Seamless knitting and stitch-free seaming in performance apparel
Seamless garments have gained huge popularity because of the speed at which such garments can be produced and the unique combination of properties they provide—including comfort, a smooth fit, light weight, an aesthetically pleasing appearance and ease of care. As a result, the variety of seamless garments available is now vast, and includes activewear, athleisure apparel, casual wear, medical clothing, swimwear and underwear. Seamless garments can be produced using either seamless knitting technology or stitch-free seaming techniques—or a combination of both methods—and several innovations in these areas have emerged in recent years. Furthermore, a number of brands and designers have collaborated with fabric manufacturers and machine suppliers in the development of innovative seamless garments. This report provides a wealth of information on seamless garments with specific reference to seamless knitting technologies and stitch-free seaming technologies. Furthermore, the report discusses the implications of garment construction for wearer comfort and the benefits of seamless garments. Other topics covered in this report include applications for seamless knitting and stitch-free seaming in performance apparel, and innovations in seamless knitting and stitch-free seaming. Also, the report includes an outlook for the future.
SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
DEVELOPMENT OF SEAMLESS KNITTING AND STITCH-FREE
SEAMING
SEAMLESS KNITTING
Fibres and yarns for seamless knitting
Computer aided design in seamless knitting
Key suppliers of seamless knitting machines
Santoni
Shima Seiki
Karl Mayer
Stoll
Limitations of seamless knitting technology
STITCH-FREE SEAMING TECHNOLOGIES
Advantages and disadvantages of sewing
Stitch-free, or sew-free, technologies
Benefits of stitch-free seaming
METHODS USED TO PRODUCE STITCH-FREE SEAMS
Adhesive bonding
Welding
Hot air welding and hot wedge welding
Ultrasonic welding
Welding by high frequency radiation
Laser welding
GARMENT CONSTRUCTION AND WEAR COMFORT
Garment fit
Body mapping
APPLICATIONS FOR SEAMLESS KNITTING AND STITCH-FREE
SEAMING IN PERFORMANCE APPAREL
Seamless knitting
Compression wear
Sportswear
Technical outerwear
Innerwear-as-outerwear
Athleisure
Stitch-free seaming
INNOVATIONS IN SEAMLESS KNITTING AND STITCH-FREE
SEAMING
Bemis: Versafilm
Eurojersey and Cifra: hybrid warp knitted garments
Kjus: Freelite
New Textile Technologies: SensElast
Nike: FE/NOM Flyknit Bra
Nike: Flyweave
ODLO: Active Spine
Picture Organic Clothing: ENO Jacket
Sangam: C9
Santoni: seamless upper for footwear
Santoni, Lenzing, Unitin and Tonello: DEN/IM
Studio Eva X Carola, Pauline van Dongen and Santoni: Radius
The North Face: FuseForm mountain jacket
OUTLOOK
INTRODUCTION
DEVELOPMENT OF SEAMLESS KNITTING AND STITCH-FREE
SEAMING
SEAMLESS KNITTING
Fibres and yarns for seamless knitting
Computer aided design in seamless knitting
Key suppliers of seamless knitting machines
Santoni
Shima Seiki
Karl Mayer
Stoll
Limitations of seamless knitting technology
STITCH-FREE SEAMING TECHNOLOGIES
Advantages and disadvantages of sewing
Stitch-free, or sew-free, technologies
Benefits of stitch-free seaming
METHODS USED TO PRODUCE STITCH-FREE SEAMS
Adhesive bonding
Welding
Hot air welding and hot wedge welding
Ultrasonic welding
Welding by high frequency radiation
Laser welding
GARMENT CONSTRUCTION AND WEAR COMFORT
Garment fit
Body mapping
APPLICATIONS FOR SEAMLESS KNITTING AND STITCH-FREE
SEAMING IN PERFORMANCE APPAREL
Seamless knitting
Compression wear
Sportswear
Technical outerwear
Innerwear-as-outerwear
Athleisure
Stitch-free seaming
INNOVATIONS IN SEAMLESS KNITTING AND STITCH-FREE
SEAMING
Bemis: Versafilm
Eurojersey and Cifra: hybrid warp knitted garments
Kjus: Freelite
New Textile Technologies: SensElast
Nike: FE/NOM Flyknit Bra
Nike: Flyweave
ODLO: Active Spine
Picture Organic Clothing: ENO Jacket
Sangam: C9
Santoni: seamless upper for footwear
Santoni, Lenzing, Unitin and Tonello: DEN/IM
Studio Eva X Carola, Pauline van Dongen and Santoni: Radius
The North Face: FuseForm mountain jacket
OUTLOOK
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Key methods of joining the components of a garment
Table 2: General descriptions of adhesive bonding and welding processes for joining textile substrates
Table 3: Types of comfort in relation to garment wear
Table 1: Key methods of joining the components of a garment
Table 2: General descriptions of adhesive bonding and welding processes for joining textile substrates
Table 3: Types of comfort in relation to garment wear
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Comparison of methods used to produce garments
Figure 2: Textures and styling features in a seamless knitted fabric
Figure 3: Long-sleeve top produced on Santoni machinery
Figure 4: Freelite knitted ski jacket
Figure 5: Nike FE/NOM Flyknit Bra
Figure 6: Flyweave
Figure 7: DEN/IM jeggings
Figure 1: Comparison of methods used to produce garments
Figure 2: Textures and styling features in a seamless knitted fabric
Figure 3: Long-sleeve top produced on Santoni machinery
Figure 4: Freelite knitted ski jacket
Figure 5: Nike FE/NOM Flyknit Bra
Figure 6: Flyweave
Figure 7: DEN/IM jeggings
