About
Mercer is the leading AI-powered platform purpose-built for fashion professionals. Formerly known as Cala, Mercer enables independent designers, small fashion houses, and major brands to bring products from initial concept all the way through production within one unified platform. At its core, Mercer offers a powerful AI Designer tool that supports text-to-image generation, product variations, and an AI Paintbrush editing feature—powered by a mixture of Flux and Stable Diffusion models. Designers can start from inspiration photos, hand sketches, CADs, or tech packs, or use AI to generate entirely new concepts. A custom fine-tuning capability called AI Influences allows brands to train models on their own past collections and inspiration boards to maintain brand consistency. Beyond design generation, Mercer centralizes all collection assets—images, video, 3D files, and spreadsheets—with real-time commenting, measurement annotations, and task assignment directly on creative files. Teams can collaborate seamlessly, sharing designs with internal members or external production partners via print-ready PDFs and collection links, even without an account. On the production side, Mercer connects brands to a global manufacturing network spanning outerwear, denim, swimwear, accessories, and thousands more product categories. Enterprise users gain access to production management, logistics handling, and Mercer's full manufacturing partner network, making it a true end-to-end solution for the fashion industry.
Key Features
- AI Designer Tool: Generate fashion product images using text-to-image, product variations, and AI Paintbrush editing powered by Flux and Stable Diffusion models.
- Custom Brand AI Training: Fine-tune Mercer's AI Influences tool on your own past collections and inspiration boards to keep new product development on-brand.
- Collection Asset Management: Centralize all design files—images, 3D files, videos, spreadsheets, CADs, and tech packs—in one organized workspace with version control.
- Team Collaboration & Task Management: Comment and annotate directly on files, assign tasks with deadlines, and share designs with team members or external partners via collection links or PDFs.
- Global Manufacturing Network: Access a worldwide network of vetted manufacturers across virtually every product category, with integrated production management and logistics for enterprise users.
Use Cases
- An independent fashion designer uses Mercer's AI Designer tool to generate initial garment concepts from a mood board of inspiration images, then refines them using the AI Paintbrush before exporting tech packs.
- A small fashion label trains Mercer's AI Influences feature on three seasons of past collections to ensure all new product ideation stays visually consistent with their brand identity.
- A growing apparel brand uses Mercer's task management and collaboration tools to coordinate between in-house designers, remote pattern makers, and overseas production partners in one unified platform.
- An established fashion house manages its entire seasonal collection—including CADs, measurement specs, sample feedback, and manufacturer communications—within Mercer's centralized asset workspace.
- A startup streetwear brand leverages Mercer's global manufacturing network to identify and onboard a new production partner for a new denim line without leaving the platform.
Pros
- End-to-End Fashion Workflow: Mercer covers the full product lifecycle—from AI-generated concepts to production handoff—eliminating the need for multiple disconnected tools.
- Brand-Specific AI Models: The ability to fine-tune AI on your own brand assets is a rare and powerful feature that ensures design output stays consistent with your aesthetic.
- Seamless External Sharing: Designs can be shared with production partners and collaborators who don't have a Mercer account, reducing onboarding friction.
- Model-Agnostic Architecture: Mercer is intentionally built to be model-agnostic, ensuring users always have access to the best available image generation technology.
Cons
- Fashion-Specific Use Only: The platform is purpose-built for fashion and apparel—it's not suitable for designers working in other industries or product categories.
- Manufacturing Access May Require Enterprise Plan: Full production management, logistics, and global manufacturer access appear gated behind an Enterprise tier, which may be costly for early-stage indie designers.
- Web-Only Platform: Mercer is currently only available as a web app, with no native desktop or mobile applications, which may limit flexibility for on-the-go use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mercer?
Mercer is a platform that helps creators concept, design, and produce fashion products and collections. It was formerly known as Cala and has been rebranded with expanded AI capabilities.
How do I create my first design on Mercer?
After creating your Mercer account, you'll be prompted to start a new design from the home page. Click 'New Design,' then 'Create AI Image,' and follow the on-screen instructions to generate your first piece.
What AI image generation model does Mercer use?
Mercer currently uses a combination of Flux and Stable Diffusion depending on the specific feature being used. The platform is intentionally model-agnostic so it can always offer the best available technology.
Who is Mercer designed for?
Mercer is designed for independent fashion designers, small fashion houses, and established fashion brands looking to streamline their design, development, and production workflows.
Does Mercer offer manufacturing and production services?
Yes. Mercer offers access to a global manufacturing network covering thousands of product categories. Enterprise users get full production management, logistics handling, and dedicated partner access.
