Our Story
A Sustainable Revolution in Textiles
The seeds of SwatchEditor were sown in 2016 at a trade show, amidst vast swathes of physical swatches. We were struck by the immense potential waste in their production and the ephemeral nature of the exhibition itself.
This sparked a central question: In an age of virtual technology, do we still need physical swatches and excessive travel? Can we achieve the best of both worlds—an omnichannel approach that is both effective and sustainable?
This set us on a journey to bridge the intrinsic appeal of fabric with a digital solution, making the trading experience of print designs more sustainable, efficient, and immersive.
"Being a creative within the fashion industry has not always sat comfortably with me, but being able to create art within textiles is my dream"
Addressing the Need for Touch: The Phygital Experience
A common question we face is how we can possibly remove the physical element of buying textiles. Our answer is simple: we don't take away the physical element; we just make the process smarter and more efficient.
Centuries ago, print designers and artists traded original artwork on paper—buyers rarely handled the final fabric then either. Consumers have long been accustomed to purchasing goods via catalogues, from the Victorian era to modern online shopping. Digital interaction is a sophisticated evolution of these practices.
SwatchEditor leverages interactive textile technology to make up for the immediate lack of touch:
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Instant Interaction: Customers often ask what a fabric might look like in a different color, scale, or how it scrunches. SwatchEditor allows you to instantly manipulate digital fabric—changing colors, scaling patterns, and viewing realistic drape and movement on a 3D garment—all before a single physical sample is produced.
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Minimal Sampling: This technology doesn't mean you won't need to sample; it means your samples should be minimal, targeted, and highly validated.
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A New Sensory Input: Digital interaction utilises tacit knowledge and engagement in a new way. It provides visual and interactive data that you simply can’t get instantly with physical swatches alone, making decisions faster and reducing waste.
From Vision to Reality: Our Journey of Determination
It was the recent pandemic that truly catalyzed our development of a virtual app. Unable to meet clients and exhibit physically, we needed a smart solution to connect and trade without physical interaction.
With minimal funding and sheer determination, we bootstrapped SwatchEditor from an idea into a tangible product. We secured support from UK Innovate and collaborated with advanced coders to bring real-time, interactive virtual viewing to life.
In 2020, we engaged with our peers to understand their challenges, using their input to build our Minimum Viable Product (MVP). After testing it live on the RMJ Studio ecommerce site, SwatchEditor was officially born in March 2021.
Our Achievements So Far
We are proud of what we have accomplished through hardship and hard work:
Academic Collaboration
We have integrated SwatchEditor into university BA curriculums and collaborated on sustainability education initiatives, even taking on interns.
Industry Recognition
We have participated in panels and chats about the digitization of the textile industry, and our software has been featured in exhibitions and trade shows.
Technological Innovation
We are actively developing the VR potential of coded cloth and interacting with animated fabrics to stay at the forefront of digital progress.
Growing Community
We have a growing base of users, from independent designers to large manufacturers, all exploring the potential of digital swatching.
OUR VISION
Our vision is to be part of the digital transformation in fashion manufacturing, making the sharing, buying, and selling of print swatches more efficient and sustainable
OUR PLEDGE
We promise to continue researching and developing the digital transformation within the fashion manufacturing cycle for surface pattern designers
Roseanna & Hugh
Team swatcheditor™
Like you, we are technically curious and inspired by the urgent need for sustainable change in a rapidly advancing digital world. Let’s choose to trade more efficiently and sustainably. Together, we can help promote a greener, cleaner world! Our phygital journey doesn’t stop here—we are only just starting!