The global shift toward digitized apparel supply chains has gained significant momentum as Shima Seiki MFG, Ltd. and CLO Virtual Fashion announce a strategic technical integration. This partnership addresses a long-standing friction point in the knitwear sector: the disconnect between high-fidelity 3D garment simulation and actual machine-executable data. By aligning Shima Seiki’s APEXFiz design software with CLO’s simulation engine, the collaboration moves beyond aesthetic visualization to create a functional digital thread. This development allows designers to transition from a virtual concept to a physical knitted product with a high degree of technical accuracy, effectively reducing the need for multiple physical prototypes and accelerating the traditional product development cycle.
Streamlining workflows through automated data exchange
Technical barriers that previously required the manual layering of material data are being replaced by a sophisticated ‘one-click’ import-export environment. Historically, designers using both platforms faced a fragmented process where material properties and structural settings had to be adjusted individually upon transfer. Under the new protocol, scheduled for a phased rollout starting in March 2026, Shima Seiki’s V-09C update will introduce a dedicated export function tailored for the CLO ecosystem. Concurrently, the CLO 2026.0 enterprise release will feature a specialized integration plugin. This automation is designed to optimize resources for large-scale manufacturers and independent labels alike, ensuring that digital assets are not only visually realistic but also structurally compatible with computerized flat knitting machines.
Expanding knitwear utility into the metaverse and gaming
The implications of this partnership extend into the burgeoning digital-only fashion markets, including gaming and the metaverse. By leveraging CLO’s strength in high-quality animation and movement simulation, knitwear designs created in APEXFiz can now be deployed in virtual environments with lifelike physics. This versatility opens new revenue streams for brands, allowing them to monetize the same digital asset across physical retail and virtual platforms. As the fashion industry faces increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices, this "digital-first" approach provides a data-backed solution to overproduction by ensuring that a garment’s fit and drape are perfected in a virtual space before a single centimeter of yarn is consumed.
Headquartered in Wakayama, Japan, Shima Seiki has been a dominant force in the textile machinery industry since its inception in 1962. The company is renowned for inventing the WholeGarment technology, which allows for the production of seamless knitwear. Today, Shima Seiki focuses on integrating its hardware with advanced software solutions like APEXFiz to support a sustainable, on-demand manufacturing model. With a global presence spanning major fashion capitals, the firm continues to lead the industry’s transition toward Total Fashion Integration, combining mechanical precision with cutting-edge 3D design capabilities to improve fiscal and environmental efficiency for global retailers.
