Looks Good on You: Apparel ERP and Sustainable Fashion

The gorgeous clothes you see online and in stores come at a cost, and it’s not just a monetary one. 10% of global environmental emissions come from the fashion industry. In fact, 85% of discarded textiles used globally end up in landfills. Knowing these statistics, it’s imperative that fashion and apparel manufacturers have a sustainability strategy in place. This is not only due to greater customer and stakeholder scrutiny but also to changing regulations regarding ethical, environmentally friendly business practices.

Consumers are demanding products from brands and retailers that are socially and environmentally sustainable, and they want transparency regarding their business practices. In response, your fashion and apparel manufacturing business must implement sustainable procedures from end to end, and to do so, you’ll need the right technology at your disposal. In the article below, we’ll talk about what technology you need and how it can help you boost your sustainable credentials as well as improve your bottom line.

But first, let’s look at a bit of background.

The Impact of Fashion on the Environment

According to the global business consultants the McKinsey Group, the fashion, retail and luxury industry has been one of the fastest-growing segments of the world economy, outperforming even technology and communications. While that’s great for the fashion houses, it hasn’t been so good for the environment.

General consumption of clothing has accelerated in the last few decades, with a noticeable effect on the environment. In fact, clothing manufacturing has doubled in the last twenty years. The average person now buys 60% more items of clothing every year, but only keeps these items about half as long as fifteen years ago.

The fashion industry has received criticism in recent years for the amount of waste it produces. Studies have shown that the fashion industry creates more waste and greenhouse gas emissions than international shipping and flights combined.

Here are some basic statistics:

  • The time between clothing purchase and disposal has fallen near 40%. In general, this means that people are no longer repairing or mending clothing; rather, they just get rid of it, often before it has outlived its usefulness. Some items marked for disposal have never been worn.
  • Once apparel is thrown away, 73% will be burned or buried in landfills, even though most textiles are recyclable.
  • Right now, only about 12% of clothing and textiles will get collected for recycling. Most of this gets shredded and used to stuff mattresses or made into insulation or cleaning cloths.
  • Less than 1% of what is collected will be used to make new clothing.

All of this is not just harmful to the environment—it hurts the profitability of the whole industry with almost $600 billion annually being lost on clothing that is gently used and not recycled.

There is hope on the horizon. The fashion industry has always been innovative, and more and more designers and manufacturers are creating clothing brands that prioritize and promote sustainability. Moreover, many companies are recognizing that technology is the key to driving sustainability throughout the industry, from sourcing to creation to the retail racks.

In this blog, we’ll explore how apparel industry leaders are changing the reputation of the industry. We’ll also show you how technology can not only boost your sustainability efforts, but can save you money, to boot.

What Types of Machines Are Needed for a Garment Factory?


As the population keeps increasing, more and more people with disposable income require garments at bargain prices. Manufacturers are increasingly looking for garment machinery that can support them with a high production rate.

The global apparel market itself is estimated to reach around $842.73 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 7%. Besides, its manufacturing industry reached $861.5 billion in 2022, showing a growth rate of 1.7% per year on average between 2017 and 2022.

These numbers are not surprising considering the evolving fashion trends and increasing demand for clothing. Hence, the supply is kept flowing thanks to the necessary machinery that is used in the manufacturing process and delivers high-quality garments to consumers.

What factors to consider before selecting garment equipment?

   Production output capability

Undoubtedly, a piece of machinery is at its best when it produces maximum output with minimum utility requirements. This is one of the key factors in decision-making. Ensure the machinery comes at a reasonable price and its production output is worth the budget.

Product type

The product type and its primary usage play a part in large portions of decision-making. Having understood the factory requirements and knowing which equipment to purchase, it is also essential to buy high-quality and durable garment equipment that is effective and more eco-friendly.

Manpower usage

Since factories involve paying manpower by the hour for operating the machine, identifying the cost per production unit is crucial. It is best to go with garment machinery that makes workers more efficient, hence saving more time and money for the business. A factory worker will find it easy to operate a sewing machine that requires less maintenance and has a good production output compared to machinery that requires high usage and has less production output. 

