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In this, our fifth installment in our on-going six-part series on solutions to promote digitalization in the fashion industry, we examine how to create fabrics for weaving, circular knitting, towels, and embroidery. We'll explain how to design and simulate fabrics using design software. Plus, we’ll introduce a helpful site where you can download fabric data created with the SDS®-ONE APEX series, including woven, knit, circular knit and pile fabric, as well as embroidery. Be sure to access and grab some realistic fabric images!
Table of Contents
- Recommended Design Software for Simulations of Woven Fabric, Circular Knitting, Towels and Embroidery
- Simulating Woven Fabric
・Creating a Pattern Based on a Reference Image
・Creating Patterns with the Kaleido Function - Simulating Circular Knitting Fabric
- Simulating Towel Fabric
- Simulating Embroidery
- Fabric Image Giveaway
- Summary Material Giveaway
- Accelerate DX in Your Planning Process with Fabric Simulations
- About the SDS®-ONE APEX Series
- APEXFiz®, the Subscription Service From the SDS®-ONE APEX Series
- Comprehensive Guide to Digitalization in the Fashion Industry! “Overview of Six-Part Series”
The content of this article is based on the webinar series hosted by Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd. on the same topic. You can register to view all six webinar recordings and download related materials from the following site.
Fashion Tech Webinar Series Archive Released!
The Fashion Tech Webinar introduces solutions to promote digitalization in the fashion industry in a six-part series.
View the site
Related Link
Recommended Design Software for Simulations of Woven Fabric, Circular Knitting, Towels and Embroidery
In previous articles, we covered how to create virtual samples of knitwear and knit accessories using the SDS®-ONE APEX series design software (see articles of session 1 and 4). So far, we’ve mainly focused on knit products, but this time we’re shifting the spotlight to non-knit items. The SDS®-ONE APEX series allows you to simulate not only knits but also woven fabrics, pile fabrics, and embroidery. You can create a variety of design patterns, such as jacquard or stripes.
This article will focus on how to use the SDS®-ONE APEX series design software for simulating fabrics like woven fabric, circular knitting, towel, and embroidery. If you want to dive deeper into fabric simulation using the design software, you can download additional materials below. Be sure to check it out along with this article.
Virtual Samples: The Savior of the Apparel and Fashion Industry?
Today, let's dive into the game-changing world of "virtual samples," which is key to making our industry more sustainable by cutting down on sampling time and costs.
Related Article
Simulating Woven Fabric
Creating a Pattern Based on a Reference Image
Creating Patterns with the Kaleido Function
If you want to create a check pattern from scratch, the "Kaleido Check" function is incredibly useful. "Kaleido" means "kaleidoscope", and as the name suggests, this feature allows you to create patterns based on the principles of a kaleidoscope. By adjusting the position and angle of the lines, as shown in the image below, you can automatically generate check patterns.
For more details, please download the material below for reference.
Simulating Circular Knitting Fabric
Let’s dive into the design process of circular knitting! This time, we’ll create a multi-striped pattern, often seen in cut-and-sewn fabrics. Using a specialized tool for striped patterns, you can freely design while adjusting colors and stripe width.
Just like woven fabrics, you can simulate designs using yarn data. It’s super easy to create variations by switching up the yarn, like slub yarn, melange yarn or heathered yarn.
Simulating Towel Fabric
Now, let's check out the process for towel design. First, prepare the design. Next, register the colors used in the design. This time, pink, gray and navy are used.
After that, set the density of the piles, which will automatically convert the design into a dot image that serves as the base. The pile density can be chosen based on the type of towel, such as hand towels or bath towels, so even if you're new to towel design, it's easy to operate.
You can adjust various settings for the simulation. In the image below, you’ll see how mixing pink and navy piles creates a grayish color effect.
Simulating Embroidery
With the SDS®-ONE APEX series design software, you can simulate embroidery based on your prepared design. You can set the stitch width and estimate the total number of stitches.
Embroidery simulations are useful not only for actual product planning but can also be used as printed designs. When using it as a print design, you can even simulate using yarn that wouldn’t be possible to embroider in the actual process, resulting in a unique virtual sample.
This time we focused on simulating embroidery designs, but you can also simulate things like text embroidery. You can even combine logo or name embroidery with images of clothes for more customization.
