Robo-top: The Machines That Could Make Your Next T-shirt
Wednesday, 2026/05/20152 words2 minutes1149 reads
Robots are everywhere - they assemble cars, perform surgery, and handle cargo. But making clothes remains difficult for machines. That's why nearly all garments sold worldwide are still made by hand, often by low-paid workers in Asia.
California-based CreateMe has found a solution. Instead of sewing, their robots glue fabric pieces together using special adhesive. The company already produces women's underwear this way and plans to start making t-shirts soon.
Automating garment production could bring manufacturing back to Western countries and significantly reduce environmental impact. A recent study found that robot-made t-shirts could cut greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 45%. However, millions of textile workers might lose their jobs.
Experts disagree on whether robots will fully replace human workers. Some believe sewing will remain important for fashion design, while others think automation is inevitable. The UK Fashion and Textile Association suggests the future will likely involve co-existence between human workers and robots.
