SoftWear Automation, the Atlanta-based robotics pioneer, has announced a $20 million Series B1 funding round led by Danish retail giant BESTSELLER, fueling the rapid scale-up and global deployment of its SEWBOT technology in a sector expected to hit $1.1 trillion globally this year. This strategic partnership not only increases SoftWear’s commercialization power but also sets the stage for reshaping how and where apparel is made.
Investment and Strategic Partnership Fueling Transformation
Backed by major names like CTW Venture Partners, SRI Capital, and MacDonald Ventures, this latest investment will help SoftWear move beyond its core categories and expand into more complex sewn goods, as well as international markets. By welcoming BESTSELLER as both a strategic investor and a board participant, SoftWear secures not only capital but connections to brands like JACK & JONES and VERO MODA, unlocking new scale and credibility across the fashion world.
BESTSELLER’s CFO Thomas Børglum Jensen said, “At BESTSELLER, we look for innovations that can support progress within the fashion industry, where change is needed. SoftWear Automation is helping address some of the key challenges we face across the industry—from speed and flexibility to lowering environmental impact. We’re pleased to support their development and explore how this technology can help us move forward”.
SEWBOT Technology: Robotics, AI, and a New Era of Apparel
At the core of SoftWear’s offering is the SEWBOT: a system fusing smart computer vision, AI-driven robotics, and advanced machine learning to sew, cut, and finish garments with unprecedented accuracy and speed. Unlike traditional robots, SEWBOT® systems use camera arrays and sensors to scan fabric, recognize distortions in real time, and autonomously manipulate material through the sewing process, mimicking a skilled human seamstress.
Key benefits include:
- Production Speed & Efficiency: One SEWBOT® line can produce a finished T-shirt in as little as 22 seconds, reaching up to 800,000 units per day for major manufacturers like Adidas’s partners.
- Ultra-Low Labor Costs: With automation, the labor cost per T-shirt is estimated at only 33 cents—lower than nearly any global competitor.
- Material Flexibility: SEWBOT® can be programmed to adapt to different garment styles, from tees to denim, expanding the range of automated possibilities.
- Sustainability: By producing closer to end-markets, SEWBOT® technology slashes carbon emissions and shrinks inventory waste, supporting on-demand and made-to-measure manufacturing.
- High Accuracy: Error rates are estimated as low as 0.7%, enabling more consistent quality and fewer defective garments.
Addressing Industry Challenges and Global Expansion
SoftWear Automation’s automated worklines are positioned to address core challenges plaguing global apparel: shrinking margins, labor shortages, dependence on offshore manufacturing, and the environmental cost of excessive transport and overproduction. Funding will be used not only to accelerate production, but to deepen R&D for even more advanced machine vision, robotics, and software, targeting new verticals within fashion and beyond.
CEO Palaniswamy “Raj” Rajan summed up the vision: “This partnership with BESTSELLER and the support from Invest FWD are not just a vote of confidence in our technology—they are a powerful catalyst for the future of on-demand, localized, and more sustainable apparel manufacturing”.
The Future: Localized, Sustainable, and Agile Fashion
SoftWear Automation envisions an industry built on demand, mass personalization, and made-to-measure products—resolving sizing issues and cutting down on returns for retailers. As momentum builds, the company’s SEWBOT platform stands to fundamentally disrupt legacy supply chains, leading the way toward more agile, affordable, and environmentally friendly clothing production.
