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Shima Seiki, originally known for glove-making machinery, took a technological leap in the 1990s in an effort to revive the flagging fortunes of Japanese apparel manufacturers. Japan’s apparel industry is turning to state-of-the-art technology in a bold bid to cut labour costs and secure its future.
At manufacturing giant Shima Seiki’s factory in western Japan, garments materialize in minutes, thanks to digitally-programmed automated machines that can turn out a sample seam-free pullover in half an hour with a push of a button.

