The way we communicate with brand designers has evolved significantly
ShinWon Corporation, a global leader in apparel manufacturing, has been shaping the industry for over 50 years with its commitment to creating a comfortable and sustainable lifestyle. Headquartered in Seoul, Korea, with a global network spanning Guatemala, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and India, ShinWon operates state-of-the-art production facilities across multiple countries. Specialising in vertical integration, ShinWon delivers exceptional end-to-end manufacturing services, from spinning and knitting to dyeing, printing, and warehousing.
With a strong focus on innovation and sustainability, ShinWon embraces digital transformation through its Smart Factory initiative and ShinWon Intelligent Manufacturing System (SWIMS), leveraging AI, IoT, and Big Data for operational excellence. The company’s R&D centre supports comprehensive design, trend research, and the development of sustainable fabrics, making ShinWon a trusted partner for innovative, traceable, and responsible apparel solutions globally.
In an interview with Fibre2Fashion, Sue Lee, Vice President of ShinWon’s Export R&D Division, talks about the launch of the company’s new R&D Design Center in New York, enhancing its global expansion strategy.
With the rise of digital technologies like virtual try-ons, 3D modelling, and VR stores, how do you see the customer experience evolving in the next five years, and what are the implications for online and in-store retail?
The rise of digital technologies like virtual try-ons, 3D modelling, and VR stores will blur the line between online and offline shopping, creating a more immersive and personalised experience.
Virtual try-ons and 3D modelling will become essential tools, allowing customers to better visualise products and reducing return rates. Meanwhile, virtual stores will closely mimic physical ones, while brick-and-mortar locations will integrate virtual technologies like AR displays and smart mirrors to offer real-time product information and inventory checks.
At the core of these advancements, driving personalised recommendations and seamlessly connecting data across platforms will be very important. This shift will enhance retailers’ omnichannel strategies, moving the focus from simply selling products to creating deeper customer engagement.
What strategic objectives led ShinWon to establish the R&D Design Centre in New York, and how does this complement your existing facilities worldwide?
The way we communicate with brand designers has evolved significantly. With tools like Miro and Zoom, we can now collaborate in real-time on a daily basis, no matter where we are.
Fashion trends are also changing rapidly, driven by market shifts, social influences, and retailers. Our New York R&D Design Center allows us to bring everyone together—brand and retailer designers from New York and beyond—to discuss these changes in real time.
As a global fashion hub, New York offers access to diverse perspectives, which helps us align our insights with the strategies of brands and retailers. This collaboration enables us to stay ahead of trends and shape what’s next in the industry.
Could you elaborate on how your 3D virtual studio and VR stores are enhancing the customer experience? How have clients and consumers responded to this level of immersive design innovation?
Our 3D Virtual Studio and VR stores offer a next-level, immersive experience that initially captures attention with a ‘wow’ factor, but we have designed them to go beyond that. These tools allow our clients to review designs in a way that is more interactive and detailed than traditional samples. Designers can explore colours, textures, and draping in a virtual space, simulating real-world environments like showrooms or stores. This approach speeds up the design process by reducing the need for physical samples, leading to faster decision-making and improved sustainability. Clients have responded positively, appreciating the efficiency and the ability to visualise products in a more dynamic way. It is not just about the technology—it is about making the design process smoother and more collaborative.
How is AI reshaping the fashion industry’s approach to trend prediction and product development, and what are the potential risks and benefits associated with relying on data-driven insights?
AI provides an incredible level of detail in trend prediction and product development by processing vast amounts of relevant data. This leads to more accurate insights that can significantly improve the efficiency of design decisions. The key lies in how we use this data. While AI offers powerful tools, how we set the direction and manage these resources is crucial. Effective execution is more important than simply having access to data. With trends becoming more diverse and changing rapidly on a macro level, it is essential to incorporate AI thoughtfully. By executing it correctly, we can drive innovation and collaborate more effectively with our partner retailers and brands.
How does ShinWon plan to leverage generative AI research to further streamline design processes, and what potential benefits do you anticipate for buyers and partners?
Generative AI is already helping us streamline design processes by allowing us to quickly apply new graphics or design elements to existing product images, eliminating the need for new samples or photoshoots. This saves time, labour, and costs while speeding up decision-making.
However, while AI can generate impressive results, human curation is still essential. Our designers fine-tune AI outputs to ensure they align with the brand’s vision and aesthetic. We are still in the early stages of exploring generative AI’s full potential, but we expect it to play a key role in reducing production timelines, enhancing creativity, and offering more personalised solutions for our buyers and partners. This will ultimately lead to faster product development and more tailored designs that meet specific market needs.
With an extensive global manufacturing network, how does ShinWon manage and optimise its production processes across diverse regions to meet the demands of top brands?
At ShinWon, we leverage smart manufacturing technologies to enhance efficiency, optimise end-to-end production processes, elevate circularity, and upskill our workforce—all while upholding our commitment to sustainability.
Our digitalised system centralises data from diverse production networks, enabling headquarters to maintain strict control and respond swiftly to challenges. This integration of big data supports rapid, resilient decision-making tailored to the specific needs of brands.