Power consumption

Checking the power consumption rate of the equipment is crucial—especially for long operational hours. Taking into account the cost of energy per production unit, factory owners should opt for machinery that requires a domestic phase to operate in. Or else, they will need to arrange electricity from their local Electricity Board.

Space estimation

Before installing the garment machinery or equipment, it is also important to know how much space it would take in the factory. Larger equipment like a fabric spreading machine would require more space than a sewing machine. Estimating the space first and then reserving the space for particular machinery is vital before purchasing. 

Installation and training

For larger garment machinery, there may be some installation charges that come along with it. Keeping an eye on that service charge would be helpful. Some suppliers provide training to factory workers on how to use this equipment efficiently. Factory owners can benefit from this when they choose the right suppliers.

Guarantees and warranties

Before purchasing the equipment, it is important to go through any guarantees and the warranty period. Undoubtedly, machinery will experience wear and tear or other minor issues down the road, so it is ideal to know how much warranty period each supplier would give to save some maintenance costs.

Types of machines required for a garment factory

Printing machine

Direct-to-fabric printing machine during operation

Printing machines, mainly DTG (direct-to-garment), utilize the same concept as inkjet printers. With many designs and on-print demand for fabrics, computerized printing machines transfer ink to natural fibers. DTG printing machines are quick as it takes them only a few minutes, and some can print multiple garments in quick succession. When operating a printing machine, the needle diameter, line distance, air pressure, printing speed, and pattern are a few parameters that need to be adjusted from fabric to fabric.

Fabric spreading machine

Fabric spreading machine during operation

For smaller garments, it is easier to spread them by hand. However, for a large-scale garment factory, fabric-spreading machines are a necessity. A few parameters to consider when using a fabric spreading machine are the fabric facing, fabric tension, edge control, layer height, and splicing. Automatic fabric spreading machines can enhance the cutting room’s operations and require less manpower to manage them. In a nutshell, they can speed up the fabric layering process and improve the production rate.

Cutting machine

Industrial fabric cutting machine during operation

Each garment and fabric sheet needs to be cut into patterns. They are either cut manually or automated by computerized machinery. Types of cutting machines include straight knives, round knives, band knives, and hand shears. A few parameters that are required to be maintained during the cutting process are the machine’s cutting speed, duration, angle, and distance. For cutting smaller garments with accuracy, a band knife machine would be most useful. Whereas, for cutting more plies, round knives and computerized knives are more effective. Automatic cutting machines are helpful especially when cutting laces. 

Sewing machine

Industrial sewing machine during operation

Sewing machines are the engineering core of garment manufacturing. The different types of sewing machines include single needle, double needle, multi-needle, overlock, flatlock, long-arm sewing machines, and much more. Before selecting a sewing machine, it is essential to buy one that is specialized to deal with either heavy or thin fabric. The motor is also important to consider as servo motors generate less noise compared to clutch motors. The seam length and the contour shape are two parameters that can affect the sewing machine’s operation and stitching efficiency. To manage large quantities of fabric, long-arm sewing machines are most helpful when working with heavy fabrics and embroidery stitches.

Fusing machine

Industrial fusing machine during operation

Fusing machines are used to fuse a material through the exchange of heat and pressure. As a result, the fused material will have enhanced fabric strength and withstand frequent wash. This is a crucial process in determining the quality of the garment. Maintaining an optimum level of temperature, pressure, and processing time are three key parameters to keep in mind when operating a fusing machine. Different types of fusing processes include flatbed, continuous, high-frequency, and hand iron. The continuous fusing press is the most used fusing machine in the garment industry, whereas, a high-frequency fusing machine has a high production rate as the material between the fusing plates moves at a very high speed. 

Embroidery machine

Industrial embroidery machine during operation

To add embroidery patterns, having an embroidery machine can save time. With digitalized embroidery machines, the turnaround time will be a lot quicker than with traditional hand embroidery. One can give their design outline and get it transferred onto the garment by the embroidery machine. Maintaining these proficient machines can increase production rates and provide scalability to patch embroideries on different types of garments.

