Backbone PLM alternative
Backbone builds the tech pack.
merchmix builds the range.
PLM and merchandise planning on one record, so an approved style goes straight into the buy. Live in 12 to 15 weeks.
FORGE · TECH PACK
Coast rain shell
CR-014 · Coastline SS27 · Outerwear
- Summary
- Construction details
- How to measure
- Colourways
- Size specification
- Bill of materials
- Packaging & labelling
- Sewing instructions
- Technical flats
- Style No.
- CR-014
- Season
- Coastline SS27
- Base size
- M
- Size scale
- XS, S, M, L, XL
- Supplier
- Harbor Tex
- Fit status
- Base size approved
Why brands look beyond Backbone.
- The tech pack is only half the job.An approved style still has to reach the range plan, the buy and the stores.
- Growth adds timelines and costing.A bigger range needs a critical path and landed cost by colourway beside the spec.
- Every hand-off is a retype.When PLM, planning and the ERP are separate, the same style is keyed in three times.
merchmix and Backbone PLM
Backbone develops the product. merchmix develops it and plans it.
Backbone PLM is a fashion PLM built around product development and tech packs, and a good fit for teams that mainly need the spec. It has been part of Bamboo Rose since 2023.
merchmix
forge and core
- Design boards, colourways and lab dips
- Multi-level BOM, frozen at sign-off
- Tech pack exported from the frozen revision
- Fit rounds at the smallest, base and largest size
- Costing by colourway, to landed cost
- Supplier quotes compared, award recorded
- Critical path with risk flags
- Approved style becomes the range option in core
- MFP (WSSI), OTB, allocation and replenishment on the same product
Backbone PLM
- Product development and tech packs
- Part of Bamboo Rose since 2023
- Merchandise planning and allocation in separate systems
Where PLM and planning join up.
In most stacks, PLM stops at an approved style and someone rekeys it into the planning file. In merchmix, the approved style and its colourways become the range option in core, inside the budget set in MFP (WSSI) and open-to-buy.
The same record carries the product information to Shopify. Your ERP stays the system of record: run horizon, or connect NetSuite, SAP S/4HANA or Microsoft Dynamics 365.
FORGE · SIZE SPECIFICATION
Coast rain shell
Values in mm · Base size M · Grade rule per point
| Point of measure | Tolerance | XS | S | MBase | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body length | ± 5 mm | 700 | 710 | 720 | 730 | 740 |
| Chest width | ± 5 mm | 540 | 560 | 580 | 600 | 620 |
| Sleeve length | ± 5 mm | 820 | 835 | 850 | 865 | 880 |
| Hem width | ± 5 mm | 520 | 540 | 560 | 580 | 600 |
| Hood opening | ± 3 mm | 300 | 300 | 310 | 310 | 320 |
- XS · Requested
- M · Approved
- XL · Requested
FORGE · BILL OF MATERIALS
Coast rain shell · Moss
SS27 · CR-014 · Base size M · GBP
- Components
- 6
- Suppliers
- 3
- Material cost / garment
- £15.70
| Component / placement | Usage | Rate £ | Cost £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightweight ripstopShell · Moss · Harbor Tex | 1.80 m | 5.80 | 10.44 |
| Recycled meshBody lining · Slate · Harbor Tex | 1.20 m | 1.40 | 1.68 |
| Water-resistant zipCentre front · Moss · North Trim | 1 pc | 2.10 | 2.10 |
| Pocket zipLeft + right pocket · North Trim | 2 pcs | 0.45 | 0.90 |
| Elastic cordHood + hem · Moss · North Trim | 1.20 m | 0.30 | 0.36 |
| Label setBrand + care · Woven Works | 1 set | 0.22 | 0.22 |
| Total material cost / garment | £15.70 | ||
What changed from revision 02
Front zip updated to a water-resistant finish.
Signed off. This revision is locked.
Maya Chen · 04 Sep 2026, 14:32
Downstream teams use revision 03. Further changes start a new revision.
Moving from Backbone.
- Run the free six-week proof of concept on your own styles, no contract.
- Start with next season's new styles. Carryover stays where it is until it finishes.
- Load styles, materials, suppliers and size ranges.
- Build each new style's tech pack on the record from the first revision.
- Connect your ERP and Shopify.
Live in 12 to 15 weeks, end to end.
Questions, answered.
What is the best Backbone PLM alternative for fashion brands?
For brands that want PLM and merchandise planning in one platform, merchmix. forge covers design, BOM, tech packs, samples, costing and suppliers, and hands the approved style straight into planning, allocation and replenishment. See how the main platforms compare.
Who owns Backbone PLM?
Bamboo Rose acquired Backbone PLM in 2023.
Does merchmix handle tech packs?
Yes. Each style has a full tech pack in forge: construction details, how to measure, size specification graded across the run, BOM, packaging and labelling, sewing instructions and technical flats. Approved revisions are frozen, and the tech pack exports as a PDF for the supplier.
How does merchmix handle samples and fit?
Sample requests are logged against the style, with round, supplier, due date and status. Fit rounds are recorded against the frozen spec at the smallest, base and largest size, and late samples show up early on the critical path.
What does merchmix cost?
1/10 the cost of enterprise suites, with no per-seat fees. Priced by stores, SKUs and the products you enable, quoted after a one-hour demo with sales and product.
Do we have to replace our ERP?
No. merchmix has its own retail ERP, horizon, and it also connects to yours. Keep NetSuite, SAP S/4HANA or Microsoft Dynamics 365 as the system of record, or run the retail record in horizon.
How long does it take to move?
Live in 12 to 15 weeks, end to end. It starts with a free six-week proof of concept on your own data, no contract.
Your next season, on one record.
A one-hour demo with sales and product, then a free six-week proof of concept on your own styles, no contract.
Updated 26 October 2026