Softwear Automation Secures $20M for Autonomous Sewing Tech
Atlanta-based Softwear Automation, a pioneer in autonomous sewing technology, has successfully closed a $20 million Series B1 funding round, spearheading a significant leap forward for automated apparel manufacturing. The investment was led by Danish fashion giant Bestseller, through its dedicated innovation and investment platform, Invest FWD, with existing backers including CTW Venture Partners, SRI Capital, and MacDonald Ventures also participating. This substantial capital injection, which saw Bestseller’s Chief Financial Officer Thomas Børglum Jensen join Softwear Automation’s board, is earmarked to accelerate the commercialization and global rollout of Softwear Automation’s revolutionary Sewbot technology.
At the heart of Softwear Automation’s innovation is the Sewbot, a fully automated sewing workline designed to transform the trillion-dollar sewn products industry. These robotic systems leverage advanced machine vision technology, akin to that used in autonomous vehicles, to precisely manipulate fabrics. Cameras and sensors guide the Sewbot, detecting textile distortions and making real-time adjustments as material passes through the sewing head, mimicking the dexterity of a human seamstress. This patented technology enables the full automation of sewn goods, capable of producing a variety of items from T-shirts and jeans to bath mats, with remarkable speed and consistency. A key promise of Sewbot technology is its ability to facilitate localized manufacturing, allowing products to be made closer to consumers, thereby reducing cycle times, enhancing cost-efficiency, and fostering more sustainable supply chains.
Bestseller’s lead investment through Invest FWD underscores a strategic commitment to reshaping the fashion industry. Invest FWD, established in 2018, is integral to Bestseller’s broader “Fashion FWD” sustainability strategy, which aims for the company to be climate positive, fair for all, and circular by design by 2025. By investing in smarter manufacturing solutions like Sewbot, Bestseller is actively pursuing objectives to develop new low-impact materials, improve production processes, and build circular business models. This collaboration highlights a growing trend among major fashion players to back technological advancements that promise to address critical industry challenges, from environmental impact to operational inefficiencies.
The global textile and apparel industry, a complex network valued at an estimated $1.23 trillion by 2024, faces numerous hurdles, including escalating labor costs, supply chain complexities, and the constant pressure to adapt to rapidly changing consumer demands. Automation and artificial intelligence are emerging as pivotal solutions to these challenges, enhancing efficiency, ensuring consistent quality, and enabling greater customization. Technologies such as AI-driven robotics and advanced sensing are streamlining production, reducing waste, and improving energy efficiency across the manufacturing process. Softwear Automation’s Sewbot directly addresses the industry’s labor shortages and the desire for more agile, responsive supply chains by enabling manufacturers to produce goods locally at competitive costs, a significant shift from traditional offshoring models. This investment signifies a growing confidence in autonomous manufacturing as a key enabler for a more resilient, sustainable, and innovative future for fashion production worldwide.