The NEEDLE'S EYE... Trends and Technologies Driving the Sewn Products Industry
- The front cover of this issue of THE NEEDLE’S EYE is the first of a series that appeared in 1971. This series was centered around PEOPLE—those individuals who are actually connected with various phases of sewing.
- The sewing machine mechanic is honored on this month’s cover, the second in our 1971 series dealing with PEOPLE in the sewing field.
- In any sewing plant, the mechanic is a familiar figure; out on the sewing room floor, hunched over a balky machine; poking into a mass of complicated gears at his workbench; rushing about the plant, tool kit in hand, like a doctor on a sick call.
- Like the physician, the mechanic is constantly on call. He has earned the respect of all by his ability to work seeming magic on his ailing "patients”. And while the mechanic may perform his "surgery” with a little grime under the fingernails, his knowledge and skill are as important as a surgeon’s.
- As long as there are sewing machines with mechanical parts subject to wear and changing sewing conditions and specifications, the mechanic will be an indispensable part of the operation of a well-run sewing plant. A good mechanic is an important man on the production team.
Visit www.zund.com to discover the latest Zünd innovations in industrial digital cutting technology: specialized tooling for a perfect cut no matter what materials go into your sewn products, a full range of hardware and software options all geared toward easy, efficient workflow automation—Zünd has it all! What’s more…multifunctional cutting systems from Zünd are modular by design and easily adaptable as your cutting needs grow or change. Find the cutting solution perfectly tailored to your needs, present and future!
Contact Zünd anytime for a personal demonstration or visit us in person at ISA Sign Expo, Las Vegas, NV – April 23-25 • Texprocess Americas, Atlanta, GA – May 6-8 • Furniture Manufacturers Expo, June 11-12 • CAMX, Orlando, FL – September 8-11 • Printing United, Orlando, FL – October 22-24.
Industry Opinion #1
The Times They Are A-Changin’.
By Caleb Doty, Owner/Engineer, Americas 21st — Offering comprehensive assistance in equipment, training, engineering, ergonomics, and workforce development.
As Bob Dylan observed over 60 years ago, “The Times They Are A-Changin’.”
While I doubt he was considering the North American Sewing Industry, this sentiment has held for this industry since its very beginnings, and any reasonable observer can be assured that it will continue for as long as we can see into the future.
As I travel the country, working in sewing factories and talking to the concerns of everyone from business owners to sewers, one change rises above all others, and that is the changing workforce. The need to train new workers is acknowledged, but where and how to start is often seen as mysterious.
Read More >
.png)
Americas 21st offers comprehensive assistance in equipment, training, engineering, ergonomics, and workforce development. Notably, we proudly hold the distinction of being the sole government-accredited Sewing Mechanic Training Program in North America. Additionally, we stand out as the exclusive provider of the TSS lean sewing production system, accompanied by a distinctive line of ergonomic sewing accessories tailored to enhance efficiency and comfort in the sewing process.
Industry Opinion #2
Is the Large Store Concept a Threat to Small Retailers?
By Nironjan Roy, CPA, CMA & Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist and Banker, Toronto, Canada
There was a time when small retailers and community-based stores were very popular for selling domestic items to consumers. During that time, large business enterprises were playing the role of supply source, i.e., either wholesale centers or intermediary units in channeling merchandise from producers to the sales outlet.
Consumers were the final customers of small shops and retail stores, which in turn were the customers of large business houses – particularly the warehouses and wholesale enterprises. The customer segment was the underlying principle of that marketing system.
All market participants used to strictly follow the sales principle, of which retail stores and local shops would procure goods only from warehouses/intermediaries – retailers would never go to the primary producers. Similarly, consumers would purchase only from retail shops and would never go to the intermediary/wholesale centers.
Read More >
C and C Enterprise has teamed up with JACK, one of the world’s finest industrial sewing machine manufacturers, to form Jack of the Americas. Jack of the Americas distributes JACK machines throughout North America, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean Basin. When you buy from Jack of The Americas, we don’t just ship you a box! We help you get set up and answer any questions you may have! With over 100 years of combined experience in the industrial sewn products industry, we are proud to say that we are one of the world’s leading industrial sewing products authorities and are here to serve you! Not sure if Jack is right for you? Click on the button below for a short video showing off some of our machines. Watch it and see what Jack can do for you!
