SHIMA SEIKI Joins CLO’s Ecosystem Partnership Program to Build a Digital to Physical Knitwear Pipeline

CLO Virtual Fashion and SHIMA SEIKI have formally entered the CLO Ecosystem Partnership Program (EPP). The agreement connects CLO’s 3D garment design software directly with SHIMA SEIKI’s APEXFiz design platform. The partnership, announced March 17, 2026, targets knitwear designers and production teams. They are looking to move from digital concept to physical output without manual file conversion steps.

What brought these two together

CLO Virtual Fashion has spent over two decades building what it describes as the industry standard digital garment workflow. This workflow is used by designers, small businesses, and major fashion brands. SHIMA SEIKI is headquartered in Wakayama, Japan, and is the leading manufacturer of computerized flatbed knitting machines. It holds over 2,900 patents related to its WHOLEGARMENT technology. The EPP program has grown steadily over time. Additionally, SHIMA SEIKI’s entry marks one of its most significant additions to date for the knitwear segment.

“We are thrilled to welcome SHIMA SEIKI to the CLO Ecosystem Partnership Program… Over the past year, we’ve built a strong network of EPP partners, and the collaboration with SHIMA SEIKI marks a significant milestone, especially for expanding digital knitwear workflows. Together, we’re shaping the future of digital-to-physical garment innovation,” said Simon Kim, CEO at CLO Virtual Fashion.

The workflow problem this solves

Previously, moving a knit design from CLO into SHIMA SEIKI’s APEXFiz required manually uploading five to six separate image layers and adjusting settings. This was a process that could take many hours. The new CLO-APEXFiz plugin reduces that to a single click. Therefore, all relevant materials can transfer between the two platforms instantly.

What the plugin covers

APEXFiz supports original pattern creation, colorway development, and simulation for knit, weave, print, and embroidery. Combined with CLO’s garment environment, the integration is aimed at e-commerce visualization, production ready knitwear development, and high quality animated output.

Timeline and access

The APEXFiz Integration Plugin is scheduled for April 2026. It is supported by the SHIMA SEIKI V-09C update from March and the CLO 2026.0 enterprise release in April. No pricing details were confirmed in the official announcement.

For knitwear brands and designers, the CLO-SHIMA SEIKI pipeline removes one of the more persistent friction points between digital sampling and physical production, a gap the industry has been working to close as demand for virtual sampling and on demand manufacturing continues to grow.

“We are delighted to embark on this partnership with CLO… CLO’s leadership in digital workflow solutions aligns perfectly with our vision to innovate across digital-to-physical experiences. By combining the strengths of both organizations, we look forward to delivering new value to our customers and accelerating the next generation of digital transformation,” said SHIMA SEIKI president Mitsuhiro Shima.