How Robotics is Changing the Apparel Industry

The Robot Report Podcast · 10 Jun 2025 · 1h 28m

What this episode covers

Cam Myers, founder and CEO of CreateMe, explains how his company is automating garment production by replacing sewing with robotic adhesive dispensing, starting with high-volume items like women's underwear and t-shirts. Myers details the technical challenges of mimicking stitch properties with micro-dot adhesive patterns and the strategic shift toward reshoring US manufacturing to mitigate tariff risks and supply chain volatility. The discussion also covers the broader industry context, including the liquidation of Aldebaran Robotics and Amazon's exploration of humanoid robots for last-mile delivery.

Mentioned

Companies
CreateMe, Aldebaran Robotics, SoftBank, Amazon, Agility Robotics, Universal Robots, FANUC
Products
Pepper, Digit

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Robot Talk · 17m

    Episode Forty-Four: Kat Thiel

    Kat Thiel, a Senior Research Associate at Manchester Metropolitan University's Manchester Fashion Institute, discusses agile collaborative robotic tooling for localized fashion manufacturing. She explains the shift from high-volume Asian automation to flexible micro-factories in the UK, focusing on end-of-arm tools for cutting and stitching that support small businesses. Thiel highlights the challenges of handling 'floppy' fabric and the environmental benefits of on-demand production, such as reduced waste and lower shipping emissions, through her work on reports like 'Reshoring UK Garment Manufacturing with Automation'.

  • The Next Byte Podcast · 26m

    169. Novel Fabrics + Robots = Sustainable One-size-fits-all Fashion Revolution

    Daniel and Forbode discuss a collaboration between MIT’s Self-Assembly Lab and Ministry of Supply to create a sustainable, one-size-fits-all fashion system using smart fabrics and robotics. The technology utilizes active yarns that shrink when exposed to localized high heat, allowing garments to be tailored to individual body shapes via a multi-axis robotic arm. This approach aims to eliminate sizing waste in retail and democratize the perfect fit by adapting to body changes or style preferences over time. The hosts highlight how this scalable manufacturing process could significantly reduce the environmental impact of fast fashion by minimizing overproduction and textile waste.

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 32m

    The Hard Truths About Reshoring American Manufacturing w/ Eddy Azad

    Eddy Azad, CEO of Parsec Automation, discusses the strategic realities of reshoring manufacturing to the United States, arguing that it is a long-term, complex process rather than a simple cost-saving switch. He explains that reshoring makes the most sense for high-value, high-tech products like semiconductors and medical devices where supply chain resilience and innovation are critical, rather than for commoditized goods. Azad highlights that while automation and AI can mitigate higher US labor costs, they require robust data infrastructure and end-to-end integration to be effective. He also addresses the impact of AI on the workforce, noting a shift from manual execution to human-in-the-loop oversight and prompt engineering.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 38m

    172: How To Stay Focused on Your Mission and Deliver Robotic Solutions at Scale with Rapid Robotics CEO & Co-Founder Jordan Kretchmer

    Jordan Kretchmer, CEO and Co-Founder of Rapid Robotics, explains his transition from MarTech to robotics and how his company is scaling robotic solutions to address the US labor shortage. He details Rapid Robotics's strategic refocus from heavy deployment services to robust computer vision and AI software, enabling robots to self-learn and adapt without programming. Kretchmer discusses how this shift allows for scalable, affordable automation that maintains profitability while keeping investors and customers aligned through transparency.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 37m

    254: From Steel City to Robotics Powerhouse: Pittsburgh’s Industrial Legacy featuring Jay Douglass, COO of ARM Institute

    Jay Douglass, COO of the ARM Institute, discusses the institute's mission to de-risk robotics adoption for small manufacturers through its Robotics Manufacturing Hub in Pittsburgh's historic Mill 19 facility. He explains how the ARM Institute's national consortium of 450+ members collaborates on pre-competitive R&D projects funded by the Department of Defense to improve US manufacturing competitiveness. Douglass highlights the challenge of reshoring industries like textiles and furniture, arguing that combining robots with people is essential to achieve the scalability and skill sets required for domestic production.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Robot Report Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.