Walmart claims to be working on the first 3D weaving technology in history with a forward-thinking fashion tech startup.
The goal of the unspun test programme is to support the companies’ joint objective to returning more textile manufacturing to the United States while also assisting in lowering the environmental effect of the garment industry.
The firms will investigate ways to employ unspun’s 3D weaving machinery to produce workwear-style trousers under a Walmart house brand in the pilot project. In 3D weaving, yarn is spun right into the finished item of clothing. Traditionally, yarn is woven into one-dimensional fabrics, which are subsequently cut and put together to make clothing. This process results in waste, demands a lot of time, and involves several manufacturing procedures.
Contrary to 3D printing, which builds a physical thing from a computer design by applying small layers of liquid or powdered metal, cement, or plastic, 3D weaving involves weaving materials.
If the pilot turns out to be a success, Unspun intends to collaborate with a manufacturing partner to establish further, yet-to-be-determined, microsites for on- and near-shored production in the United States. By 2030, unspun hopes to have 350 machines operational in the United States.
“At Walmart, we are laser-focused on bringing innovation to our supply chain to better serve our customers and solve industry challenges, and unspun has the potential to do just that,” said Andrea Albright, executive vice president of sourcing, Walmart.
“Now, together with Walmart, we see an enormous opportunity to take our innovations to scale, with the potential to disrupt the garment manufacturing industry, bring jobs to the USA and drastically reduce waste in apparel,” said Beth Esponnette, co-founder of unspun.
