Designing clothing today isn’t just about creativity. It’s also about speed, accuracy, and clear handoffs. Traditional processes can’t always keep up with fast-moving timelines or cross-team feedback. That’s why many fashion brands are switching to digital tools that do more than sketch.

Clothing design software helps teams create faster, reduce revisions, and stay aligned from the first draft to the final sample. It brings design, tech, and production teams into one workflow with real-time updates, visual accuracy, and files that are ready to send to vendors.

In this guide, you’ll find top clothing design software programs for 2025. Keep on reading to explore how each tool supports different stages of your design and development process

What Is Clothing Design Software?

Clothing design software is a digital tool that helps fashion teams create, adjust, and prepare garments for production. It replaces manual sketches, spreadsheets, and back-and-forth emails with an organized system built for speed and clarity.

These platforms let teams design garments visually, build accurate patterns, and generate tech packs in less time. Some also include 3D previews, grading tools, and real-time feedback features so teams can collaborate across departments or time zones without delays.

Instead of juggling files across disconnected tools, clothing design software keeps everything in one place. Design, technical, and production teams can share updates, review changes, and push products forward without waiting on file conversions or version checks.

Fashion brands use it to cut down sample rounds, meet deadlines, and deliver vendor-ready files without missing key details. Whether you're focused on fit, finish, or communication, the right platform supports the entire process from idea to production.

Top 8 Clothing Design Software Programs in 2025

Design software plays a major role in how fashion brands bring collections to life. Below are the top tools used in 2025 to generate concepts, draft digital patterns, reduce physical samples, and move faster from idea to production. 

Each one supports a different part of the design process, helping teams create with more speed, clarity, and control.

1. Onbrand AI Design

Onbrand AI Design is an AI-powered fashion design software built for speed, collaboration, and visual clarity. It allows designers to generate new concepts using just text, sketches, or reference photos. No visuals required to start.

With tools for concept generation, photorealistic rendering, and visual line planning, it supports the entire design workflow in one shared workspace. 

Many fashion brands use Onbrand AI Design to test ideas faster, reduce reliance on external resources, and bring digital innovation into every stage of the design process.

What sets Onbrand AI Design apart is its ability to help teams move quickly and cut waste. Users report up to 10x faster design turnaround, 30-50% fewer physical samples, and over 10 weeks saved each year.

Designers can instantly explore new silhouettes, refine mockups, recolor using PANTONE or Coloro libraries, and generate on-model visuals ready for buyer presentations or internal review.

It's a cost-effective solution that connects design with development, empowering designers to create more and deliver faster without leaving the platform.

Key Features

• AI-powered design generation from text, sketches, or photos

• One-click design variations and colorways using Pantone and Coloro

• Photorealistic on-model renders and visual line planning

• Shared workspace for live collaboration and feedback

• Direct connection to PLM for smoother production handoff

• Built-in tools to support tech pack creation and reduce file juggling

Sign up now for a free 7-day trial and save $1,000s on external resources!

2. CLO 3D

Source: clo3d.com

CLO 3D is a fashion design software focused on real-time 3D garment visualization. It helps fashion designers simulate how clothing will fit and move using digital fabrics, allowing users to test styles before physical samples are made.

Many designers use it to support a hybrid approach that blends traditional design with virtual prototyping. The software is useful in the fashion industry for reducing costs and speeding up the design workflow.

While CLO 3D offers impressive simulation features, it can require advanced hardware and may be overwhelming for small businesses or teams new to CAD software.

Key Features

• 3D garment simulation with realistic fabric behavior

• Pattern drafting and editing tools

• Integration with other digital design tools

• Workflow suited for reducing physical samples

3. Marvelous Designer

Source: marvelousdesigner.com

Marvelous Designer is known for helping fashion brands bring creative fashion ideas to life using advanced 3D garment visualization.

It allows users to design and simulate clothing in motion, which supports early-stage concepting and realistic fit previews. Many teams use it for digital design and entertainment-focused applications.

While Marvelous Designer shares similarities with CLO 3D, it’s not a comprehensive fashion design software.

It doesn’t include tools for tech packs or production-ready outputs, so it’s often used alongside other platforms that handle the full design process.

Key Features

• Intuitive 3D draping and movement simulation

• Quick iteration for concept development

• Compatibility with digital patterns and design assets

• Visual prototyping tools for animated garments

4. Browzwear VStitcher

Source: browzwear.com

Browzwear VStitcher supports fashion brands through a 2D and 3D design toolset.

It’s built for product development teams who want to visualize garments digitally and reduce sample rounds. The platform is designed to work across pattern creation, fitting, and production planning.

Although it’s an efficient solution for large companies and manufacturers, VStitcher may not feel as user-friendly for small teams or creative-focused users.

The software leans toward technical accuracy and CAD-level workflows, which may require additional training for fashion teams not used to pattern-making tools.

Key Features

• Real-time 3D garment previews linked to digital patterns

• Tools for pattern drafting and grading

• Marker making and production-ready output

• Fabric physics and motion simulation

5. NewArc 

Source: newarc.ai

NewArc uses AI to help designers explore and generate clothing concepts faster.

It helps designers with visual templates and sketch ideas, making it useful for early brainstorming and digital innovation.

For teams building out a fashion line or experimenting with creative directions, it offers a cost-effective way to explore ideas. This tool supports visual ideation but doesn’t yet include advanced pattern drafting or production tools.