The Pathfinder M-Series® range of automated cutting machines is known for precision, very high productivity, reliability, and lowest power consumption. All 16 models are easily configured to suit most cutting applications, and, thanks to clever design, Pathfinder cutters require very little maintenance to continually deliver exceptional cut quality over a long working life.
Industry News
2025 OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector
by Yvonne Heinen-Foudeh, Senior International Correspondent
(Note: The following article may require additional time for you and your team to fully leverage all it has to offer.)
Yoshiki Takeuchi, OECD Deputy Secretary-General, opening the 2025 Forum. Before his appointment to the organization in 2021 he served nearly four decades at the Japanese Ministry of Finance. Over his distinguished career Takeuchi held several senior positions including as Deputy Minister in many international fora such as G7, G20, IDA, and International Monetary and Finance Committee.
Quod volumus, possumus*
Whether the insight “I can because I want to” goes back to the ancient Roman poet Virgil or to his fellow countryman, the philosopher Seneca, is not certain. The fact is, we humans are capable of great things. The OECD proves that the challenges facing the clothing sector can well be solved with its development and coordination work, which encompasses the entire complexity: *We can, because we want to.
Whether the insight “I can because I want to” goes back to the ancient Roman poet Virgil or to his fellow countryman, the philosopher Seneca, is not certain. The fact is, we humans are capable of great things. The OECD proves that the challenges facing the clothing sector can well be solved with its development and coordination work, which encompasses the entire complexity: *We can, because we want to.
A total of 2,400 delegates participated in the annual Forum, on 11-12 February at the OECD headquarters at Château de la Muette in Paris and set the focus on the implementation of mandatory due diligence within the sector.
600 representatives from governments, businesses, trade unions, civil society, academia, and international organizations presented and discussed on-site at the French capital what to date is at stake for due diligence practice in the sector. Some 1,300 attended online at this year’s Forum Focusing overall on emerging expectations and regulations, and the key opportunities and challenges businesses, stakeholders, and policymakers can address together.
Read More >
Diamond Needle Corp., Founded in 1951, is one of the world’s largest distributors of sewing machine needles. Our alliance with ORGAN NEEDLE CO. of Japan, as their exclusive North American distributor, gives us the backing of the world’s leading quality maker of sewing machine needles.
Canadian Apparel Federation and BlueCherry Partner to Drive Digital Transformation in the Canadian Apparel Industry
The Canadian Apparel Federation (CAF) and CGS’s BlueCherry announced a strategic partnership to help accelerate the digital transformation of the Canadian apparel sector. CAF is the national association of the Canadian apparel industry, providing members with advice on national and global competitive issues. BlueCherry is the award-winning, end-to-end supply chain management solution built expressly for high-growth organizations in fashion, apparel, consumer lifestyle products, home goods, and retail.
Canadian fashion industry on the global stage, CAF and BlueCherry will deliver innovative, industry-specific content to CAF members about the competitive value of digital supply chain transformation. BlueCherry content will be featured on the CAF website, providing valuable insights for the apparel industry. Additionally, BlueCherry’s industry experts – who are equipped with deep expertise in the apparel sector and work closely with leading apparel brands – will contribute regularly to the CAF bulletin, CAF’s industry-leading newsletter. The partners also collaborated on BlueCherry's annual supply chain technology survey, the results of which will be released by BlueCherry and CAF in the coming weeks.
Read More >
Kontoor Brands Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire Iconic Global Outdoor and Workwear Brand Helly Hansen
Kontoor Brands, Inc., a global lifestyle apparel company, with a portfolio led by two of the world’s most iconic consumer brands, Wrangler® and Lee®, announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Helly Hansen, the global outdoor and workwear brand. Under the terms of the agreement, Kontoor Brands will acquire 100% of Helly Hansen from Canadian Tire Corporation.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Helly Hansen team into Kontoor Brands and to build a future together that creates significant value for all our stakeholders. Given our global platform and proven track record of operational excellence in owning brands rooted in heritage, quality, authenticity, and innovation, Kontoor Brands is uniquely positioned to partner with Helly Hansen management to scale and elevate the business globally,” said Scott Baxter, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Kontoor Brands.
Read More >
NCTO Announces Former USTR Chief Textiles and Apparel Negotiator Katherine White as Vice President of Policy
The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Katherine White as the organization’s new Vice President of Policy, effective February 18, 2025.
