Computerised knitting machine specialist Shima Seiki has announced its participation in this month’s 3D Tech Festival online event, the annual gathering of global experts exploring the intersection of fashion and technology. Presented by Alvanon, this free to attend, three-day virtual conference, will take place from September 26-28, 2023. During the event, Shima Seiki’s presentation will be entitled “Revolutionize Fabric Creation and Knitwear Modeling for End-to-End DPC”.
A key focus will be APEXFiz, Shima Seiki’s premier software for creating digital fabrics. It also facilitates 3D modeling of knitted items and simultaneous export of data for production, enabling comprehensive Digital Product Creation (DPC).
APEXFiz is the latest addition to Shima Seiki’s proven SDS-ONE APEX series design system lineup, but with an unprecedented twist. Whereas previous APEX-series design systems were offered as an all-in-one proprietary hardware/software package, for the first time in its nearly 40 years of design system development, Shima Seiki has released its new APEXFiz as subscription-based design software that can be installed on customers’ individual computers.
Maintaining proven functions that have made the APEX series so popular with fashion designers, with APEXFiz those strengths are now enhanced with the added versatility to adapt to different work styles and business environments of the “new normal,” including teleworking and telecommuting. APEXFiz is furthermore available in 5 different product variations that can be selected according to the customer’s needs, from APEXFiz Design Jr. to APEXFiz Design Pro.
APEXFiz software supports the creative side of fashion from planning and design to colorway evaluation, realistic fabric simulation and 3D virtual sampling. Otherwise known as “digital twins,” virtual samples are a digitized version of sample making that allows visual confirmation of garment designs without the need for knitting physical samples.
Virtual sampling on APEXFiz is also a communication tool that is not only an accurate representation of the product, but it also digitally bridges the gap between the studio and the factory. By sending data to the knit manufacturer it can be converted to machine programming data, shortening lead times and allowing the production of items faithful to their design as originally intended by the designer.
This accuracy allows virtual samples on APEXFiz to be used effectively as prototypes, replacing physical sampling and consequently reducing time, cost and material that are otherwise wasted. APEXFiz thereby helps to realize sustainability and digitally transform the fashion supply chain.
The latest version of the software boasts enhanced functionality, which will be detailed in the presentation. The Shima Seiki presentation will take place on Wednesday, 27 September at 12:00pm (ET) / 5:00 pm (BST).
