Table A.9: Technology sophistication in Apparel - Sewing

||**Manually Sewing**|**Machine**<br>**Sewing**<br>**Manually**<br>**Oper-**<br>**ated**|**Semi-automated**<br>**Sewing Machines**|**Automated**<br>**Sewing Machines**|**3D Knitting**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Functionality**|Basic hand stitching,<br>mending, and precise<br>cutting of fabric.|Basic stitching with<br>manual adjustments<br>for tension and stitch<br>length.|Automatic<br>tension<br>adjustment, multiple<br>stitch patterns, and<br>built-in<br>embroidery<br>designs.|High-speed<br>sewing,<br>automated<br>thread<br>trimming, and pro-<br>grammable<br>stitch<br>patterns.|Knits<br>entire<br>gar-<br>ments<br>in<br>3D<br>with<br>no seams,<br>enabling<br>complex designs and<br>high customization.|
|**Integration**|No integration|Limited<br>to<br>no<br>in-<br>tegration with digi-<br>tal or automated sys-<br>tems.|Integrated<br>with<br>pre-programmed<br>patterns and digital<br>interfaces for ease of<br>use.|Often<br>integrated<br>with<br>manufacturing<br>systems<br>for<br>ef-<br>cient<br>production<br>workfows.|Integrated with dig-<br>ital design software,<br>allowing for seamless<br>transition from de-<br>sign to production.|
|**Automation**|No automation|Minimal automation;<br>relies on user skill<br>and manual adjust-<br>ments for operation.|Moderate level of au-<br>tomation<br>with<br>fea-<br>tures like automatic<br>needle threading and<br>thread cutting.|High level of automa-<br>tion,<br>reducing<br>the<br>need for manual ad-<br>justments and inter-<br>ventions.|Fully<br>automated<br>knitting<br>process,<br>from<br>pattern<br>cre-<br>ation<br>to<br>fnished<br>garment.|
|**Rank**|5|4|3|2|1|
|**Reason for Rank-**<br>**ing**|Lowest<br>sophisti-<br>cation,<br>entirely<br>manual with no au-<br>tomation or digital<br>integration.|Lower sophistication<br>due to minimal au-<br>tomation and lack of<br>integration with dig-<br>ital systems.|Moderate<br>sophisti-<br>cation<br>with<br>useful<br>automation<br>fea-<br>tures,<br>but<br>limited<br>compared<br>to<br>fully<br>automated systems.|High<br>sophistication<br>with advanced func-<br>tionality and integra-<br>tion, but less special-<br>ized than 3D knit-<br>ting.|Highest<br>sophisti-<br>cation<br>due<br>to<br>full<br>automation,<br>ad-<br>vanced functionality,<br>and<br>seamless<br>inte-<br>gration with digital<br>design tools.|
|**Technology**<br>**Ex-**<br>**amples**|Needle and Thread,<br>Thimble, Fabric Scis-<br>sors|Mechanical<br>Sewing<br>Machine,<br>Hand-<br>Crank<br>Sewing<br>Machine, Foot-Pedal<br>Sewing Machine|Electronic<br>Sewing<br>Machine,<br>Com-<br>puterized<br>Sewing<br>Machine,<br>Embroi-<br>dery Machine|Industrial<br>Sewing<br>Machine, Automated<br>Quilting<br>Machine,<br>Automated Serger|Shima Seiki Whole-<br>Garment, Stoll ADF<br>3, Kniterate|
|**Cost**|$1 - $30|$100 - $500|$300 - $3,000|$1,000 - $20,000|$7,500 - $250,000|
|**Launch Year**|Ancient - N/A|1800s - 1900s|1970s - 1990s|1960s - 2000s|1970s - 2018|
|**ChatGPT ranking**|1|2.5|3.5|4.5|5|
|**Estimated time in**<br>**a task**|8-10 hours|3-4 hours|2-3 hours|1-2 hours|30 minutes-1 hour|

Source: The table draws upon various sources of information including desk research, and websites of companies like Kniterate as well as online sellers of sewing equipment like Amazon Marketplace. *CHATGPT estimates the time for sewing a Simple T-shirt, following similar characteristics of a given firm. The prompt for these estimates and CHATGPT ranking is available in the appendix.