Needles Eye Home

Styles of the Clothing We Wear (or Wore Back in ’81)

Footwear
Contemporary lifestyles are in sharp contrast to the formal attire worn at the turn of the century. Footwear has become more specialized, using a greater variety of materials for different applications. The gym shoe, for example, has changed rapidly in design over the last two decades to meet the needs of different sports. The style and utility of this shoe contrast sharply with the heavy leather high-button shoes worn at the turn of the century.

A wider variety of materials, along with increased competition in the marketplace, has placed great demands on the sewing industry to create better machines.

Union Special Corporation worked to meet these needs with efficient, computerized sewing stations, machines that make the sewing machines of the past as obsolete as high-button shoes.

From Polished Leather to Purposeful Informality

The sharpest contrast between turn-of-the-twentieth-century footwear and modern shoes isn't just about shape—it's about what shoes are expected to communicate.     • 1900: "I understand the rules, and I am properly dressed for my place in society."     • Today: "I know the rules—and I am choosing which ones to bend."

Historically, footwear was governed strictly by occasion, gender, class, and dress codes. Today, those boundaries are far more flexible: sneakers pair with suits, loafers accompany denim, and athletic shoes double as luxury fashion objects. Footwear has evolved from a discreet finishing detail into one of an outfit's most expressive components.

The real historical shift in footwear     Obedience → Expression     Polish → Versatility     Social Uniform → Personal Signature

The Gendered Evolution of High HeelsHigh heels were originally a male fashion staple and were never intended for walking. By the late 18th century, men largely abandoned heels, except for low, functional versions on riding or motorcycle boots. From then on, high heels became an exclusive feature of women's wardrobes.

Design & Silhouette ImpactHigh heels alter the wearer's posture: they arch the back, accentuate the chest and hips, and tighten the calves into a classic pin-up silhouette, while creating the illusion of longer legs and smaller feet.

King Louis XIV of France was among the first rulers to sport high heels in the 18th century.

In women’s fashion, heels made women’s feet look small, in keeping with a new beauty ideal. The heel lifted the foot under the skirt, leaving only the small tips of women’s shoes visible and creating the illusion of small feet.

Style DivergenceMen's Heels: Historically (and in modern cowboy boots), heels remained low, wide, and blocky.Women's Heels: Grew increasingly tall and narrow, eventually giving rise to high, thin stilettos as symbols of feminine power and sexuality.

Modern Style and Rule-BreakingIn 1900, shoes strictly completed formal attire. Today, they often deliberately disrupt it—which is why pairing a sneaker with a sharply tailored suit feels inherently modern. Fashion trends also continue to challenge traditional gender norms. Since the 2010s, sensible footwear like sneakers has translated the cool of male-coded streetwear into a universal, everyday aesthetic.

Zünd cutters are entirely modular, the configuration possibilities virtually endless. The Product Finder helps you find what you are looking for more quickly.  Find the cutter that suits you.

Visit www.zund.com to discover the latest Zünd innovations in industrial digital cutting technology: specialized tooling for a perfect cut, no matter what materials go into your sewn products, a full range of hardware and software options all geared toward easy, efficient workflow automation. Zünd has it all! What’s more, multifunctional cutting systems from Zünd are modular by design and easily adaptable as your cutting needs grow or change. Find the cutting solution perfectly tailored to your needs, present and future!

Contact Zund America anytime for a personal demonstration, or visit us in 2026 in person at the SEMA Show, November 3-6, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV.

UpFront with CreateMe

The Factory That Learns: Rethinking Apparel Manufacturing Through Robotics and AI

By Joe Altieri, FIT Adjunct Professor, Mentor, Educator, and Trainer

Founded in late 2019, CreateMe entered the market at a time when the vulnerabilities of America's dependence on imported goods were becoming increasingly apparent. For Cam Myers, the first rounds of U.S. tariffs further exposed the weaknesses of a supply chain heavily dependent on overseas production.

For generations, the apparel factory has been defined by a familiar image: monolithic brick buildings, rows of sewing machines, and operators manually manipulating fabric through the many stages required to turn material into a garment. That was the factory we inherited.

Now imagine something very different.A manufacturing facility that looks less like the traditional garment factory and more like a highly controlled manufacturing environment. Instead of rows of operators manipulating fabric by hand, technicians monitor machinery. Robotics, artificial intelligence, vacuum, pressure, heat, time, and bonding work together to construct garments.