Fabric Image Giveaway
When simulating woven fabrics, you can export various map images and U3M files. Once you load the exported file into your regular 3D software, you can use it as texture data, showcasing the fabric’s natural texture and unevenness with stunning realism.
You can download fabric data for woven fabric, circular knitting, towel, embroidery, and flat knitting created with the SDS®-ONE APEX series from the following link. For woven fabrics, various map data (in U3M file format) is also available for download. Be sure to make use of these!
What is U3M? How to Make 3D Virtual Fashion Even More Realistic!
Might we suggest the "U3M" data format that compiles all this 3D information? This time we introduce U3M as essential knowledge for producing digital fashion by permitting more realistic and convincing product images and presentation materials. Be sure to read on until the end!
Related Article
Summary Material Giveaway
In this article, we've covered simulations for woven fabric, circular knitting, towel, and embroidery. In addition, a more detailed document explaining the fabric simulations introduced in this article is prepared. Download it below and feel free to use it for internal sharing.
Accelerate DX in Your Planning Process with Fabric Simulations
The various fabric simulations we introduced today can be used not only for checking swatches but also as fabric material for 3D virtual sampling. By mapping simulated fabrics onto garments modeled in your existing 3D software (such as CLO3D or Browzwear), you can create even more realistic virtual samples.
Using virtual samples in your seasonal planning can help you cut down on unnecessary sample production time and costs. Plus, virtual samples make it easy to explore more variations compared to physical samples, allowing for more effective planning and evaluation. You can even upload virtual samples to your e-commerce site before production begins, so you can take pre-season orders and adjust production quantity based on that demand. This way, you can avoid overproduction and waste, as well as lost sales opportunities from stock shortages. The use of virtual samples not only improves operational efficiency but also contributes to more sustainable manufacturing.
About the SDS®-ONE APEX Series
Finally, we would like to briefly introduce the SDS®-ONE APEX series. Developed by Shima Seiki, a manufacturer of flat knitting machines, the SDS®-ONE APEX series is a design system equipped with software specialized in creating and simulating textile designs, patterns, and colorways for flat knitting, weaving, printing, circular knitting, towels, embroidery, and more. It is widely used not only in the fashion industry but also across various sectors.
For a smooth implementation of virtual sampling with the SDS®-ONE APEX series in your company, check out the following article. The article explains how to successfully get started it in detail with case studies.
How to Start Up a Digital Design Project!
Virtual Samples: the Savior of the Apparel and Fashion Industry, is key to cutting down on sampling time and costs in clothing manufacturing and avoiding creating wasted resources. In this third installment of our six-part series on accelerating digital transformation within the fashion industry, we show you steps for successfully implementing virtual samples, along with some real-world success stories.
Related Article
APEXFiz®, the Subscription Service From the SDS®-ONE APEX Series
Introducing the APEXFiz® software subscription service from the SDS®-ONE APEX series. Just like the SDS®-ONE APEX series design system, it allows you to perform everything from planning and design to colorway evaluation, realistic fabric simulation, and 3D virtual sampling of products. It digitally connects planning and design with manufacturing, shortening lead times and enabling environmentally friendly production.
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.
Related Article
Interested in learning more about APEXFiz® design software? Shima Seiki, the developer and distributor offers a newsletter subscription with information on products, services and exhibition updates. You can subscribe to their newsletter here.
Comprehensive Guide to Digitalization in the Fashion Industry! "Overview of Six-Part Series"
At wearware, we are introducing solutions to promote digitalization in the fashion industry in a six-part series. Please look forward to the upcoming articles!
Overview of 6-Part Series
- Key Features for 3D Virtual Sampling of Knitwear!
- Seamless Linkage with Production for More Efficient Sampling!
- How to Start Up a Digital Design Project!
- Realizing Manufacturing Without Physical Samples!
- Accelerating DX in Your Planning Work with Fabric Simulation!
- Increase Your E-commerce Profits using Virtual Samples!
Fashion Tech Webinar Series Archive Released!
The Fashion Tech Webinar introduces solutions to promote digitalization in the fashion industry in a six-part series.
View the site
Related Link
Summary material for Session 5 is available from the following link.
wearware supports the digitalization of fashion design.
Stay tuned for more updates!
