The world of innerwear is often synonymous with comfort and innovation, but rarely does it collide so strikingly with the cutting edge of business technology as in Tommy John’s latest expansion saga. The premium innerwear and loungewear brand has powered a remarkable 200% increase in SKU volume since implementing Centric Software’s Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) platform—a feat that not only underscores the company’s relentless drive for growth but also signals a new era of operational sophistication in fashion retail.
The Strategic Leap: Why Centric PLM Became Tommy John’s Backbone
Founded in 2008, Tommy John quickly carved out a reputation for redefining comfort. Its collections—spanning men’s and women’s innerwear, bras, loungewear, and apparel—have become synonymous with engineered fits and innovative fabrics. But as the company’s ambitions soared, so too did the complexity of its product landscape. Managing a rapidly expanding assortment, especially with the introduction of new wholesale channels and an intensified eCommerce push, presented both opportunity and challenge.
Enter Centric PLM, an enterprise solution designed for end-to-end management of product lifecycles. By 2017, Tommy John recognized that traditional systems were no longer sufficient; tasks such as updating product hierarchies or launching capsule collections demanded a more dynamic, integrated approach. The decision to adopt Centric PLM was not merely a technical upgrade—it was a strategic pivot toward scalable, agile growth.
Efficiency Unleashed: The 30-Minute Task That Now Takes 30 Seconds
One of the most telling metrics of Tommy John’s transformation is the dramatic reduction in manual labor. Stephanie Schultz, Business Analysis Manager at Tommy John, encapsulates the shift: “Centric PLM has become the foundation of how we work. Whether we’re updating product hierarchies or launching new capsule collections, everything starts in Centric PLM.”
Consider the example of updating five Bills of Materials (BOMs)—a task that once consumed over half an hour now takes a mere 30 seconds. This time savings is not just about convenience; it is about fundamentally reimagining the pace and precision of decision-making across the organization. Such efficiencies ripple outward, enabling teams to focus on innovation and market responsiveness rather than administrative bottlenecks.
Scaling with Precision: Managing 3,500 SKUs and Counting
Since adopting Centric PLM, Tommy John has more than doubled its SKU count, managing over 3,500 unique products annually. This surge is not a vanity metric—it reflects the brand’s ability to diversify its offerings and respond to evolving consumer preferences with unprecedented speed.
The complexity of Tommy John’s product types added another layer of challenge. Managing core collections alongside multi-item packs (such as 3-packs) required a system that could handle nuanced product hierarchies, integrated line planning, and direct factory partner access to technical specifications. Centric PLM’s robust architecture proved essential, facilitating seamless collaboration and real-time updates across the supply chain.
Digital Transformation in Fashion: Centric Software’s Broader Impact
Tommy John’s success story is emblematic of a broader shift within the fashion and retail sectors. Centric Software, headquartered in Silicon Valley, offers an AI-enabled concept-to-commercialization platform that serves not only apparel brands but also luxury, footwear, outdoor, home, cosmetics, personal care, and multi-category retailers.
The platform’s suite of capabilities—planning, designing, developing, sourcing, complying, buying, making, pricing, allocating, assorting, marketing, selling, and replenishing—supports digital transformation goals for businesses of all sizes. In an industry where innovation cycles are accelerating and consumer expectations are higher than ever, Centric Software’s approach enables brands to remain agile and competitive.
Inside the Partnership: A Foundation for Ongoing Success
Fabrice Canonge, President at Centric Software, expressed pride in the partnership, noting, “We are proud Centric PLM empowers Tommy John’s teams with the flexibility and efficiency needed to accelerate new product launches and category expansion. We’re thrilled to partner with them and look forward to their ongoing success.”
This sentiment is more than corporate diplomacy; it reflects a genuine alignment of vision. Tommy John’s relentless pursuit of comfort, innovation, and operational excellence finds a powerful ally in Centric PLM’s transformative capabilities. The result is a brand that can scale not just in quantity, but in quality and consumer relevance.
From Manual Labor to Strategic Agility: Key Operational Wins
- Flexible Product Hierarchies: Centric PLM allows Tommy John to organize and manage complex assortments with ease, supporting both core collections and specialty packs.
- Factory Partner Access: Direct access to tech packs ensures that manufacturing partners are always up-to-date, reducing errors and accelerating production timelines.
- Integrated Line Planning: Teams can coordinate product launches and seasonal collections with greater coherence and speed.
- Time Savings: Manual updates to BOMs and packaging templates are now swift and efficient, freeing up valuable resources for creative and strategic initiatives.
- Scalable Growth: The ability to manage over 3,500 SKUs annually positions Tommy John for continued market expansion.
The New Retail Equation: Technology as a Catalyst for Innovation
Tommy John’s journey underscores a critical lesson for the modern fashion industry: technology is not just a support function—it is a catalyst for innovation and strategic differentiation. By embracing Centric PLM, the brand has redefined what’s possible in product development, supply chain management, and consumer engagement.
As the lines between digital and physical retail continue to blur, and as consumers demand ever-greater personalization and speed, brands that invest in sophisticated, scalable platforms will find themselves at the forefront of industry evolution. Tommy John’s story offers a blueprint for others seeking to navigate the complexities of modern fashion with agility and confidence.
Looking Ahead: Tommy John’s Expanding Horizons
With its robust foundation in place, Tommy John is poised for further expansion across North America’s direct-to-consumer and wholesale channels. The synergy between innovative product design and operational excellence positions the brand as a formidable competitor in the premium innerwear and loungewear space.
For Centric Software, Tommy John’s ongoing success serves as a testament to the power of digital transformation. As more brands recognize the imperative to modernize, the partnership between technology providers and fashion innovators will only deepen, shaping the future of retail in ways that are both profound and exciting.
Conclusion: Comfort Meets Capability—Tommy John’s Defining Moment
The fusion of Tommy John’s comfort-driven ethos with Centric PLM’s operational prowess marks a defining moment in contemporary fashion. In an age where growth, speed, and precision are paramount, this partnership demonstrates that technological investment is not merely a backend necessity—it is a strategic imperative. The result? A brand that is as comfortable scaling its business as its products are to wear. For the industry at large, Tommy John’s transformation offers a glimpse into the future: agile, data-driven, and relentlessly innovative.
