Robots can assemble cars and perform surgery, but they struggle with delicate tasks like sewing. This is why most clothes are still made by hand, often by low-paid workers. Sewing fabric requires precise alignment, which is hard for machines.
New Ways to Make Clothes
CreateMe, a robotics company, is trying a different approach. Instead of sewing, they glue fabric pieces together. Founder Cam Myers explains that once adhesive is applied, you simply line up the fabric and stamp it. CreateMe's robots are already making women's underwear this way and will soon produce t-shirts. Mass production could start next year.
Roboticists have wanted to automate garment making for decades. If machines could take over, clothing production might return to Western countries. This could also reduce the environmental impact of clothes. However, millions of textile workers could lose their jobs.
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Start Your News DetoxCurrently, only a small percentage of clothes sold in the UK and US are made there. Myers believes that if even 10% of t-shirt manufacturing moved back to the US with automation, it would be a huge change. CreateMe's adhesive process works with cotton, wool, and leather. The adhesive is thermoset, meaning it won't melt in the wash or when ironed. These glued garments also lack seams, allowing them to be made on molds that fit the body.
The Debate Over Sewing
Despite these advances, some believe sewing will remain essential. Palaniswamy Rajan, CEO of Softwear Automation, points out that visible stitching is a key design element for many clothes, like jeans. His company plans to release new sewing robots that he claims will make t-shirts at the same cost as importing them to the US.
Many companies are secretive about their robot technology due to intense competition in the apparel market. Textile workers already face challenges, including factory closures and supply chain issues. Automation advocates suggest workers could move to better-paying jobs, but this transition won't happen quickly.
Environmental Benefits
Automating garment manufacturing could significantly reduce the industry's environmental impact. Each year, 92 million tons of textile waste are produced globally. Large amounts of unsold clothes are burned, and the industry uses vast amounts of water.
Gerald Feichtinger from the Technical University of Leoben, Austria, says that bringing manufacturing back to local areas could allow for on-demand production. This would reduce overproduction and cut carbon emissions from transporting clothes. His study found that emissions for a t-shirt could drop by about 45% if made by a robot in Europe or the US.
However, re-shoring the entire supply chain, including dyeing and yarn production, remains difficult. Michael Fraede, co-founder of Robotextile, which makes grippers for robots to handle fabric, believes it will take another 10 years before significant re-shoring happens. He notes the industry is focused on saving money.
Lauren Junestrand of the UK Fashion and Textile Association sees great potential for robotics in the UK. While she doesn't expect the UK to compete with Asian countries in volume, she believes a "co-existence" is likely.
Deep Dive & References
- Asia still the garment factory of the world, yet faces numerous challenges in the industry - ILO, 2024
- The state of UK fashion manufacturing: a sector poised for resurgence? - Fashion Capital, 2024
- America’s Domestic Apparel Production - The Atlantic, 2024
- Iran war hits Asia's polyester suppliers, global fast fashion - Reuters, 2026
- Unsustainable fashion and textiles in focus on International Day Zero - UNEP, 2024
- Will fashion firms stop burning clothes? - BBC Earth, 2024
- Sustainable fashion to take centre stage on Zero Waste Day - UNEP, 2024
- On-demand manufacturing of apparel: a life cycle assessment of robotic sewing and 3D body scanning - The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 2026
- Environmental impact assessment of robotic sewing in apparel manufacturing - Journal of Cleaner Production, 2025
- Reducing Supply Chain Emissions in the Fashion Industry - Institute of Sustainability Studies, 2024
