Walmart Pilot Project Adopts 3D Weaving To Reduce Garment Waste
The world’s biggest retailer Walmart announced a pilot project to use the world’s first 3D weaving technology that can help reduce the environmental impact of garment production.
Walmart is collaborating with Unspun, a fashion tech company to offer a more sustainable process for meeting apparel demand and support efforts to shift more textile manufacturing back to the US.
“Out of its micro factory in Oakland, California, Unspun’s first-of-its-kind technology promises to more quickly and efficiently transform yarn into garments,” Walmart said in a press release.
In the pilot project, the two companies will explore how Unspun’s 3D weaving machines can be used to make workwear style pants under a Walmart house brand.
With 3D weaving, yarn is spun directly into completed garments and is an innovative and new approach to garment manufacturing.
Traditionally, yarn is woven into one-dimensional fabrics, which are then cut and assembled into garments, creating waste and taking significant time and multiple manufacturing steps.
The 3D weaving process is different from commonly known 3D printing, which creates a physical object from a digital design by laying down thin layers of liquid or powdered plastic, metal or cement.
The pilot project directly addresses concerns about waste in the apparel industry, a significant global challenge, driven primarily by fabric loss from traditional flat weaving, cutting and garment assembly.
These issues, combined with the emissions generated from transporting garments and fabrics supplied offshore, have created demand for more sustainable apparel manufacturing supply chain solutions.
