REGIONAL MANUFACTURING

HOW CAN TECHNOLOGY HELP US DIVERSIFY OUR SUPPLY CHAIN

WHOLEGARMENT is an on-demand knitting technology that basically allows you to 3D knit garments.  This new technologies comes with a 3D design system allowing us to scan a body using a smartphone app, then sending that data to a server that automatically adjusts via an integrated knit program that can be sent to a knitting machine through our KnitPLM system.  Knitting a garment exactly to a person's body can give the customer a perfect fit while eliminating cutting waste. The APEX3 3D system also streamlines the entire process of knitwear production from planning and design to production and sales promotion, as well as its capability for Virtual Sampling. This Ultra-realistic simulation capability allows Virtual Sampling to minimize the costly time- and resource-consuming sample-making process while enhancing presentation quality.

WHAT DOES GOING GLOCAL MEAN?

Fibershed in the Western U.S. and their Regional Fiber Manufacturing Initiative have paved the way to identify opportunities in regional manufacturing. Partnering spinning mills in the Eastern U.S. with growers in the West would help to fill the gap needed to bring more manufacturing back to the U.S. This would help to provide regional economies to many areas in need. We are exploring the possibilities of partnering with these initiatives to start a cooperative. We could bring together Native American growers with regional spinners to have a knitting house on the East coast.