We are surrounded by jobs that used to be done by humans and are now automated by computer software, AI, or robots. It is no wonder that many people think clothes are made by robots as well.
Currently, though, very little of sewing is automated to this extent. Whether in big factories or individual seamstresses, it is still real people sitting behind sewing machines sewing the clothes. But what about in a few years? Will robots be sewing our clothes in the future?
I asked this question to Kirby Best, the CEO and founder of his high-tech, on-demand production facility Bespoke Manufacturing Company when I interviewed him on the How Fitting podcast. His reply somewhat surprised me. He said ‘No’. Robots will not be sewing our clothes in the foreseeable future.
Robots can do many other tasks in apparel production (and they do in Kirby’s factory!), but he doesn’t see any tech on the horizon that would give robots the capability to sew. This is because fabrics are flexible and every fabric handles differently. They can be hard to hold and guide through the machine. It takes the human touch to assess and know just how to handle each piece and sew each seam of each garment.
Until technology can mimic this human touch and skill of manipulating fabric and be able to keep up with the ever-changing fashion trends that bring new materials and silhouettes, our clothes will still be made by people.