January 9, 2015

Can Automation Bring Apparel Making Back to U.S.?

By Textiles Update

An Atlanta startup is using advanced manufacturing technologies to help bring apparel manufacturing back to the United States. SoftWear Automation Inc. has developed robotic sewing technologies to automate apparel manufacturing.

Rather than develop custom hardware, SoftWear uses off-the-shelf components and software to retrofit dumb sewing machines, CEO K.P. Reddy said.

“Just as the 3D printer is changing traditional manufacturing and prototyping, our devices will allow designers to… fabricate their fashion line and create clothing beyond the capabilities and precision of human hands,” Reddy said. Reddy is pictured above (left) with Palaniswamy ‘Raj’ Rajan of SoftWear.

SoftWear is leveraging a renaissance in advanced manufacturing in the United States, where technology is making large-scale production competitive in high-cost labor markets.

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