It is suitable as a lightweight design tool to supplement more comprehensive platforms, especially for users looking to accelerate the front end of the design process.

Key Features

• AI-assisted fashion sketch generation

• Visual templates based on prompt inputs

• Fast ideation support for concept creation

• Lightweight user experience for small teams

6. Adobe Illustrator

Source: adobe.com/products/illustrator.html

Adobe Illustrator is widely used by experienced designers across industries, including fashion.

It’s known for its vector drawing tools, which make it ideal for sketching clothing flats, creating branding elements, and laying out moodboards. Many fashion designers rely on it as a visual foundation before creating tech packs or patterns.

While Illustrator is flexible and integrates with other software, it’s not a dedicated fashion design tool. It lacks built-in support for grading, marker making, or digital patterns.

To support the full production process, teams often combine it with other fashion-specific software.

Key Features

• Vector-based drawing with high visual control

• Broad support for sketching and presentation

• Integrates with Creative Cloud and third-party tools

• Helpful for creating visuals used in product development

7. TUKAcad

Source: tukatech.com/products/tukacad/

TUKAcad is a CAD software built for pattern making, grading, and production planning. It’s widely used in the manufacturing space and supports teams that need precision over visual presentation.

The platform includes comprehensive tools for creating digital patterns, running cost estimates, and managing technical files.

The software is highly effective for manufacturers and technical teams, but it has a dated interface and limited collaboration features.

Fashion brands focused on creative development may find the workflow less intuitive than more modern design platforms.

Key Features

• CAD-based pattern drafting and grading

• Support for marker making and cost planning

• Digital pattern libraries and editable templates

• Used widely in technical production teams

8. Style3D

Source: style3d.com

Style3D offers digital transformation tools that help fashion brands visualize their collections in 3D.

It includes a library of fabrics, motion tests, and avatar fittings, making it a strong option for reducing physical garment samples and increasing customer satisfaction with more accurate previews.

The software is designed to bridge the gap between design and production. Some users report that it takes time to learn, and smaller businesses may find the interface complex at first.

It is suitable for teams looking to digitize the design workflow and streamline development.

Key Features

• Realistic 3D simulation and garment fitting

• Digital fabric library and motion preview

• Support for pattern editing and production handoff

• Tools to visualize real-life products in development

How to Choose the Right Tool for Your Team

Every team works differently, so the best clothing design software is the one that fits your process. Use the points below to help narrow your options and find a tool that supports your workflow and production goals.

Understand Your Design Process

Start by outlining how your team works. Do you sketch by hand, build in Illustrator, or manage everything digitally?

Identifying your starting point helps you choose software that fits into your existing design workflow without slowing it down.

Focus on Real Workflow Needs

Choose tools that solve specific problems. If your team needs faster approvals, look for platforms with visual collaboration.

If you’re trying to cut costs or reduce physical samples, 3D previews and virtual prototyping can make a big difference.

Match Tools to Your Team Size

Smaller teams often need flexible tools with a clean, user-friendly interface.

Larger teams may need software that integrates with PLM, supports pattern drafting, or helps organize digital assets across departments.

Prioritize Speed And Alignment

You don’t need every feature. You need the ones that help your team create faster, stay on the same page, and build real-life products with fewer delays.

Choose a platform that supports your pace and helps you scale without extra tools or handoffs.

Experience the Best in Clothing Design Software with Onbrand AI Design!

Choosing the right design software can help your team create faster, stay aligned, and deliver collections with fewer delays.

The tools in this list support different parts of the fashion design process, from sketching and virtual prototyping to digital patterns and production planning.

If you're looking for one platform that brings all of that together, Onbrand AI Design is built for modern fashion teams.

With AI-powered visuals, real-time collaboration, and direct PLM connection, it’s designed to help brands move fast without sacrificing control.

Start your free 7-day trial and experience 10x faster design turnaround.

FAQs About Best Clothing Design Software

What is the best program to design clothes?

For fashion teams that want to move fast and reduce manual work, Onbrand AI Design is one of the best options available. It lets you start with just a sketch, text prompt, or reference image, then instantly generates polished visuals. You can create mockups, on-model renders, and even full line plans in one space, which saves you time across your entire design workflow.

What platform do fashion designers use?

Fashion designers use different platforms depending on the task. Onbrand AI Design is a go-to for brands that need both speed and collaboration. It supports concept generation, AI-powered design variations, and visual planning, all connected to PLM. 

Which apps do fashion designers use?

Designers often use a mix of tools like Adobe Illustrator or Procreate for sketching, but Onbrand AI Design offers a faster way to go from idea to execution. Its AI tools allow users to explore pattern templates, generate alternate views, and share designs instantly. 

Which 3D software is best for fashion design?

While CLO 3D and Browzwear are known for traditional 3D simulation, Onbrand AI Design offers a different kind of speed. Instead of rendering with heavy software, it generates on-model visuals using AI. No advanced setup or hardware needed. Teams can test fit, styling, and details early, which helps reduce samples and bring real products to market faster.

Can you grade patterns or use open-source software for fashion design?

Some tools allow you to grade patterns, but the level of control and automation can vary. While open source software is available, it often lacks features for real-time collaboration or production workflows. Teams looking for more speed and consistency often choose structured platforms. For example, Onbrand AI Design focuses on early-stage concepting and visual development, which can complement traditional pattern workflows in the fashion world.