Fashion teams are full of fresh ideas. The real challenge is to bring those ideas to life while maintaining organization across every detail. Between tech packs, supplier updates, and endless file sharing, things can fall out of sync fast.

Many brands now tighten their retail product development process to keep design, sourcing, and production in one connected space. A clear system keeps your team aligned and helps your products move from concept to market with fewer detours.

Modern tools, including clothing design software, give your creative team room to iterate while keeping specs accurate. Together, these platforms turn a scattered workflow into a steady path for each collection.

This guide covers the best retail product development software made for modern fashion teams. Each custom retail software development platform helps teams collaborate better, track progress in real time, and deliver collections without the usual chaos.

What Is Retail Product Development Software?

Retail product development software is a digital tool that helps fashion and retail brands manage every stage of product creation.

It connects design, sourcing, and production in one place through seamless integration, which makes it easier for teams to organize details and track progress without managing multiple files or email threads.

Unlike standard retail management software or enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, it focuses on the creative and technical sides of fashion.

Most platforms include features such as tech pack development, vendor portals, sample tracking, and costing tools that align with your product strategy. These help teams communicate clearly and keep information accurate from concept to delivery.

The software also supports smarter planning across the retail industry with insights grounded in user behavior. 

Teams can align business goals, track materials, and coordinate with suppliers across retail stores to improve efficiency and overall customer experience.

In short, it gives product teams and store managers a structured way to manage product ideas, timelines, and customer engagement across physical stores and digital channels.

6 Best Retail Product Development Software Solutions in 2025

Not every PLM suits every team. Some platforms focus on enterprise needs, while others are built for creative fashion brands managing multiple collections and shifting market demands. 

Choosing the right one helps teams stay organized, improve communication, and deliver innovative products without losing focus.

Here are the best product development software options that bring your team structure and clarity while keeping every department on the same page:

1. Onbrand PLM: Best Overall for Fashion and Retail Teams

Onbrand PLM helps retail product development teams manage every stage of creation in one connected system.

Designers, developers, and sourcing managers can track styles, specs, and comments without jumping between tools. Everything stays visible in a clear workspace that helps teams move faster and make better decisions across design and production.

Fashion brands using Onbrand PLM see measurable gains, including a 55% reduction in tech pack creation time and a four-week reduction in development timelines. Live, cloud-based tech packs keep factories and vendors updated instantly, reducing errors that often slow retail production.

The platform supports the best product development tools for collection planning, sample management, and vendor collaboration, all built to improve accuracy and workflow efficiency.

Onbrand PLM is designed for your day-to-day retail reality where speed and visibility matter. Your team can be fully set up in two to four weeks, with data migration done in about 10 days.

The user interface feels intuitive for creative users, and the system adapts to each brand’s process rather than forcing a rigid setup.

Key Features

• Live tech pack management with vendor portals

• Project planning and management tools for tasks, stages, and approvals

• Dynamic libraries for materials, colors, and specifications

• Sample and collection planning with real-time updates

• Integrations and API for Adobe Illustrator, ERPs, and e-commerce platforms that fit your tech stack

• Fast AI-assisted data migration and onboarding

Onbrand PLM stands out as a modern retail software solution built for how fashion teams actually work and helps brands strengthen customer loyalty through consistent execution.

It replaces the complexity of older PLMs with a faster, more flexible approach that supports every department. Teams stay connected, timelines stay predictable, and completed projects stay on schedule.

Most brands see measurable results within two weeks of switching to Onbrand. Book a demo to see how it fits your workflow.

2. WFX PLM

WFX PLM is an end-to-end retail software solution built for fashion and apparel businesses. It connects every stage of product creation, from design and sourcing to production and compliance.

Source: wfxcloud.com

The system helps teams manage complex business processes and real-time product and supply chain data in one visual workspace, improving clarity across departments. With more than 45,000 users in 50 countries, it remains one of the widely used retail solutions today.

The platform combines PLM, ERP, manufacturing execution system (MES), and traceability tools under a single system. It supports product development software needs such as tech pack creation, costing, supply chain visibility, and sustainability management.

