Challenges and design opportunities in prototyping seamless knitted apparel: a case study

ABSTRACT

The aims of this study are to document the challenges occurring in design and prototyping apparel using seamless knitting technologies and determine a communication framework that would improve the interaction between the design, product development and production teams. This research adopted a key single case study method, collecting data from a domestic seamless knitting technician with extensive experience. The study identified critical skills a technician must have, along with challenges and design opportunities offered by Santoni® SM8-TOP2V knitting machines. An in-depth product development map was translated into a tech pack model, a key communication tool that aims to consistently track all the details involved in the design and prototyping decisions. The authors believe that examination of the design challenges that a seamless knitting technology can offer, along with the proposed tech pack model, would help inform and narrow the existing communication and skill gap between technical designers and knit technicians.

KEYWORDS:

• Seamless knitting
• sports bra
• tech pack
• product development

Acknowledgements

The datasets used and analyzed for the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. AG carried out the data collection, analyzed, drafted and edited the manuscript, FB and ES contributed significantly to the data analysis and manuscript editing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Part of this research was funded thanks to the Donna R. Danielson Endowment fund.