Have you heard of SHIMA Datamall™—the game-changing digital content web service for fashion planning?
If you’re in the business of knitwear planning and design, SHIMA Datamall™ is a must-know digital tool.
This web-based service is especially handy when you’re brainstorming knit designs. Whether you're looking to streamline analog tasks, gathering reference images and data for your concepts in a flash, or simply looking for access to practical, ready-to-use resources, SHIMA Datamall™ has got you covered.
In this post, we’ll walk you through exactly what SHIMA Datamall™ offers and how it can help make your creative workflow more efficient. We’ll also touch on how it fits into the broader movement of digital transformation (DX) in the fashion industry.
Stay with us to the end—we’ve packed in some insights that could seriously elevate your next knitwear project.
Table of Contents
These days, the term “DX” (Digital Transformation) is popping up everywhere—but when it comes to the apparel and fashion industry, it’s often said that DX adoption has been slower than in other fields. Why? There are many unique reasons: you can’t judge a fabric without physically touching it, it’s hard to understand the fit or comfort of a piece without trying it on, and customer service tends to rely heavily on individual staff members’ skills and style. That said, the pandemic has acted as a major catalyst, pushing DX efforts forward in the industry. Let’s take a closer look at how that transformation has been unfolding.
DX, or Digital Transformation, refers to the strategic use of digital technologies to fundamentally transform business models and operational processes, with the aim of enhancing a company’s competitiveness and long-term sustainability. It goes far beyond simply digitizing analog processes (digitization) or introducing IT tools into workflows (digitalization). DX leverages technologies like AI, cloud computing, IoT, and data analytics to create new value, drive innovation in organizational culture, and elevate the overall customer experience. In recent years, DX has become a vital pillar of corporate growth strategies in the global market. It plays a key role in building competitive advantage and accelerating the transformation of entire industry ecosystems.
So what does Digital Transformation actually look like in the fashion world? We can examine some of the real ways DX is making its mark across the industry.
●Product Planning
Design tasks are shifting away from analog methods, with designers now using digital asset libraries and spec sheet tools.
3D virtual samples are also being created, allowing teams to review and refine designs directly on screen.
●Manufacturing Process
Digital tools are streamlining quality control (QC) and product lifecycle management (PLM), making the entire workflow more efficient.
Data from CAD and virtual samples is now being used to create a smoother, more connected flow between design planning and production.
●Sales Promotion
Technologies like virtual fashion shows and AR/VR are being used to create engaging, immersive brand experiences.
Apps and websites are also playing a bigger role in offering personalized product recommendations tailored to each customer.
●Retail
Digital management systems are being used to centralize everything from purchasing and inventory to customer data.
Big data analytics is helping optimize sales by tracking customer behavior both online and in physical stores.
And with stores going digital, we’re seeing the rise of virtual shops and the use of digital catalogs to enhance the shopping experience.
By driving DX across each stage of the process, the industry is achieving faster turnaround times, more efficient manufacturing, and even unlocking new ways to sell—ultimately leading to higher customer satisfaction.
Curious to see how this plays out in the real world? Be sure to check out our article featuring real-world examples of DX in the apparel and fashion industry.
As DX continues to gain momentum in the apparel industry, what kinds of strategies are being rolled out overseas? Driving digitalization to reduce environmental impact and shift toward more sustainable production is a shared global trend. In this piece, we’ll take a closer look at how international players are approaching this shift—and what it could mean for the future of the apparel industry.
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You can also check out our article packed with practical tips for going digital.
The page includes on-demand webinars as well—perfect for exploring solutions that can help accelerate digitalization in the fashion industry. Don’t miss it!
Essential Digitalization Tips for the Fashion Industry Revealed! "Overview of Six-Part Series"
From which software to use for virtual sampling in the planning phase, to how to streamline collaboration with production teams and run digital workflows internally—we’re breaking down key solutions that support the digital shift in fashion development.
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In the previous section, we explored the many facets of DX in the fashion industry. Now, let’s zoom in on one particularly powerful tool for driving digital transformation in knitwear planning—SHIMA Datamall™.
SHIMA Datamall™ is an online service that lets you search, browse, and purchase a wide range of digital data to support the planning, production, and sales of fashion items.
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SHIMA Datamall™ is a web-based digital content service provided by Shima Seiki, a leading manufacturer of knitting machines. This platform is tailored specifically for the knitwear segment of the fashion industry, offering access to a wide range of knit-focused digital resources. Users can search, browse, and purchase knit design patterns, 3D pattern data, and original knitwear programming data—all in one place.
With a free SHIMA Datamall™ account, you can search through a library of over 8,700 data assets using keywords that match your concept. From knit designs to pattern variations, this platform makes it easy to find what you need—helping you cut down on planning time and speed up your creative process.
For Shima Seiki product users, purchased data can be used directly as programming data for knitting machines or imported into the APEXFiz® design software to create virtual samples. This enables a much more efficient production workflow. In addition, this data helps improve communication between apparel brands and knit manufacturers, making collaboration smoother and more aligned from the start.
In this section, we’ll take a closer look at the platform’s main functions and the advantages of using it in your knitwear planning process.
SHIMA Datamall™ offers three main types of data for users to explore:
SHIMA Datamall™ features a wide selection of original knitwear created by Shima Seiki. For each item, you can view detailed information such as the type of yarn used, the compatible knitting machine, and the specific knitting techniques or design features applied.
You can also narrow down your search by gauge, item type, stitch structure, or pattern category—making it much easier to find relevant reference item and significantly reduce the time spent gathering inspiration and technical data.
