The pursuit of sustainability is no longer a 'free choice.'
The glamorous fashion industry has a significant 'environmental problem.' According to a report from the environmental organization The Round Up, the fashion industry produces 8 to 10 billion new garments each year, yet 87% of the raw materials for clothing ultimately end up in incinerators or landfills. Now, the EU has mandated that starting in 2026, all member states will be required to prohibit the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear.
However, apart from companies regulated by the EU, how many fashion businesses in other regions are willing to focus on 'environmental protection'?
NunoX from Taiwan is a startup trying to promote sustainability in the fashion industry, even international sports brand Under Armour is one of its partners.
NunoX utilizes AI technology to digitize fabrics and presents their real physical characteristics in a 3D space. In other words, designers can achieve the effect of sampling and modifying real fabrics through a 'digital' method, which not only shortens the production cycle but also significantly reduces a lot of textile waste.
How does NunoX make the clothing design process more environmentally friendly?
NunoX co-founder Hsieh Heh-Hsiang has been paying attention to the trend of digitalization in the fashion industry since 2015. He has successively launched the 3D clothing software solution TG3D and the 'virtual and physical integration' platform DMKTZ for fashion creators. Hsieh has combined the concepts of 'digital first' and 'combining physical and digital' from the past to create the current NunoX.
Hsieh observed that the traditional clothing design process often requires multiple rounds of sampling and testing. Each physical sample not only takes time but also generates significant resource waste.
The core technology of NunoX is to have fabric scanning machines collaborate with AI recognition functions to convert fabrics into high-precision digital models. NunoX can not only accurately capture the appearance features of fabric textures and weaves, but also simulate the drape, stretchability, and other details of the fabric, which are crucial for design.
Because in the design process, the drape and elasticity of the fabric will directly affect the final presentation of the clothing. If one does not want to waste physical fabric and chooses to use digital tools, this must be simulated with utmost precision.
'Traditionally, a fabric sample could take weeks or even months to modify repeatedly. Now clients can complete the design and evaluation of a sample in just a few days. Additionally, the digital fabric database allows clients to access previous design samples at any time for quick modifications and reproductions, providing greater flexibility in responding to market demand changes,' Hsieh said.
As a client from a brand or fabric factory, one can purchase software services from NunoX to create a corresponding digital twin through fabric photos. However, if a large and precise database is needed, one has to purchase NunoX's fabric scanning machines to produce more realistic 3D fabrics.
NunoX co-founder Hsieh Heh-Hsiang
Establishing a 'digital' concept for traditional textile manufacturers
If Taiwanese textile factories want to maintain competitiveness, they must meet the sustainability demands of domestic brand owners in the EU, which means they must also keep up with this wave of 'digitalization.'
However, Hsieh revealed that many traditional textile factories and garment factories in Taiwan still have a low acceptance of digital technology. Most factory employees have never even touched a computer, making the promotion of digital design and the application of digital fabrics a significant obstacle.
'Therefore, in addition to providing technical solutions, NunoX actively participates in education and training activities to help businesses and industry personnel understand the value brought by digitalization,' Hsieh said. He collaborates with the Textile Industry Comprehensive Research Institute, relevant industry associations, and academic institutions to provide digitalization guidance to traditional enterprises.
Hsieh emphasized that this approach is not just about promoting technology; it is also about injecting new concepts into industry personnel. Only by understanding the long-term value of digitalization can the industry progress. At the same time, Hsieh is also working to make NunoX's digital technology simpler and seamlessly integrate with the existing workflows of clients.
Looking ahead, NunoX hopes to establish a complete AI digital database of fabrics. This database will include data on textile design, materials, and production processes collected after collaborating with customers. Hsieh stated that the larger the AI digital database of fabrics, the better it can help predict and improve clothing design and production processes, driving the entire fashion industry towards a more sustainable direction.
More reports
Prada and Dior's 'blockchainization' is not just for show! What reasons are causing the fashion industry to feel an increased sense of crisis? Three key trends are crucial.
The beauty pageant 'Miss AI' that only AI can participate in announces its TOP 10, even the judges are AI?