For Campbell “Cam” Myers, CreateMe's co-founder and CEO, that environment helped reinforce an opportunity to rethink how manufacturing could be done. Myers brings a strong technology and e-commerce background to the challenge. His perspective is different from that of someone who entered apparel through a traditional manufacturing career.
That difference matters.CreateMe isn't simply trying to put a robot where a sewing operator once stood. It is asking a more fundamental question: Can the apparel manufacturing process itself be redesigned for automation? Read More>

Industry Opinion

Banks Keep Trying to Maximize Fee-based Income

By Nironjan Roy, Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist and Banker

Once, people kept money with banks by opening an account and, in exchange, receiving banking services. Initially, most services were free, meaning part of the account contract. Now, those days are gone, as banks have introduced fees for almost every service. 

CustomersCustomers pay for many monthly account transactions. A debit card is the customer’s bank ID, but merchants charge fees indirectly for every purchase the customer makes with a debit card. Even investing money through a bank account, trading shares through a bank account, using a credit card, and receiving funds from banks are subject to certain fees.

The banking industry
Worldwide, banks in both developed and developing countries have broadened their revenue sources across multiple areas, including interest-bearing business and fee-based services, rather than relying on a single interest-earning scope. Banks now focus more on fee-based business than interest-bearing lending. In this context, U.S. banks have long led the way in diversifying their revenue-earning avenues. However, they are now taking a strategic approach to maximizing revenue from fee-based products. Some large U.S. banks have engaged in a collective effort to acquire a service-providing company so it can use its facilities to maximize fee-based income. In the U.S., banks cannot charge fees as they wish because a law limits the fees banks earn on customers’ debit card use. Also, when providing card-based services, an intermediary company gets involved because banks use its infrastructure to process payments, keeping capital expenditure to a minimum.  Read More>

C and C Enterprise has teamed up with JACK, one of the world’s finest industrial sewing machine manufacturers, to form Jack of the Americas. Jack of the Americas distributes JACK machines throughout North America, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean Basin. When you buy from Jack of The Americas, we don’t just ship you a box! We help you get set up and answer any questions you may have! With over 100 years of combined experience in the industrial sewn products industry, we are proud to say that we are one of the world’s leading industrial sewing products authorities and are here to serve you! Not sure if Jack is right for you? Click on the button below for a short video showing off some of our machines. Watch it and see what Jack can do for you!

Since 1898, Consew has designed and manufactured the most reliable machines in the sewing industry. Today, Consew has one of the largest varieties of sewing, cutting, and pressing equipment; as well as an extensive line of supplies related to the sewn products industry. From standard walking foot machines for upholstery to specialty 4 needle lockstitch machines for parachutes, from long-arm zig-zag (up to 30”) machines for boat sails to extra heavy-duty machines for webbing, Consew has it all. Our machines are well-designed for sewing leather, canvas, shoes, saddles, mattresses, tents, tarps, and sails, as well as jeans and other garments. With offices in New Jersey, Miami, and Los Angeles, as well as a distribution network throughout the world, Consew can quickly supply and service the machines you need.

Industry News

In Memoriam: Andre West, Wilson College of Textiles

Andre West, Ph.D., professor at North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles and former director of Zeis Textiles Extension, died September 10 at age 66.

Born June 30, 1960, West earned his bachelor’s degree in textile design from the University of Huddersfield in England. In 2009, he earned his Master of Fine Arts in visual arts from Miami International University of Art and Design, followed by his doctorate in education in 2012.

In 2013, he became an assistant professor in the Department of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management at North Carolina State University, advancing to associate professor in 2019 and then full professor in 2024. 

In 2018, West was named the Leader of the Year in the Wilson College of Textiles. In 2019, he was named director of the Zeis Textiles Extension. “He embodied the entrepreneurial spirit. He always had a million great ideas and, unlike others, made most of them happen. He just wanted to make people better and never cared about needing credit, just getting the idea to fruition. I will miss my friend and the many discussions we had about life, students, sports and, of course, our bets on the Ryder Cup,” says Jeff Joiness, Ph.D., associate dean for academic programs. For more information, click here.

Diamond Needle Corp., Founded in 1951, is one of the world’s largest distributors of sewing machine needles. Our alliance with ORGAN NEEDLE CO. of Japan, as their exclusive North American distributor, gives us the backing of the world’s leading quality maker of sewing machine needles.

Atlanta Attachment Company Announced the Passing of its Founder, Elvin Price.

Elvin Price founded Atlanta Attachment in 1969, beginning a remarkable journey that would shape the company and the industry for more than five decades.

More than an entrepreneur and innovator, Elvin was a respected leader, mentor, and friend. He was deeply compassionate and generous, caring for others and leaving a lasting impact on the many people who had the privilege of knowing him.
Although Elvin had retired from the company, he always remained an important part of the Atlanta Attachment family. His influence can still be felt today in the company he created and in the many lives he touched along the way.

