Digital Production
Advanced digital production technologies streamline the fashion process and enable innovative and sustainable creation and modification of textiles.
The fashion industry is undergoing a major development and transformation through the integration of Digital Manufacturing and Digital Twinning technologies, driven by the principle of ‘Digital to Physical’ design and production. Digital Production leverages advanced technologies like 3D printing and computer-controlled machines to streamline manufacturing, enhancing efficiency, customization, and sustainability. This approach enables on-demand production, reduces waste, and marks a departure from traditional mass production methods, allowing fashion brands to respond swiftly to market trends while emphasizing personalization and quality.
Complementing this, Digital Twinning involves creating virtual models that replicate and optimize physical products, systems, or processes throughout their lifecycle. Continuously updated with real-time data, Digital Twinning enables the creation of virtual prototypes, reducing the need for physical samples and improving supply chain management through real-time monitoring and simulation. It also enhances customer experiences by offering personalized avatars for better sizing and styling recommendations and by promoting sustainability through material analysis and environmental impact assessments.
Together, Digital manufacturing and Digital Twinning are revolutionizing the fashion industry by driving innovation, sustainability, and operational efficiency. By adopting these technologies, fashion brands can reduce their environmental footprint, better meet consumer demands, and explore new business models that were previously unattainable with traditional methods.”
Case studies
Kornit Digital
Kornit Digital leads in sustainable textile printing with their on-demand production approach. They integrate 3D printing and digital technologies through platforms like KornitX, reducing water usage and minimizing waste by producing garments only after orders are placed. Read more here
TextileGenesis
TextileGenesis leverages blockchain-powered digital twins to trace sustainable fibers like TENCEL™. Their platform ensures full transparency across the supply chain, helping brands achieve sustainability goals by reducing waste and optimizing material use. Read more here
Valaclava
PlatformE has recently developed a new collection, Valaclava: a phygital, on-demand collection which proves how a primarily physical brand can engage effectively with the Metaverse and at the same time ensure a circular approach. Valaclava was born as an innovation project and a case study. It is structured on end-to-end solutions connecting everything PlatformE does best: 3D digital product creation, on-demand manufacturing, across a connected network of technology providers.Read more here
PlatformE
PlatformE is a pioneering force in the fashion industry, revolutionizing digital production by enabling brands to design, produce, and deliver fashion more efficiently. Utilizing advanced tools and technology, PlatformE helps brands reduce waste and optimize production, reshaping the fashion supply chain for greater sustainability. Read more.
Augmented Weaving
Initiated by Anita Michaluszko and Flavia Bon in 2021, Augmented Weaving explores innovative digital approaches to jacquard weaving. By integrating physical, digital, and virtual tools, the project pushes the boundaries of textile design. Showcased at Dutch Design Week 2022, it also won the Swiss Design Awards 2024. Read more.
Holly McQuillan
Holly McQuillan’s work in zero waste fashion design explores sustainable production through transition design and digital technology. Her research challenges conventional design and production processes, advocating for systemic shifts towards sustainable fashion practices. Read more.
MADH jeans
Madh is a global collective dedicated to leading innovation in the denim industry, redefining boundaries through advanced technology, transparency, and creativity. Founded in Sweden in 2023, Madh challenges traditional approaches to brand development and collection presentation. By leveraging technology and innovation, Madh engages users and promotes responsible production. As a sustainable fashion denim brand, Madh is designed to elevate jeans into new dimensions. Its unique partnerships with industry experts across the entire supply chain, from fiber to garment, foster collective intelligence and ensure the creation of the highest quality products.
UNSPUN
UNSPUN is a US-based fashion company revolutionizing the manufacturing process and rethinking the way clothes are made. With technology at its core, the company aims to reduce global human carbon emissions by 1% through automated, localized, and intentional apparel manufacturing. Their micro factory and design studio are located in Oakland, California. This innovative approach emphasizes sustainability and efficiency, transforming how fashion is produced and consumed.
Learn more
AUROBOROS
Auroboros is the luxury tech fashion house, designing across dimensions – digital designs, physical clothing, and phygital collections that span the two realities.Together, they create an ecosystem of singular and interconnected fashion, to stand alone and as one. Auroboros is not just creating products; it is cultivating a lifestyle that embraces technology to enhance personal and planetary wellbeing. Learn more
References
Baker, K. (2023). “How to build a product ecosystem buyers will want to be in.” HubSpot Blog.
Armstrong, C.M., & Lang, C. (2013). “Sustainable product service systems: the new frontier in apparel retailing?” Research Journal of Textile and Apparel.
Botín-Sanabria, D.M., et al. (2022). “Digital twin technology challenges and applications: A comprehensive review.” Remote Sensing.
Wagner, R., & Kabalska, A. (2022). “Sustainable value in the fashion industry: A case study of value construction/destruction using digital twins.” Sustainable Development.
Alam, M.D., Kabir, G., & Mirmohammadsadeghi, M. (2023). “A digital twin framework development for apparel manufacturing industry.” Decision Analytics Journal.
Gornostaeva, G. (2023). “The Development of Digital Commerce in the Fashion Industry: The Typology of Emerging Designers in London.” Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 186, 122122.
