SHEIN has made significant progress in its mission to modernize the garment manufacturing sector with the development of new manufacturing tools and automated production processes. In doing so, the company has set new standards in the industry, and is helping to shape the future of fashion with cutting-edge solutions.
In 2023, investments were made in innovation and R&D to help suppliers upgrade their equipment, technology, and processes. To date, SHEIN has developed over 100 sewing and garment-making tools for its suppliers and has filed more than 10 patents for new technology and tools that are specifically used for complex craftsmanship methods, and for working with special fabric.
The company recently invited suppliers and equipment manufacturers to a “Tool Day” event at the Center of Innovation for Garment Manufacturing (CIGM) to demonstrate the tools developed by SHEIN that promote flexible lean manufacturing. Over 60 self-developed technical tools used in more than 20 industry processes, and several types of cutting-edge intelligent equipment, were showcased at the event.
Many of the tools were developed in consultation with SHEIN’s suppliers, with their feedback providing useful insights that have led to SHEIN developing tools that directly address the pain points faced by suppliers. This has helped suppliers to upgrade their equipment and processes with minimal investment, contributing to the advancement of the industry as a whole.
Innovative tools that create more consistency in garment manufacturing
These innovative tools have been developed by SHEIN’s in-house R&D team at the CIGM with the aim of simplifying complex production methods or processes, with the goal of standardizing the quality of the resulting garments. One example of this is the Automated Glove Production Template that is designed to create gloves that have the perfect fit. Gloves come in a variety of styles and, because of how they are worn, require precise sewing techniques to ensure comfort and great fit. The use of materials like leather and knit fabric can also increase the complexity of the production process. As a result, the quality of the finished product is highly dependent on the sewing technician’s skill and experience.
Using the Automated Glove Production Template simplifies this process; users select from a library of pre-set sewing templates, positioning the template so that the sewing machine automatically stitches along the palm contours of the template. Suppliers that have used this tool have said this has helped improve their production efficiency by 200%.
Similarly, another tool developed by SHEIN makes it easier to sew neat stitches along the neckline of V- necked garments. Achieving straight, even lines on V-shaped necklines can be challenging – to achieve this result, the middle stitch in the neckline needs to remain in a stable position to be perfectly centred. Another typical challenge sewing these types of garments is to avoid creating “puckered” edges on the neckline. The modified presser foot and needle plate accessory developed by SHEIN allows sewing technicians to fix the centre stitch of the neckline in place in one step, while creating smooth and even edges.
SHEIN has also developed tools that help reduce the time spent producing garments. Conventional methods of stitching embellished fabric – like sequinned or beaded material- require sewing technicians to manually remove the embellished portions and reattach them after the stitches are in place. SHEIN’s R&D team created a sewing machine presser foot attachment with a unique “bird beak” design that pushes the embellishments aside during the sewing process, eliminating the need to remove the embellishments, while at the same time creating a more streamlined production process.
The use of these tools has helped SHEIN’s suppliers to overcome the technical difficulty of producing complex styles. With only minimal investments required, they can achieve immediate and significant improvements to productivity, product quality, and profit.
Creating a network of support and empowerment for suppliers
As SHEIN’s technology-driven supply chain system continues to evolve, the company has also focused on deepening its comprehensive support for its suppliers. In this regard, in 2023, SHEIN committed US$70 million over a five-year period for its suppliers through its Supplier Community Empowerment Program (SCEP).
Beyond technological empowerment, SHEIN provides comprehensive training in business management, organizational structure, and process technology, to help suppliers become more competitive. In 2023, SHEIN conducted 620 training sessions for its suppliers’ workers. When the SCEP launched in 2022, SHEIN had set out to upgrade and expand 100 facilities within a year. In 2023, SHEIN exceeded that target – modernising 132 facilities with facility enhancements and upgrades and transforming over 407,000 square meters of workspace.
SHEIN also completed the upgrading of canteens, dormitories, and multipurpose recreational spaces, amounting to 10,486 square meters of space across 23 supplier facilities, and provided financial assistance to 165 worker families facing temporary financial hardship.