Elvin was a strong supporter of many charitable organizations, especially Eagle Ranch and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, Georgia Chapter. His legacy will always be a part of Atlanta Attachment. He will be deeply missed.

The Merrow Group consists of three unique divisions, all designed to support and accelerate the growth of soft-goods manufacturing. One of these divisions is the Wholesale Group: Superior Sewing Machine & Supply. Superior, the largest wholesale supplier of more than 72,000 products to sewing factories across North, Central, and South America, plays a vital role in supporting the broader manufacturing ecosystem. In an industry where precision, speed, and reliability are crucial for maintaining competitive production, having access to in-stock items is not just convenient; it is essential. Superior operates a network of 1,600 resellers that support approximately 70,000 factories across North, Central, and South America. This extensive network enables Superior to swiftly introduce new technologies and products that can significantly enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of soft goods manufacturing.

Esquel-Linked Vietnam Factories Selling Clothes to U.S. Despite Sanctions

Three garment manufacturers in Vietnam with close ties to the sanctioned Chinese textile company Esquel Group have exported at least $5 million in cotton goods to the United States since Esquel was blacklisted in November 2024, according to Reuters.

Hong Kong-based Esquel Group was added to a U.S. sanctions list under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act over alleged ties to forced labor programs in China's Xinjiang region. The company denies the allegations. Under the designation, customs officers may treat its goods as products of forced labor, placing the burden of proof on importers to show otherwise. Read More>

Industry Technologies

Synergistic Collaboration Model for Research and Commercialization:

Smartpolymer launches TITK’s development to fight health risks posed by insects.

by Yvonne Heinen-Foudeh, Senior International Correspondent

Whether for work or leisure activities, long pants and closed-toe shoes are a must in the woods and in tall grass for anyone who spends plenty of time outdoors. Yet they often aren't enough to prevent serious health risks. Now there is an additional layer of protection available – with outdoor apparel, from pants, socks, or tops, even equipped with built-in protection under the brand name Cell Solution® Protection. A perfect example is the industrial potential that basic and applied research offers when working hand in hand with the knowledge-based startup economy.

One of the many negative impacts of climate change is the rising threat posed by often invasive biting or stinging insects. Native pests such as ticks and mosquitoes are now active for significantly longer periods and often transmit dangerous diseases. Asian tiger mosquitoes, for instance, have joined the fray, bringing tropical diseases like dengue fever and chikungunya fever in their wake. TITK - Thuringian Institute for Textile and Plastics Research e.V. in Rudolstadt, Germany, has developed a protective response to that health challenge. Read More>

Lectra Unveils Apogy, the First Solution Embedding Agentic Artificial Intelligence to Reinvent Fashion Product Development 

Lectra announced the launch of Apogy, its cloud-based solution dedicated to product development, a critical phase between garment design and production. Nearly half a century after establishing the global standard for CAD solutions for the fashion industry, Lectra is opening a new chapter with Apogy. 

Designed in the age of agentic artificial intelligence, Apogy transforms product development by bringing data, processes, and all stakeholders together in a single digital environment. By automating low-value tasks and making information and expertise easier to access, it significantly accelerates product development while enabling teams to focus on innovation, creativity, and strategic decision-making. Read More>

C and C Enterprise is the United States agency for Highlead sewing machines. These high-quality machines are available for your sewing needs and are sold only through local dealers and distributors. If you want more information on the Highlead brand, please feel free to contact us. www.candcenterprise.com

Henderson Sewing Machine Co, founded in 1968, is a global supplier of industrial sewing machines, sewing machine parts, and custom automated sewing machines for the SEWING PRODUCTS INDUSTRY. We have grown by offering customers the highest quality products at competitive prices with superior customer service. We also have a cutting-edge engineering team that designs custom automated systems to fill any need you may have.

Supply Chain

U.S. Textile Industry Faces Pressures from Tariffs, Labor Shortages, and Global Competition

The U.S. textile industry is navigating a difficult combination of trade uncertainty, weak demand, labor shortages, and intense global competition. Executives say these pressures are arriving at the same time, making it harder for manufacturers to protect existing operations, plan capital investments, and build a stable strategy for the future.

In an interview published by Textile Technology Source, Kimberly Glas, president and CEO of the National Council of Textile Organizations, described the current operating environment as unusually difficult. Her comments came as trade rules continued to change, including new duties connected to forced labor enforcement and fresh tariffs affecting Canadian goods. 
Read More>

Sri Lanka Apparel Sector Targets Upstream Investment as U.S. Trade Pressure Rises

Sri Lanka’s apparel industry is looking beyond garment manufacturing to strengthen its next phase of export growth. The sector is calling for more investment in fabric mills and upstream manufacturing while seeking improved trade access to the United States.

