Shima Seiki Celebrates 60th Anniversary with Sustainable Products
The three-month long open-house event held from September through November 2022 features a virtual fashion show, a presentation of the latest proposals in DX for fashion, and machine and sample exhibits for fashion and non- fashion markets.
A special 60th Anniversary website has also been launched that allows browsing of event content for those unable to attend the event physically, as well as its own online seminar agenda. A special online-only event consists of a series of webinar sessions, ranging from introductions by yarn manufacturers registered to the “yarnbank” digital yarn sourcing web service about their latest yarn collection, to useful tips and solutions for various Shima Seiki products, and keynote speech by MIT Media Lab Director and former NASA Deputy Administrator Professor Dava Newman.
The 60th Anniversary event features the latest machine technology including the SWG®-XR next-generation Wholegarment® knitting machine released just this year, as well as a prototype pile glove machine. Knit samples include SWG®-XR samples with patterns specialized to that machine such as delicate punch lace patterns, extreme 3D-textured fabrics, asymmetric designs and highly efficient intarsia patterns. Special emphasis is placed on non-fashion applications as well, including experimental exercises in knitted items and fabrics such as smart fabrics using conductive yarn, heat-treated stiff fabrics, origami and tatami knits, optical fibers and very thick inlay cushions. A special exhibit on carbon fiber composites features knit-to-shape 3D composite preforms using Shima Seiki’s new biaxial weft knitting machine debuted at this year’s Techtextil Frankfurt show. Real-world applications such as automotive aerodynamics and propeller blades produced using a special carbon fiber version of the P-CAM series cutting machine are also on display.
An all-digital virtual fashion show presented at the Hi-Vision Hall theater features the Shima Seiki 60th Anniversary Collection worn by 3D virtual models and demonstrates new ways to present fashion items without physical constraints associated with conventional fashion shows such as time, place, weather, etc. Virtual fashion shows can be enjoyed by anyone anywhere in the world at any time, and at the same quality. They can also be presented without the need for actual samples present, allowing the display of color and design variations without having to produce any of them. Physical versions of Wholegarment® samples from the collection are on display as well.
