Systems, methods and software for manufacturing an article of apparel

Abstract

Apparel patterns may be generated as a function of custom apparel information provided by a user, such as one or more measurements, colors, etc., such that the user can have apparel custom-knitted to their particular size and shape without having to acquiesce the high expense and long wait times typically associated with custom-fit clothing. After a custom apparel pattern is generated, a custom-knitted article can be manufactured based on the pattern by transmitting appropriate information to a knitting machine. Data produced while generating custom apparel patterns can be stored and used to optimize and improve the manufacturing of customized knitwear for subsequent users. Further, such data can be shared with third parties such that manufacturers or others can utilize one or more beneficial aspects of the present disclosure without having to implement all of the functionality that would otherwise be required to obtain such benefits.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An apparel apparatus for facilitating production of apparel, the apparel apparatus comprising:
 a communication interface for communicating with a user interface and a plurality of apparel production machines, the communication interface configured to receive user apparel information from the user interface and to receive apparel production information of the plurality of apparel production machines; and   a processing device configured to select an apparel production machine or machines from the plurality of apparel production machines based at least in part on the received user apparel information and the apparel production information, the processing device further configured to cause the selected apparel production machine or machines to produce an article of apparel.   
     
     
         3 . The apparel apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the apparel production information includes machine production configuration capabilities of the plurality of apparel production machines. 
     
     
         4 . The apparel apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the apparel production information includes machine production schedule availabilities of the plurality of apparel production machines. 
     
     
         5 . The apparel apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the apparel production information includes material availability information of the plurality of apparel production machines. 
     
     
         6 . The apparel apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the processing device effects a new material order for at least one of the plurality of apparel production machines based at least in part on the received material availability information. 
     
     
         7 . The apparel apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the apparel production information includes at least one of location, operating costs, and operating efficiencies of the plurality of apparel production machines. 
     
     
         8 . The apparel apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the communication interface is configured to send reconfiguration instructions to the selected apparel production machine prior to causing the selected apparel production machine to produce the article of apparel. 
     
     
         9 . The apparel apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of apparel production machines comprises a plurality of knitting machines. 
     
     
         10 . The apparel apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of apparel production machines comprises a plurality of cut and sew machines. 
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing an article of apparel, the method comprising:
 receiving user apparel information from a user interface at an apparel apparatus, the apparel apparatus being interfaced with a plurality of apparel production machines;   receiving machine capability information of the plurality of apparel production machines;   selecting an apparel production machine or machines from the plurality of apparel production machines based at least in part on the user apparel information and the machine capability information; and   transmitting apparel production instructions to the selected apparel production machine or machines to cause the apparel production machine or machines to make the article of apparel.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the machine capability information includes information representing shaping capabilities of the plurality of apparel production machines. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising receiving additional information relating to the apparel production machines selected from a group consisting of apparel production machine availability information, apparel production machine location information, material availability information, cost information, shipping information, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising selecting the apparel production machine or machines from the plurality of apparel production machines based at least in part on the additional information. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising determining a total cost of the article of apparel based at least in part on the additional information. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising selecting the apparel production machine or machines from the plurality of apparel production machines based at least in part on the total cost of the article of apparel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising determining a delivery date of the article of apparel based at least in part on the additional information. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising selecting the apparel production machine or machines from the plurality of apparel production machines based at least in part on the delivery date of the article of apparel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 receiving material availability information from the plurality of apparel production machines; and 
 determining and transmitting a new material order for at least one of the plurality of apparel production machines based at least in part on the material availability information. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 receiving historical material usage information from the plurality of apparel production machines; and 
 transmitting a new material order for at least one of the plurality of apparel production machines based at least in part on the historical material usage information. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 determining a cost of the article of apparel when manufactured by a first apparel production machine of the plurality of apparel production machines; 
 determining a cost of the article of apparel when manufactured by a second apparel production machine of the plurality of apparel production machines; and 
 determining which of the first apparel production machine and the second apparel production machine has the lower cost of the article of apparel, 
 wherein transmitting apparel production instructions to the selected apparel production machines comprises transmitting the apparel production instructions to the one of the first apparel production machine and the second apparel production machine that is determined to have the lower cost. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the cost of the article of apparel when manufactured by the first apparel production machine and the cost of the article of apparel when manufactured by the second apparel production machine comprises a manufacturing cost and a shipping cost. 
     
     
         23 . A method of generating a custom apparel pattern, the method comprising:
 receiving first custom apparel information from a user interface;   generating first apparel information as a function of the first custom apparel information;   generating a first custom apparel pattern as a function of the first custom apparel information and the first apparel information;   storing the first custom apparel pattern in a custom apparel pattern database; and   transmitting one or more of the first custom apparel pattern, information associated with the first custom apparel pattern, and information derived from the first custom apparel pattern to an apparel production machine or machines to cause the apparel production machine or machines to make an article of clothing.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising:
 selecting the apparel production machine or machines from a plurality of apparel production machines based at least in part on one or more of the first custom apparel pattern, information associated with the first custom apparel pattern, and information derived from the first custom apparel pattern. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising:
 receiving second custom apparel information from a user interface; 
 generating second apparel information as a function of the second custom apparel information; 
 generating a second custom apparel pattern as a function of the second custom apparel information, the second apparel information, and at least a portion of the custom apparel pattern database; and 
 storing the second custom apparel pattern in the custom apparel pattern database. 
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising:
 generating a first initial apparel pattern as a function of the first custom apparel information; and 
 storing the first initial apparel pattern in an initial apparel pattern database, 
 wherein generating the first custom apparel pattern includes generating the first custom apparel pattern as a function of the first initial apparel pattern.