CLO Virtual Fashion has announced that SHIMA SEIKI has joined its Ecosystem Partnership Programme (EPP), marking a significant step towards enhancing digital-to-physical workflows in knitwear design and production.
The collaboration integrates CLO’s digital garment platform with SHIMA SEIKI’s APEXFiz design software, enabling users to transition from digital concepts to knitted output with improved efficiency. By linking the two systems, the partnership aims to eliminate traditional bottlenecks between design and manufacturing, creating a more seamless workflow for designers and manufacturers.
The integration allows users to transfer materials and design data between platforms with a single click. This replaces earlier processes that required manual uploading of multiple image layers and extensive adjustments, which could take several hours to complete. The streamlined approach is expected to enhance both productivity and design accuracy.
Users of the combined platforms will be able to produce high-quality visualisations, including detailed imagery and animated outputs, while ensuring that digital designs are more accurately translated into physical knitwear. The improved interoperability between the systems is intended to strengthen communication between design and production teams.
The partnership also reflects the growing momentum of CLO’s Ecosystem Partnership Programme, which is designed to integrate leading technology providers into a unified digital garment workflow.
CEO at CLO Virtual Fashion, Simon Kim stated that the company was pleased to welcome SHIMA SEIKI to the programme, noting that the collaboration represented an important milestone in expanding digital knitwear workflows. He added that the partnership would contribute to shaping the future of digital-to-physical garment innovation.
Mitsuhiro Shima, SHIMA SEIKI President, stated that the company was delighted to partner with CLO, adding that the alignment of both organisations’ capabilities would help deliver enhanced value to customers and support the next phase of digital transformation in the industry.
The APEXFiz integration plugin 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. The integration is expected to enable seamless data exchange between the platforms, facilitating the creation of production-ready knitwear while reducing reliance on manual processes.
APEXFiz supports a wide range of design functions, including pattern creation, colourway development, and simulation across knit, weave, print, and embroidery. Its integration with CLO is expected to strengthen applications in e-commerce, product visualisation, and knitwear-focused development.
The development underscores the increasing convergence of digital design tools and manufacturing technologies within the global apparel industry.
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