From classic stitch designs like cables, links, and mesh to more expressive jacquard patterns featuring animal prints, florals, and more—SHIMA Datamall™ offers a rich variety of knit patterns.
You can search by structure or pattern name, making it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for. With this tool at your fingertips, there’s no need to rely on magazines or image searches on the web to hunt down design ideas.
These are pre-dressed 3D data sets used for creating virtual samples within the SDS®-ONE APEX series design system. Each model comes with built-in pattern templates for various garment types, and data is available for womenswear, menswear, kidswear, and babywear.
You can search by target demographic, item type, or design details to find a 3D base that matches your concept. Once downloaded, the models can be customized—adjust the length, tweak the silhouette, or mix and match with other items to fit your creative vision.
As we covered in the previous section, SHIMA Datamall™ allows users to efficiently search for knit products, knit patterns, and 3D base models—but Shima Seiki product users gain even more benefits.
Depending on which Shima Seiki equipment they own, users can purchase specific data sets tailored to their tools. For example, with knit product data, users can directly download programming data for knitting machines. This means there's no need to create programs from scratch—saving time and streamlining production significantly.
Designers can simply select a knit style on SHIMA Datamall™, share the product No. with their knit manufacturers, and clearly communicate their creative vision. This improves clarity and efficiency in the collaboration process.
Knit Design Data and 3D Model Patterns can also be used directly with SDS®-ONE APEX series or APEXFiz® design software.* Instead of building 3D data from the ground up, designers can use and customize existing SHIMA Datamall™ data to quickly develop original designs. It’s not only faster—it’s also much more accessible for teams with limited resources.
By applying your chosen knit pattern to the base model, you can even create ultra-realistic virtual samples that look nearly indistinguishable from the real samples.
By using SHIMA Datamall™ to create virtual samples, you can significantly reduce sampling costs, save time, and minimize waste of materials like yarn. It’s a powerful way to support more sustainable product development in the knitwear industry.
*3D data is available only when using the 3D option.
Now, let’s walk through how SHIMA Datamall™ can be used to create virtual samples—and how this process contributes to a more sustainable way of making products.
1. Start by registering to SHIMA Datamall™ (it’s free!)
2. Search through the “Knit Item Data” section to gather ideas and clarify the type of item you want to create
3. Browse the “3D Model Patterns” section, purchase the data that best matches your product image, and download it
4. Find your preferred knit pattern in the “Knit Design Data” section, purchase it, and download the data
5. Import your downloaded files into APEXFiz® and customize them to create your final design
*Data purchases are available exclusively to Shima Seiki product users.
For example, take this product sample found on SHIMA Datamall™.
You can purchase the programming data for the knitting machine and go straight into production—but if you want to make adjustments, the next step is to search for 3D base data and knit patterns that align with your design concept.
Once you’ve purchased and downloaded a 3D base, you can open the 3D model and pattern data in APEXFiz®.
From there, you can easily tweak the length or silhouette, making it far simpler than drafting patterns from scratch. Once the silhouette is set, it’s time to explore pattern options.
You can mix and match downloaded knit patterns from SHIMA Datamall™ or use designs from your internal library. You can preview everything in 3D directly on screen—making the design process incredibly intuitive.
And while you're designing, the software is automatically generating data for use in programming knitting machines in the background, which can be used later for actual production.
Once the design is finalized, simply choose your yarn and run a simulation.
By producing ultra-realistic virtual samples at this stage, you can use them as fully functional first prototypes. This minimizes the need for physical sampling and promotes a more sustainable approach to production.
Shima Seiki also offers a free web service called yarnbank®, where you can search, browse, and download yarn data from suppliers around the world. The yarn data can be used in SDS®-ONE APEX series for virtual sampling, and since the yarns are scanned from actual physical samples, the simulations are impressively realistic and true to life.
If you're happy with how the yarn looks in your simulation, you can even reach out directly to the yarn supplier or purchase the real yarn. An additional advantage is offered as well. You can access yarnbank® using the same account as SHIMA Datamall™, making the entire experience seamless and user-friendly.
Changing the yarn can completely transform the look of the same knit pattern—and with this workflow, you can preview that shift right on your screen before anything is actually knitted.
Curious about how to create ultra-realistic virtual samples like this? Check out our in-depth article on APEXFiz® to learn more.
When planning fashion and apparel products, what software do you use? From CLO3D, Browzwear and Optitex to the familiar Adobe suite, there are certainly many options out there. This time we introduce APEXFiz®, a design software that is extremely useful for everything from planning and production to e-commerce.
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For more about yarnbank®, check out this article:
4 Reasons Why You Should Sign Up with the yarnbank® Digital Yarn Sourcing Website Today
Have you heard of yarnbank®? It's a web service that allows you to search and view yarns from all over the world. Launched in September 2020, yarnbank® is a specialized online platform for searching yarns, designed to be an invaluable digital tool for professionals involved in product planning and material sourcing in the fashion and apparel industry.
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If you’re involved in knit design, chances are you’re now curious enough to try out SHIMA Datamall™ for yourself.
For those looking to digitalize their current production workflow, boost efficiency, and embrace a more environmentally conscious approach to manufacturing, SHIMA Datamall™ is a great place to start!
Signing up for an account is completely free. Get started here and take your planning process to the next level!
SHIMA Datamall™ is an online service that lets you search, browse, and purchase a wide range of digital data to support the planning, production, and sales of fashion items.
View the site
Related Link
Want to learn more about sustainable manufacturing? Be sure to check out this related article as well.