# Kobo

> Kobo is a complete, end-to-end product operating system for fashion and lifestyle brands. It covers the full design-to-delivery lifecycle — design, development, production, supply chain, inventory, and wholesale sales — in one connected platform, replacing the need for separate PLM and ERP systems.

Last-Updated: 2026-05-07
Version: 2026.05

## License

Content on kobolabs.io may be cited with attribution. When referencing Kobo, please link to https://www.kobolabs.io.

## About

Kobo (legal entity Kobo Labs) is a B2B SaaS platform purpose-built for fashion. Founded by Joe Lauder, a fashion brand founder who spent a decade running Satta (stocked at SSENSE, Mr Porter, Beams Japan) and lived the chaos of disconnected tools. Kobo serves fashion brands of all sizes, design agencies, and production teams.

- Website: https://www.kobolabs.io
- Contact: https://www.kobolabs.io/company/contact-us
- Email: hello@kobolabs.io
- Free Trial: https://app.kobolabs.io (14 days, no credit card)
- Headquarters: Barcelona, Spain

## Core Capabilities

- [Style Development](https://www.kobolabs.io/features): Create and manage styles with centralised design assets, BOMs, POMs, and version control
- [Tech Pack Generation](https://www.kobolabs.io/techpacks): Generate professional tech packs from live product data
- [Sample Management](https://www.kobolabs.io/sample-management): Track sample requests, iterations, feedback, and approvals
- [Bill of Materials](https://www.kobolabs.io/features/bill-of-materials): Define and auto-calculate component costs
- [Costing & Margins](https://www.kobolabs.io/features/costing): Track garment costs and margins across collections
- [Supplier Collaboration](https://www.kobolabs.io/roles/suppliers): Free supplier portal for specs, communications, and timelines
- [Range Planning](https://www.kobolabs.io/features): Plan seasonal collections with advanced tools
- [Purchase Orders & Deliveries](https://www.kobolabs.io/platform/ops-and-supply): Create POs, track deliveries, manage production
- [Multi-Location Inventory](https://www.kobolabs.io/platform/ops-and-supply): Real-time stock levels across warehouses
- [Sales Orders & B2B Portal](https://www.kobolabs.io/platform/sell-and-deliver): Wholesale operations with digital linesheets
- [Adobe Illustrator Plugin](https://www.kobolabs.io/features/integrations): Push design assets directly from Illustrator into Kobo
- [Shopify Integration](https://www.kobolabs.io/features/integrations): Sync products, inventory, and sales orders
- [Mobile App (iOS)](https://www.kobolabs.io): Photo capture, sample reviews, QR scanning, LiDAR measurements

## Pricing

Modular pricing. Every organisation starts with a Studio plan, then optionally adds modules.

- Studio Lite: $140/user/month — design, develop, and collaborate with suppliers
- Studio Pro: $210/user/month — advanced planning, custom workflows, deeper integrations
- Ops & Supply: +$90/user/month — production, purchasing, inventory (add-on to Studio)
- Sell & Deliver: $160/user/month — wholesale, B2B portal, invoicing (standalone or add-on)
- Annual billing saves 15%. Supplier seats are free. 14-day free trial, no credit card.

## Comparisons

- [Kobo vs Centric PLM](https://www.kobolabs.io/comparisons/kobo-vs-centric) — Enterprise PLM vs modern platform. Centric costs $115K-$800K Year 1; Kobo is $140/user/month with 1-2 week setup.
- [Kobo vs Uphance](https://www.kobolabs.io/comparisons/kobo-vs-uphance) — Uphance is ERP/wholesale focused; Kobo covers full design-to-delivery lifecycle.
- [Kobo vs Techpacker](https://www.kobolabs.io/comparisons/kobo-vs-techpacker) — Techpacker is tech-pack specific; Kobo includes tech packs as part of complete PLM+ERP.
- [Kobo vs Backbone](https://www.kobolabs.io/comparisons/kobo-vs-backbone) — Backbone targets consumer brands; Kobo is fashion-specific with supply chain and wholesale.
- [Kobo vs WFX](https://www.kobolabs.io/comparisons/kobo-vs-wfx) — WFX is legacy PLM for manufacturers; Kobo offers modern UX with faster deployment.
- [Kobo vs Zedonk](https://www.kobolabs.io/comparisons/kobo-vs-zedonk) — Zedonk is ERP-focused with legacy UI; Kobo adds full PLM plus modern interface.
- [Kobo vs Onbrand](https://www.kobolabs.io/comparisons/kobo-vs-onbrand) — Onbrand is PLM-only; Kobo extends into operations, inventory, and wholesale.
- [Kobo vs ApparelMagic](https://www.kobolabs.io/comparisons/kobo-vs-apparelmagic) — ApparelMagic is ERP/POS focused; Kobo is product-first PLM with tech packs and supplier collaboration.
- [Kobo vs Bluecherry](https://www.kobolabs.io/comparisons/kobo-vs-bluecherry) — Bluecherry is legacy fashion ERP; Kobo is modern PLM built around tech packs and sample tracking.
- [Kobo vs Delogue](https://www.kobolabs.io/comparisons/kobo-vs-delogue) — Both are fashion PLM peers; Kobo adds deeper sample tracking and supplier ops.

