Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd. of Wakayama, Japan has announced a partnership with CLO Virtual Fashion of Seoul, South Korea to integrate their respective technologies for garment design and simulation.
The collaboration brings together Shima’s APEXFiz 3D design software with CLO’s advanced 3D garment simulation capabilities, creating a unified workflow that spans knitwear planning and design through to high-quality simulation, animation and broader digital content applications, while maintaining a direct link to manufacturing.
Previously, transferring material data from APEXFiz into CLO required manual handling of multiple material layers alongside individual settings and adjustments. Upcoming software releases will streamline this process significantly. APEXFiz will introduce a dedicated export function for CLO, while CLO will support one-click import via the APEXFiz Integration Plugin, offering users a more efficient and seamless working environment.
By removing traditional barriers between design and production, the partnership enables a more fluid transition from digital concept to physical knitted output. Designers will be able to create accurate and highly detailed knit visualisations that also leverage CLO’s strengths in animation, metaverse environments and gaming applications. Crucially, these digital assets can be translated reliably into real-world production.
The integration is scheduled for release in April, supported by Shima Seiki’s V-09C update in March and the CLO 2026.0 release for enterprise users in April.
Founded in 1962, Shima Seiki is a leading manufacturer of computerised flat knitting machines and a pioneer in complete garment manufacturing technology. Its WHOLEGARMENT concept enables entire knitted items to be produced directly on the machine without the need for linking or sewing, supported by decades of technical expertise and extensive patent development.
The company’s digital design systems, including the SDS-ONE APEX series and APEXFiz software, provide highly realistic virtual sampling capabilities. These tools help reduce development time, costs and material waste, while supporting demand-driven production and improved inventory control.