The interface is built for quick adoption, which helps your team stay efficient, connected, and make informed decisions.

Key Features

• 100% cloud-based platform with real-time data visibility

• Integrated vendor portal for supplier communication

• Automated workflows and milestone alerts

• Visual interface with mobile app access

• Secure data management and compliance tracking

Downsides

WFX PLM’s extensive feature set can feel heavy for smaller product teams that only need focused product development tools. Its broader ERP and manufacturing scope may require extra setup to match specific business needs.

3. DeSL

Built for fashion and retail, DeSL helps brands manage every detail of the product development process with precision. It connects design, sourcing, and production under one system, which gives your teams better visibility into materials, suppliers, and sustainability goals.

Source: desl.net

The platform focuses on sustainability and digital transformation, giving retail businesses better control of their supply chain, vendor compliance, and production visibility.

Its modular system lets you scale based on your needs, whether managing small creative teams or large enterprise operations. Each module integrates into one cloud-based ecosystem within broader cloud solutions, which covers everything from collection planning to product information management.

DeSL also includes specialized tools for digital color approvals, total quality management, and supplier relationship management that support key stages of decision-making and reduce waste.

Key Features

• End-to-end PLM built for fashion and retail brands

• Cloud-based modules for scalable deployment

• Supplier relationship and quality management tools

• Digital color and sample approvals to reduce waste

• Compliance tracking and sustainability support

Downsides

DeSL’s broad configuration can feel advanced for smaller teams that need a simpler retail product development software setup. Its deep integration capabilities may also require additional guidance from a support team to match specific business objectives.

4. ReChain

ReChain brings clarity to retail product development with a single platform that combines product data, tech packs, and sample management without commissioning custom software.

Fashion and footwear teams can handle design updates, supplier feedback, and approvals in one connected workspace instead of managing spreadsheets.

Source: rechain.co

The platform helps brands organize every stage of fashion product development, connecting customer data across other tools without relying on spreadsheets or disconnected workflows.

ReChain supports retail companies working with global factories and suppliers. You can manage samples, materials, and product versions in one place, while suppliers access free accounts to share updates and customer feedback.

Its digital product passport feature also helps brands meet sustainability and compliance requirements under new EU regulations.

Key Features

• Centralized product data and component libraries

• Tech pack creation in PDF or Excel formats

• Sample request and review management

• Supplier collaboration with real-time updates

• Digital product passport for compliance tracking

Downsides

ReChain focuses mainly on product and supplier coordination, which may limit functionality for larger teams that need deeper project management or collection planning tools. It works best for smaller brands aiming for simplicity and faster product creation workflows.

5. ApparelMagic®

ApparelMagic gives fashion brands full control over their retail operations with an integrated suite that combines ERP, PLM, customer relationship management (CRM), and point-of-sale (POS) systems.

Source: apparelmagic.com

Built exclusively for the apparel industry, it helps teams manage product design, sales, and accounting software connections through integrated inventory management systems in one connected platform. 

Its modern interface supports brands that want to grow faster while maintaining visibility across production, supply chain, and financials.

The platform includes smart automations that handle order tracking, inventory control, and communication across teams. It also supports product development software features such as design data management, supplier coordination, and cost tracking.

Through AI-powered demand forecasting, brands can plan production more accurately and avoid overstock or missed demand. ApparelMagic fits growing teams looking to strengthen efficiency, connect POS solutions, and understand customer behavior across multiple sales channels.

Key Features

• Integrated ERP, PLM, and CRM system for apparel brands

• Smart automations for inventory and order management

• Sales forecasting and demand planning

• B2B ecommerce and vendor management tools

• Financial and performance reporting

Downsides

ApparelMagic focuses heavily on operations and order processing, which can make its product development tools feel secondary. It suits teams focused on efficiency and sales growth rather than advanced design collaboration or detailed tech pack management.

6. Aptean Apparel PLM

Aptean Apparel PLM helps fashion and apparel brands bring products to market faster through a cloud-based system that connects design, sourcing, and production in one workspace.