As Vice President of Policy at NCTO, Katherine White will work on critical policy priorities for the U.S. textile industry and provide expertise and support to the association’s extensive lobbying efforts in D.C.
“We are excited to welcome Katie to NCTO,” said NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas. “Her extensive expertise and ongoing engagement with the U.S. textile industry is instrumental in advancing our advocacy agenda and supporting this vital industry.”
Read More >
Industry Technologies
Robotics Living Lab Opens Using Collaborative Robots to Tackle Sustainable Fashion Manufacturing
The UK’s first fashion manufacturing lab has opened its doors to fashion businesses and researchers who will benefit from its collaborative robotic technology – ‘cobots’ – that can be programmed to create sustainable high-value, low-volume garments. The cobot arms have the potential to stitch, draw, knit, and even 3D-scan a mannequin or human body before prototyping a garment design.
The £3.8m Robotics Living Lab (RoLL) at Manchester Met’s Manchester Fashion Institute (MFI) will enable fashion designers and manufacturers to create and produce more sustainably, modernizing fashion manufacturing and helping to address the industry’s skills shortage. Read More >
The £3.8m Robotics Living Lab (RoLL) at Manchester Met’s Manchester Fashion Institute (MFI) will enable fashion designers and manufacturers to create and produce more sustainably, modernizing fashion manufacturing and helping to address the industry’s skills shortage. Read More >
.png)
The Merrow Group consists of three unique divisions, all designed to support and accelerate the growth of soft-goods manufacturing. One of these divisions is their Wholesale Group: Superior Sewing Machine & Supply. Superior, the largest wholesale supplier of more than 72,000 products to sewing factories across North, Central, and South America, plays a vital role in supporting the broader manufacturing ecosystem. In an industry where precision, speed, and reliability are crucial for maintaining competitive production, having access to in-stock items is not just convenient, it is essential. Superior operates a network of 1,600 resellers that support approximately 70,000 factories across North, Central, and South America. This extensive network enables Superior to swiftly introduce new technologies and products that can significantly enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of soft goods manufacturing.
Maximizing Efficiency: The Role of Attachments in Industrial Sewing Machines
By Harold Spencer, thesmallbusinesstimes.com
Industrial sewing machines are essential in manufacturing industries such as apparel, furniture, mattresses, and automotive upholstery. However, their versatility is significantly enhanced through the use of specialized attachments that enable manufacturers to perform a wide range of sewing tasks efficiently.These attachments improve precision, speed, and consistency, reducing manual labor and increasing overall production efficiency.
Why use attachments for industrial sewing machines?
Attachments allow industrial sewing machines to perform specialized functions without the need to switch to different machines. This not only saves time but also minimizes costs associated with additional equipment.
Read More >
Hohenstein and DuPont Develop Reliable Assessment of Body Armor Wearability
Testing laboratories Hohenstein and DuPont have collaborated to develop three innovative and reliable test methods for soft ballistic inserts. Maximizing the comfort and mobility of body armor, such as bulletproof vests, is key to performance and endurance for law enforcement and military personnel. The new methods address the disconnect in existing tests with real body movements and positions.
An interdisciplinary and intercompany team of DuPont and Hohenstein experts developed the test methods, which guarantee a reliable assessment of the specific ergonomic comfort characteristics.
“It is in the DNA of Hohenstein to get as close as possible to the user’s reality,” said Dr. Jan Beringer, Senior Scientific Expert at Hohenstein. “Dedicated wear trials showed possible discomfort and movement restrictions. Then, in close collaboration, we leveraged decades of expertise to design tests and equipment that simulate the wearer's experience.” Read More >
Since 1898, Consew has designed and manufactured the most reliable machines in the sewing industry. Today, Consew has one of the largest varieties of sewing, cutting, and pressing equipment; as well as an extensive line of supplies related to the sewn products industry. From standard walking foot machines for upholstery to specialty 4 needle lockstitch machines for parachutes, from long-arm zig-zag (up to 30”) machines for boat sails to extra heavy-duty machines for webbing, Consew has it all. Our machines are well-designed for sewing leather, canvas, shoes, saddles, mattresses, tents, tarps, and sails, as well as jeans and other garments. With offices in New Jersey, Miami, and Los Angeles, as well as a distribution network throughout the world, Consew can quickly supply and service the machines you need.