Fashion Tools Every Aspiring Designer Needs

Every artist needs the right tools to create their stunning works of art. Fashion designers are the same. They need the right fashion designer tools to create their sartorial masterpieces. But what are these fashion design tools and equipment? Let’s discuss some of the most important items that would be in every professional fashion design kit.

The Essential Fashion Designer Tools

1. A Measuring Tape

The first tool is the humble measuring tape. That is something that every single fashion design equipment list will mandatorily have. They might keep extras on them, too. In movies, fashion designers are portrayed having measuring tapes around their necks while overseeing all the activity taking place backstage. 

In reality, many keep their measuring tapes safely in boxes or safely wrapped around their wrists. Fashion designers also keep a set square and grading ruler if needed. That is especially true for beginners.

2. A Sharp Pair of Scissors

These are one of the main fashion design tools, whether one is a student or a professional. There are many types of scissors that designers use. Each has its specialty. There are shears – these are heavy scissors with long blades that are used to cut fabrics, sometimes several layers at a time. Then there are tailor’s scissors, which are short and perfect for crafters and sewers. These cut through heavy-duty materials, such as leather. 

All-purpose scissors are used for non-fabric materials. Lightweight scissors are used for delicate fabrics, such as silk and lining. With so many scissors to carry around, a regular fashion designer can end up looking like Edward Scissorhands! But unlike that misunderstood character, a designer can create stunning clothes with these unassuming tools.

3. Tailor’s Chalk

Another important fashion tool is tailor’s chalk. Designers keep an entire army of chalk with them! That’s because they can go missing easily. These are used to make dimensions on the fabric. Tailor’s chalk is useful for designers as the marks can easily be washed off if adjustments need to be made, or if the marks are no longer needed. That makes them easy tools to use when alterations need to be made.

4. Adjustable Dressmaker

Many times, designers will want to check the length or fall of a garment. But can they keep calling in real-life models to test these details? No, it’s not feasible. That’s where an adjustable dressmaker comes in. Dress forms are used by designers to check the fitting of each garment. These are dummies that come in different sizes. Adjustable and stick-sized ones are the most common. 

Fashion designers make their garments in varying sizes, lengths, and shapes and test them out on these dummies. That way, the designers save a considerable amount of time in the designing process, as they can avoid errors in the garments’ fit.

Also Read: How to Make A Fashion Mood Board

5. Needles and Threads

These are also essentials in a fashion designer’s tool kit. They’re not usually used during the creation of the dress, but act as last-minute life-savers when alterations need to be made during fittings. Fashion designers carry several different shapes and sizes of needles to match their requirements.

Fashion designing isn’t as easy as people think it is. It’s quite difficult and requires precision as well as an artistic flair. These tools are necessary to help designers be prepared for any situation. 

6. Curved Rulers

While it’s easy to demarcate straight lines, curved parts of the body are much harder. These areas require special tools to carry out pattern drafting and adjustments. Such tools are called curved rulers for sewing garments. There are three main types:

  • The French curved rulers are the most widely used- these are best for creating patterns or fitting adjustments. 
  • The fashion design curve is used for draft patterns- this ruler is mostly used to create a collar or a neckline.
  • Finally – the hip curve ruler does exactly what it sounds like – used for making side-seam adjustments.

7. Muslin Fabric

Muslin is a cotton fabric that can range in weight – from sheers to coarse material. There are many reasons for fashion designers to use muslin cloth. It’s easy to mold according to the shape the designer requires. This fabric is widely used by students who are practicing sewing and designing. As Muslin is more affordable than many other high-quality fabrics, designers won’t go into losses if they use this to experiment within the beginning stages of their creative process.

8. Fashion Designing Software

When it comes to technical tools, there are several fashion designing tools onlinesuch as software that can be used in dress designing. One free fashion design software for beginners is Paint. It sounds basic, but it can be used for sketches. Then there is paid software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Autodesk, and more. These have a wide variety of functions, depending on the project. While many designers still prefer using actual paper and pencil to make their sketches, many others prefer using technology instead.