We are also investing in advanced manufacturing technologies that enhance productivity and expand our capabilities. To fortify our workforce, we provide comprehensive training programmes focused on developing advanced sewing skills and quality control expertise. By hiring field experts and facilitating work rotations, we ensure our employees are well-equipped to meet the demands of top brands.
Through these initiatives, ShinWon aims to deliver exceptional quality and flexibility, effectively addressing the diverse needs of our clients.
What are the key trends ShinWon has identified through its New York-based trend research, and how do these influence your upcoming collections?
Our New York R&D Design Center plays a crucial role in identifying key fashion trends. However, our trend research is not limited to New York—we also gather intelligence from our Seoul office and other global sources to capture a broad view of market shifts.
We create a comprehensive understanding of emerging trends, then tailor to meet the specific needs of our retail and brand partners. The insights we gather—ranging from colours and fabrics to style preferences—are carefully curated by our designers to influence upcoming collections.
Your recent successes with brands such as Gap and Walmart highlight ShinWon’s growing reputation globally. What strategies have proven effective in strengthening ShinWon’s market presence and partnerships with international brands?
We are all about teaming up with brands from concept, diving into their DNA, and working side-by-side from the first spark of an idea all the way to making the big design decisions. This way, we can stay super close to what is happening in the market and react fast. We jump in early with the brand’s designers, getting our hands-on in every step of the design process to catch all the best opportunities. That is why brands see us as their go-to partner for co-creation.
What future innovations can we expect from ShinWon in terms of digital design, AI, or big data applications?
It is about enhancing connectivity with our brand partners. If our partners have AI systems in their plan, we aim to integrate our capabilities with theirs. Our data processing and AI-driven digital designs can seamlessly connect with their AI for use in product development, line planning, and even online stores. This will allow for more immersive and efficient experiences.
By leveraging AI and big data, we can streamline the design process, reduce time-to-market, and offer more personalised solutions. These innovations will not only improve efficiency but also contribute to more sustainable practices by minimising the need for physical samples and reducing waste.
Your goal is to have a fully integrated vertical production model by 2025. What key changes and investments are being implemented to achieve this, and what advantages will this bring to your clients?
At ShinWon, our goal is to achieve a fully integrated vertical production model by 2025, which will provide several key benefits to our clients.
This approach gives us full control over the entire supply chain, enhancing quality management and allowing us to address issues proactively. It also enables us to achieve competitive cost advantages by optimising resources and reducing reliance on external suppliers. Moreover, vertical integration will improve our speed to market and increase flexibility, allowing us to respond swiftly to client demands and market trends while ensuring timely delivery of products.
Through the implementation of this model, we aim to provide exceptional quality, unparalleled efficiency, and substantial value to our clients, ultimately supporting their success in increasingly competitive markets.
ShinWon is recognised for using AI to analyse sales data, inventory, and pricing trends across various markets. How do these insights shape product development and strategy, particularly for overseas buyers like Patagonia and Target?
ShinWon uses AI to analyse sales data, inventory, and pricing trends across markets. These insights help develop products that meet buyer demands and quickly adapt to market changes. This data-driven approach enhances efficiency in inventory management and pricing, strengthens global competitiveness, fostering sustained growth through collaborations with international buyers.
ShinWon operates multiple production subsidiaries in countries like Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Vietnam. What are some of the key operational benefits and challenges of managing a global production network?
ShinWon leverages its multiple production subsidiaries across various countries to mitigate the impact of localised disruptions, such as natural disasters and economic instability, while enhancing access to local markets. It also continues to address challenges like navigating diverse regulatory environments and maintaining consistent product quality across all its subsidiaries.
As global supply chains in fashion are increasingly complex, what do you think are the best strategies for brands to ensure both efficiency and resilience in their production and distribution networks?
ShinWon has partnered with Retraced, a German platform that enables fashion and textile brands to digitise and trace the supply chains. The company plans to transparently disclose every stage of production, from sourcing cotton to spinning, knitting, and sewing. This strategy aims to improve supply chain transparency and reliability, ensuring both efficiency and resilience.
With sustainability becoming a priority, what innovative practices or technologies do you believe will lead the industry towards more sustainable production, and how should brands balance cost and environmental responsibility?
Sustainability has become a pivotal issue in the fashion industry. ShinWon plans to designate 2024 as the first year of ESG management, aiming to strengthen its framework by establishing dedicated organisations and developing phased strategies. The company will also continue efforts such as reducing carbon emissions and addressing climate change in striving to become a trusted partner for its stakeholders.
In an industry driven by rapid change, how can fashion brands and manufacturers best prepare for fluctuations in consumer demand, especially when relying on technology for market forecasting and inventory management?
ShinWon uses AI to analyse online sales and social media trends, providing a comprehensive understanding of market patterns. By utilising machine learning and deep learning, the company predicts consumer preferences and offers future trend solutions to buyers. Recently, ShinWon has been exploring generative AI to accelerate the design process and adapt swiftly to market changes. Our AI-powered market intelligence has received positive feedback from clients, who report that our insights have significantly improved their product line planning and helped them identify new market opportunities.
