta Dandoy, famed Montreal Journalist and Fashion Blogger, Dominique Lemieux, Costume Creator, James Mendolia, Director of Fashion Marketing at Parsons The New School for Design in New York, Truc Nguyen, Senior Style and Market Editor for Flare Magazine, and Emily Ramshaw, Assistant Fashion News Editor for Flare Magazine.

The student finalists highlighted their collections in a fashion show on February 25, with five receiving scholarships. Lectra awarded the grand prize winner Frederic Joncas and first runner-up Mathieu Joncas with licenses and training for Lectra's innovative design solution, Kaledo.

"Canada's Breakthrough Designers affords our young designers with the opportunity to hone their technical skill and creative savvy while vying for a chance to win a scholarship that will ultimately help them to fulfill their professional ambition. Furthermore, our event offers them unparalleled exposure, which allows them to be seen and known throughout the industry and the media," explains Andre Telio, President of TELIO. "The partnership that we have developed through this project with Lectra has allowed us to not only significantly enhance the prizes that we offer our students, but also to optimize our contribution to promoting the future of the Canadian fashion industry. For this, we are extremely grateful."

"Lectra is committed to nurturing future professionals in the fashion industry and we have established partnerships with more than 850 educational institutions in 60 countries around the world," says Roy Shurling, President of Lectra North America. "We are honored to sponsor TELIO's annual competition and we congratulate the Joncas brothers on their important achievement. We are confident they will use Lectra's design solution to continue expanding their skill set and stay at the forefront of technology as they solidify their spots in today's fashion marketplace."

About TELIO
Founded in Montreal in 1952 by Joseph Telio, the company quickly achieved, and has ever since sustained, a leadership position in the importing of textiles. Now headed by the founder's sons Andre and Raymond, TELIO remains true to its mission statement: to offer designers, manufacturers and retailers a superior quality and original product. Today, TELIO is at the forefront in textile distribution in North America and runs two distinctive divisions under the same umbrella; Fashion Fabrics and Interior Furnishings, operates five showrooms (Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver), manages over 90 employees and has a sales team of over 30 representatives around the world. TELIO has an in house Research & Development department that provides fashion-forward trends and expertise. TELIO's presence can be felt in more than twenty countries across three continents.

For over 60 years, TELIO has successfully merged business acumen all the while upholding its fundamental company values.

About Lectra
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 1,400 employees and $270 million in 2013 revenues. The company is listed on NYSE Euronext.

For more information, please visit www.lectra.com.

Contact – Lectra North America: Jahmin Lee
Email: [email protected]
Tel.:+1 770 422 8050 – Fax: +1 800 538 7619

SOURCE Lectra