Shimmy Upskill trains apparel supply chain workers for the future of work.

Shimmy Technologies [shimmy.io] is preparing the apparel industry for an inclusive future of work, by developing data management and workforce development tools.

We estimate that U.S. Apparel brands waste $16B per year (4.6% CAGR) in wages spent on redundant work, SKU proliferation, and lost opportunities for incremental revenue from personalized and custom clothing. Why? Because every apparel design is tied to an archaic, inflexible system and a largely untrained workforce unable to operate new design and manufacturing floor technologies. Current workforce trainings are not interactive or multi-lingual nor are they scalable or designed to incent supply chain workers to become the lifelong learners they need to be to stay relevant.

Time is of the essence. The breakneck turnaround times needed to fulfill trend-based shopping are outpacing the current system. Brands and manufacturers seek solutions to help them deliver product quickly – be it by exploring reshored manufacturing closer to consumers and/or co-investing in more automated production equipment. McKinsey predicts simple clothing assembly to be fully automated by 2025. 65 Million garment workers are in danger of losing their jobs during this shift.

Shimmy’s B2B SaaS offering helps factory owners upskill workers with video game technology and a reciprocal apprenticing AI that learns alongside workers. Playing and training via Shimmy Upskill helps workers be more efficient in their current jobs and helps them move into the higher paid, more secure positions of tomorrow. As automation lessens line jobs over the next decade, workers can operate robots, participate in new digital initiatives like digital QA and digital product creation, and become a flexible workforce that can be reallocated to other growing industries in their communities.

We have expertise in digital transformation, manufacturing and supply chain, CAD/CAM, Edtech, and Made in USA initiatives garnered from roles at Autodesk, Deutsche Bank, Urban Manufacturing Alliance, Rice University and notable fashion and home goods brands. Our US and Asian partners are well-positioned to help us go to market post pilot stage.

We seek investment and mentorship from the Walton Family Foundation for further piloting of Shimmy Upskill in Walmart’s Bangladeshi and US apparel supply chain partner facilities.

workforce development,apparelsupplychain,digitaltransformation,