Sustainability
Global Standard Launched the GOTS Due Diligence Handbook: A Transformative Tool on the Journey Toward Responsible Production
By Yvonne Heinen-Foudeh, Senior International Correspondent
GOTS certified facility: USA
The #BehindTheSeams campaign by GOTS has been successfully completed, reaching over 21 million professionals and end consumers worldwide. By systematically shedding light on the production of textiles and other products, the campaign succeeded in promoting awareness of sustainable textiles – setting a strong acc
ent against greenwashing. The next milestone is the Global Standard that manages GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), in partnership with The Hague-based UpRights Foundation, presents the GOTS Due Diligence Handbook for Auditors.
— An introduction to The Needle's Eye readers including a download option of the trend-setting handbook.
The non-profit organization acting out of Stuttgart/Germany with the landmark resource executes critical steps in promoting sustainable practices, human rights, and ethical business conduct across the textile sector and in line with evolving regulatory requirements around the world. Read More >
Supply Chain
Trump Must Decide Soon if U.S. Jeans Will Still Be Made in Africa
Congress supports an extension of AGOA, a U.S. trade law granting duty-free access to African goods. But uncertainty looms as the decision rests with President Donald Trump, whose trade skepticism could push buyers towards cheaper Asian alternatives.
The factory may be in East Africa, but the Wrangler and Levi’s jeans rolling off the production line are pure Americana, destined for U.S. stores like Walmart and JCPenney.
The United Aryan factory, on the outskirts of Kenya‘s capital Nairobi, exists for one reason: the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a 25-year-old U.S. law that gives duty-free access to thousands of goods made on the continent, particularly clothes.
But AGOA will expire in September unless President Donald Trump agrees to extend it – a decision putting hundreds of thousands of African livelihoods on a knife-edge. Read More >
.png)
Workers sewing jeans at the United Aryan textile factory in Nairobi, Kenya. (Simon Maina/AFP)
C and C Enterprise is the United States agency for Highlead sewing machines. These high-quality machines are available for your sewing needs and are sold only through local dealers and distributors. If you want more information on the Highlead brand, please feel free to contact us. www.candcenterprise.com
World of Fashion
How Technology is Transforming the Fashion Industry?
Fashion isn’t just about trends anymore—it’s a high-tech revolution that’s reshaping the way we design, produce, and consume clothing. From AI-powered fashion design to virtual dressing rooms and blockchain-authenticated luxury goods, the fusion of fashion and technology is rewriting the industry’s rulebook.
But while global giants like Shein have capitalized on tech-driven fashion, the real question is: Where are the young innovators pushing this movement forward?
What is Fashion Tech?
The fashion industry has always been about creativity and commerce, but today, it’s about innovation and disruption. Technology is no longer a luxury in fashion—it’s a necessity! With major companies investing billions into fashion tech, brands that fail to adapt will simply vanish from relevance. Read More >
Henderson Sewing Machine Co, founded in 1968, is a global supplier of industrial sewing machines, sewing machine parts, and custom automated sewing machines for the SEWING PRODUCTS INDUSTRY. We have grown by offering customers the highest quality products at competitive prices with superior customer service. We also have a cutting-edge engineering team that designs custom automated systems to fill any need you may have.
ISAIC Reveals 2025 Honors Winners
Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center (ISAIC) revealed the names of the ISAIC Honors winners in the run-up to the second edition of the event designed to celebrate the fashion industry visionaries helping to shape the future of domestic manufacturing in the textile and apparel industry. The winners will be honored during the event on April 24 2025 at The Madison Loft Auditorium.
Amy Williams, CEO Citizens of Humanity, Omar Bailey, co-founder and creative director FCTRY Lab, Tameka Peoples, founder, Seed2Shirt and Francesca Tiseo are honored for their work as fashion visionaries helping shape the future of domestic manufacturing in the textile and apparel industry in the United States.
Speaking about the event CEO Jennifer Guarino said: ‘At ISAIC, we believe that the future of fashion must be built on ethical, responsible, and forward-thinking domestic manufacturing. ISAIC Honors celebrate the pioneers who are not only innovating in textiles and apparel but also reshaping the industry to be more sustainable and equitable. This year’s nominees are a testament to the power of craftsmanship, ingenuity, and dedication to progress. We are proud to recognize their work and amplify their contributions as they set new standards for what is possible in American manufacturing.” Read More >