Source: aptean.com

It’s built for your team if you need faster decisions and simpler communication across retail businesses and suppliers. It focuses on operational efficiency, helping brands manage costs, materials, and timelines while aligning insights for targeted marketing campaigns.

The system supports every phase of product development, from early design to costing and sample reviews that guide pricing strategies.

It integrates directly with Adobe Illustrator and Browzwear, allowing designers to create and update product details inside their design software.

With specialized modules for sourcing and production, sample management, and seasonal planning, Aptean helps teams improve quality oversight and respond to external factors across global supply chains.

Key Features

• Cloud-based PLM tailored for fashion and apparel

• Tech pack and sample management tools

• Built-in sourcing and costing modules

• Integration with Adobe Illustrator and Browzwear

• Collaboration tools with real-time notifications and comments

Downsides

Aptean’s broad feature set can feel heavy for smaller teams that only need basic product development tools. It fits best for large retail companies seeking advanced control over design, sourcing, and supply chain operations.

Why Onbrand PLM Is the Best Retail Product Development Software Fashion Teams Prefer

Onbrand PLM stands out because it was built with fashion teams in mind, not forced to fit them. It gives brands a connected workspace where design, sourcing, and production flow together.

Every change, comment, and approval happens in real time, helping teams stay focused on creating products, not managing files.

Beyond PLM, Onbrand also offers Onbrand AI Design, a new feature that supports creative teams with design exploration and concept generation.

It helps brands speed up early-stage design work during idea generation while linking concept choices to user feedback and product data.

Together, these tools give teams a faster, more efficient way to move from idea to finished product.

Don’t take our word for it:

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"With Onbrand, design and development became faster. I can easily see the journey of a style, from start to finish. Everything lives in Onbrand—it’s our North Star.”
– Antoinette Phonharath, Head of Development, Evelyn & Bobbie

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“We were up and running so fast, and it’s saving us hours every week. I never expected to see the benefits this quickly.”
– Marjorie Schepp, Head of Product Development, Bandier

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I’ve used two other PLM systems before, and Onbrand has been the most intuitive. The onboarding experience was a breeze.”
– Lindsey Brooks, Senior Technical Designer, Gold Hinge

Fashion brands use Onbrand PLM to cut product creation time by up to 50%, reduce back-and-forth communication, and keep every department aligned.

With real support, fast onboarding, and a flexible setup, Onbrand PLM helps teams simplify development and improve personalized customer service with accurate updates.

Create Faster, Smarter Retail Collections in Onbrand PLM!

Retail product development is about balance, creativity, precision, and timing. When every department works together, ideas move smoothly from concept to customer.

The right platform helps fashion teams stay organized, communicate clearly, and deliver collections with confidence.

Onbrand PLM makes that possible. It gives design, sourcing, and production teams one connected workspace to manage everything from tech packs to approvals in real time. The result is faster collaboration, fewer delays, and collections that hit the market on schedule.

With Onbrand AI Design, creative teams can explore new ideas, generate design concepts, and keep everything linked to their product data. Together, these tools bring structure to the creative process, without slowing it down.

Ready to see it in your workflow? Book a demo to discover how Onbrand PLM helps your team design, manage, and launch products with ease.

FAQs About Retail Product Development Software

What is product development software?

Product development software helps fashion and retail teams manage every stage of product creation, from design to sourcing and production. It centralizes product data, supports collaboration, and provides data-driven insights for better planning and faster execution.

What is product development in retail?

Product development in retail is how you design, produce, and deliver new items that meet customer expectations. It helps brands align creative ideas with business goals, optimize costs, and adapt to brick-and-mortar store operations and online sales channels.

What are the seven phases of product development?

The seven phases include idea generation, concept development, design, sourcing, sampling, production, and launch. Each stage helps you allocate resources effectively, stay on schedule, and maintain consistent quality that supports long-term customer satisfaction.

ApparelMagic® is a registered trademark. ApparelMagic is not affiliated with or endorsing Onbrand.