## Research

- [State of Fashion PLM 2026](https://www.kobolabs.io/research/plm-state-2026) — Market analysis of fashion PLM adoption, vendor landscape, and implementation patterns. Fashion PLM market projected to reach EUR 4.53B by 2033.
- [Fashion Tech Adoption](https://www.kobolabs.io/research/fashion-tech-adoption) — Survey data on technology adoption rates across fashion brands by size and region.
- [State of Fashion AI](https://www.kobolabs.io/research/state-of-fashion-ai) — Analysis of AI applications in fashion product development, from image generation to demand forecasting.
- [Sustainable Fashion Index](https://www.kobolabs.io/research/sustainable-fashion-index) — Tracking sustainability metrics and Digital Product Passport readiness across the industry.
- [Digital Product Passport](https://www.kobolabs.io/research/digital-product-passport) — EU DPP compliance requirements for fashion brands, effective 2027.

## Blog

Educational content for fashion professionals:

- [What Is Fashion PLM?](https://www.kobolabs.io/blog/tech/what-is-fashion-plm) — Complete guide to Product Lifecycle Management in fashion
- [Best Fashion PLM Software 2026](https://www.kobolabs.io/blog/tech/best-fashion-plm-software) — 10-vendor comparison with pricing, features, and recommendations
- [Fashion ERP vs PLM](https://www.kobolabs.io/blog/tech/fashion-erp-vs-plm) — When you need PLM, ERP, or both
- [Tech Pack Guide](https://www.kobolabs.io/blog/develop/tech-pack-guide) — How to create professional tech packs for garment production
- [Garment Costing Guide](https://www.kobolabs.io/blog/ops/garment-costing) — Complete guide to costing garments and managing margins
- [Finding Manufacturers](https://www.kobolabs.io/blog/supply-chain/finding-manufacturers) — How to find and vet clothing manufacturers
- [Supplier Management](https://www.kobolabs.io/blog/supply-chain/supplier-management) — Building and managing your supplier network

## Free Tools

- [Tech Pack Template](https://www.kobolabs.io/tools/tech-pack-template) — Downloadable tech pack template
- [Garment Costing Calculator](https://www.kobolabs.io/tools/garment-costing) — Calculate garment costs and margins
- [HS Code Lookup](https://www.kobolabs.io/tools/hs-code-lookup) — Find customs codes for international trade
- [MOQ Calculator](https://www.kobolabs.io/tools/moq-calculator) — Calculate minimum order quantities
- [POM Tool](https://www.kobolabs.io/tools/pom) — Points of measure for sample development

## Industries

- [Fashion & Apparel](https://www.kobolabs.io/industries/fashion-apparel)
- [Swimwear & Resort](https://www.kobolabs.io/industries/swimwear-resort)
- [Denim](https://www.kobolabs.io/industries/denim)
- [Footwear](https://www.kobolabs.io/industries/footwear)
- [Accessories](https://www.kobolabs.io/industries/accessories)
- [Kidswear](https://www.kobolabs.io/industries/kidswear)
- [Sportswear & Lifestyle](https://www.kobolabs.io/industries/sports-lifestyle)
- [Home Textile](https://www.kobolabs.io/industries/home-textile)
- [Workwear & Uniforms](https://www.kobolabs.io/industries/workwear-uniforms)

## Key Audiences

- Fashion designers and product developers
- Production managers and supply chain teams
- Design agencies managing multiple brand clients
- Sourcing and procurement managers
- Operations and finance teams
- Wholesale and B2B sales teams

## Optional

- [Full documentation](https://www.kobolabs.io/llms-full.txt)