WHOLEGARMENT
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WHOLEGARMENT[1] is a proprietary flatbed machine knitting technology developed by the Japanese manufacturer Shima Seiki. It allows the production of three-dimensional, completely seamless knitwear knitted in a single piece directly from the machine.
Unlike traditional knitwear production—where individual panels (front, back, sleeves) are knitted flat, cut, and then sewn together (linking)—WHOLEGARMENT machines produce a fully finished garment ready to wear, eliminating the need for post-knitting assembly.
How It Works[edit]
WHOLEGARMENT technology relies on specialized V-bed flat knitting machines equipped with four needle beds (such as Shima Seiki's SWG series) or specialized slide needles:
- Tubular Knitting: The machine knits the front and back of the garment as a continuous tube.
- Sleeve Integration: Sleeves are knitted as smaller tubes alongside the main body tube. The carriage integrates them at the armholes using complex stitch transfer operations.
- Needle Selection: Advanced computer-guided needle selection allows for structural shaping (narrowing and widening) to create necklines and shoulder slopes seamlessly.
Advantages[edit]
- Comfort: The absence of seams eliminates bulk and potential skin irritation, making the garments drape more naturally.
- Zero Waste: Traditional cut-and-sew operations waste up to 15-20% of the fabric. WHOLEGARMENT knitting uses only the exact amount of yarn required for the final garment.
- Labor Savings: Eliminates the labor-intensive linking and sewing stages on the factory floor, speeding up production.