APEXFiz™ is the latest addition to SHIMA SEIKI’s proven SDS®?ONE APEX series design system lineup, but with an unprecedented twist. Whereas previous APEX?series design systems were offered as an all?in?one proprietary hard?ware/software package, for the first time in its nearly 40 years of design system development, SHIMA SEIKI has released its new APEXFiz™ as subscription?based design software that can be installed on customers’ individual com?puters. Maintaining proven functions that have made the APEX series so popular with fashion designers, with APEXFiz™ those strengths are now enhanced with the added versatility to adapt to different work styles and business environ?ments of the “new normal,” including teleworking and telecommuting. APEXFiz™ is furthermore available in 5 different product variations that can be selected according to the customer’s needs, from APEXFiz™ Design Jr. to APEXFiz™ Design Pro.

APEXFiz™ software supports the creative side of fashion from planning and design to colorway evaluation, real?istic fabric simulation and 3D virtual sampling. Otherwise known as “digital twins,” virtual samples are a digitized ver?sion of sample making that allows visual confirmation of garment designs without the need for knitting physical sam?ples. Virtual sampling on APEXFiz™ is also a communication tool that is not only an accurate representation of the product, but it also digitally bridges the gap between the studio and the factory. By sending data to the knit manufac?turer it can be converted to machine programming data, shortening lead times and allowing the production of items faithful to their design as originally intended by the designer. This accuracy allows virtual samples on APEXFiz™ to be used effectively as prototypes, replacing physical sampling and consequently reducing time, cost and material that are otherwise wasted. APEXFiz™ thereby helps to realize sustainability and digitally transform the fashion supply chain.

APEXFiz™ is supported by two other web services to enhance its user experience. “yarnbank™” is the world’s first online web service for searching and viewing the latest yarns, developed with cooperation from yarn companies from around the world. Registered users can download yarn data for free, for use in fabric simulation and virtual sampling on APEXFiz™, avoiding the need to scan yarn on their own.