The push comes as Sri Lanka targets $8 billion in apparel exports by 2030. The industry body Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) says dependence on imported materials remains a major constraint. Domestic production currently meets only about one-third of demand for synthetic yarn and fabric.  Read More> 

The US Department of Commerce estimates that Sri Lanka’s apparel sector spends about $2 billion annually on inputs, primarily fabric.

Sustainability

Amazon Co-Founds Coalition for Sustainable Fashion

Amazon, in partnership with designer Stella McCartney, environmental non-profit Canopy, and the World Economic Forum, has announced The Climate Pledge Fashion Coalition.

The cross-industry initiative brings together more than 60 fashion brands, innovators, manufacturers, and retailers to accelerate climate innovation, scale sustainable materials, and reduce waste across global supply chains.

The coalition forms a dedicated sector-specific branch under The Climate Pledge, an initiative co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism in 2019 that commits signatories to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2040—a decade ahead of the Paris Agreement. Read More>

Levi Strauss, M&S Launch Fashion Renewable Collaborative

Levi Strauss & Co., Marks & Spencer, and Schneider Electric’s SE Advisory Services have launched the Fashion Renewable Collaborative (FRC), targeting one of fashion’s largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions: electricity used across global manufacturing supply chains.

Announced during New York Climate Week, the program aims to help garment manufacturers, fabric mills and other apparel suppliers access renewable electricity. It will combine education, market guidance and technical support to help suppliers navigate clean energy procurement.

The companies are also inviting other fashion brands to join the initiative.  A broader membership could create a more consistent approach to renewable energy procurement across supplier networks that often serve multiple global brands. Read More>

World of Fashion

Major Coup: On Snaps Up Mbappé from Nike

Enhancing the joy of play through product innovation and meaningful connections

by Yvonne Heinen-Foudeh, Senior International Correspondent

Swiss sportswear brand On announces its entry into football by gaining French soccer superstar Kylian Mbappé as brand ambassador. A strategic step that marks the beginning of the brand’s journey into the world’s biggest sport. 

Mbappé has therefore terminated his existing sponsorship contract with Nike “to support On in the development of footwear and clothing using its in-house LightSpray manufacturing technology.”

In parallel, Thierry Henry, who has been working behind the scenes with the brand on every aspect of its entry and product approach since late 2025, has been announced as Director of Football.

Since launching in 2010, On has emerged as a challenger to one of the world’s leading sportswear brands by rethinking performance and applying Swiss engineering. Product concepts such as LightSpray™ and CloudTec® stand for athlete insight and distinctive design in the sportswear market.

Real Madrid striker and World Cup record goal scorerKylian Mbappé. Photo: Juergen Teller © ON

Thierry Henry nominated Director of Football. Photo On

With the announcement of the strategic move, the Swiss brand aims to bring a fresh perspective to soccer – “football” as per the terminology in the ROW (Rest Of World) – expressing that “the game is more beautiful when you can focus on the simple joy of play, enhanced through product innovation and meaningful connections with communities around the world.”

The appointment of the 27-year-old striker with Spain’s Real Madrid Football Club and World Cup record goal scorer as a global brand ambassador and partner for product development marks the Swiss sportswear manufacturer’s official entry into the global football market. On is now applying its product development success formula to soccer: working closely with a highly selective line-up of elite players to rethink products for the demands of the game while bringing a new energy to the culture that surrounds it. 

Shares in On Holding AG, listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ONON), immediately rose by 5.6 percent in pre-market trading. On’s strategic move can surely be seen as a direct challenge to the long-standing dominance of Nike Inc (NYSE: NKE) and Adidas AG (OTC: ADDYY).

Industry Events

The 2026 SPESA Executive Conference will take place October 28-30 at the Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas

Oct 28, 2026, 5:30 PM – Oct 30, 2026, 5:00 PM • Hotel Valencia Riverwalk, 150 E Houston St, San Antonio, TX 78205, USA
 
About the event
The annual SPESA Executive Conference is a key education and networking event for SPESA members, their customers, and anyone interested in learning more about the current issues, trends, and policies impacting the global sewn products industry.  
The jam-packed agenda will feature a combination of keynote speakers, panel discussions, and industry case studies to provide an opportunity for attendees to both learn and engage. While the speakers are experts in their fields, SPESA believes no one can have all the answers on their own. So, this conference aims to build communication among both speakers and attendees to work through their shared challenges together as an industry and community. For San Antonio, SPESA plans to include sessions on AI, trade, manufacturing technology, and doing business in Texas, among other important topics.
The 2026 SPESA Executive Conference will also include two (maybe three if they're feelin' fancy) evening networking receptions.
SPESA’s unofficial mandate… Show More