WFX PLM alternative
WFX is built for the factory.
merchmix is built for the retailer.
PLM joined to merchandise planning, allocation and stock, on one record, with no per-seat fees. 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 WFX.
- Built for making, not selling.A retail brand also has to plan the buy and place stock in stores.
- The plan lives somewhere else.When PLM, MFP (WSSI) and allocation sit in separate tools, the style is retyped at every hand-off.
- More users, more seats.Per-user pricing grows with the team, not with the business.
merchmix and WFX
WFX makes the product. merchmix makes it and sells it.
WFX is a broad fashion software suite, founded in 2000, covering PLM, apparel and textile ERP, production planning and factory software for brands and manufacturers. It is priced per user.
merchmix
forge, core and core plus
- Design boards, colourways and lab dips
- Multi-level BOM, frozen at sign-off
- Tech pack exported from the frozen revision
- Sample and fit rounds against the frozen spec
- Costing by colourway, to landed cost
- Supplier quotes compared, award recorded
- Approved style becomes the range option in core
- MFP (WSSI), OTB, range and option plans
- Allocation and replenishment by store and size
- No per-seat fees
WFX
- PLM for development, buying and sourcing
- Apparel and textile ERP
- Production planning and factory software
- Integrations including NetSuite, Shopify, Adobe Illustrator and Browzwear
- Priced per user
- No merchandise financial planning or store allocation listed
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. From there, core plus allocates it to stores by grade and size, and replenishes it as it sells.
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 WFX.
- Run the free six-week proof of concept on your own styles, no contract.
- Start with next season's new styles. In-flight styles finish where they are.
- 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 WFX PLM alternative for fashion brands?
For retail 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.
What is WFX?
WFX, or World Fashion Exchange, is a fashion software company founded in 2000. It offers PLM, apparel and textile ERP, production planning and factory software for brands and manufacturers.
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.
From sketch to store, 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