Up Close is Sourcing Journal’s regular check-in with industry executives to get their take on topics ranging from their company’s latest moves to personal style. In this Q&A, Cam Myers, founder and CEO of soft goods manufacturing technology company CreateMe, shares why fashion should lead the charge on reshoring and how his company is working to alter apparel manufacturing.
Name: Cam Myers
Title: Founder & CEO
Company: CreateMe
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Which other industry has the best handle on the supply chain? What can apparel learn?
The automotive industry has long excelled at managing complex, global supply chains thanks to digital tools and lean manufacturing principles that reduce waste and improve agility. Apparel can learn from this mindset by treating manufacturing not just as a cost exercise, but as a system to optimize for speed, efficiency and responsiveness to consumer demand.
What should be the apparel industry’s top priority right now?
This is a golden moment for the apparel industry to help lead a new era of American manufacturing, driven by technology, efficiency and resilient onshore supply chains. As the first major sector to offshore, apparel now has a unique opportunity—and responsibility—to be at the forefront of reshoring. This is now more possible than ever thanks to advances in robotics, physical artificial intelligence (AI), computer vision, material science and automation that are transforming how we make clothes.
Across industries, advanced manufacturing is projected to reach $535.5 billion by 2030. As a subset of that, apparel has the potential to build factories as sophisticated as those in automotive and electronics—operated by skilled technicians, capable of local, demand-driven production and able to dramatically reduce overproduction, waste and environmental impact while improving capital efficiency for brands.
Apparel has the chance to reemerge and lead the rebirth of American manufacturing—and now is the time to act.
What innovation or development holds the greatest potential to improve operations in the apparel and textile industries?
The apparel and textile industry has enormous potential to be completely redefined through AI and robotics. In the future, intelligent systems could handle soft, flexible fabrics with human-like dexterity, enabling faster, more precise and more localized production. This transformation could drastically reduce waste, shorten lead times and empower brands to better align supply with demand.
At the core of this potential are innovations including large language models (LLMs), vision-language action models (VLAs) and robotic foundation models, which are unlocking robotic systems capable of learning complex, nuanced tasks without traditional hard-coded programming.
At CreateMe, we’ve been preparing for this future since 2019, developing proprietary adhesive assembly techniques that mimic stitching while preserving the softness, stretch and drape of fabrics, which, when combined with foundational ML/CV software algorithms, help scale automated garment assembly.
As physical AI continues to advance, our technology is well-positioned to integrate with sophisticated robotics to move apparel manufacturing closer to the high-tech capabilities already seen in industries like automotive and electronics.
The next era of apparel manufacturing won’t just be automated; it will be intelligent, flexible and transformative for the entire industry.
Tell us about your company’s latest product introduction:
Recently, we partnered with The University of Warwick to announce our proprietary thermoreversible adhesives, which is a key innovation driving sustainability because it supports automated assembly to end-of-life disassembly of apparel at scale, enabling true circular fashion and recyclability.
Unlike traditional stitching, which requires manual de-stitching or permanent adhesives that prevent disassembly, this technology allows for easy separation of trims, zippers and fabric layers, critical for waste stream separation and efficient recycling.
Glued garments can be separated using water, heat or chemicals, moving away from conventional manual stitching removal or the use of permanent adhesives that hinder disassembly.
How would you describe your corporate culture?
We’re a team of builders and problem solvers who believe in first-principles thinking and challenging the status quo. Our culture blends curiosity, respect and humor, uniting divergent thinkers from apparel, robotics, electronics and large-scale manufacturing. Together, we find better, faster and more innovative ways to solve the industry’s toughest challenges.
What’s the best decision your company has made in the last year?
Investing in our proprietary thermoreversible adhesive platform was a pivotal decision. It’s not only a technical breakthrough but a step toward solving one of fashion’s biggest sustainability challenges: disassembling garments efficiently for recycling. It reinforces our mission to fundamentally change how clothes are made—and unmade—in a way that’s scalable and commercially viable.
Where do you look for personal style inspiration?
My style blends architectural minimalism with vintage Western flair. I gravitate toward clean lines and thoughtful design. I wear a lot of black—a habit that definitely rubbed off on me from living in New York—but living in the U.S. also sparked my love for vintage cowboy boots and Western belts. Most of all, my wife inspires me; she has incredible taste—and thrifting chops—and constantly proves that great style can be sustainable and affordable.
How do you shop for clothing? How would you describe yourself as a fashion consumer?
I’m a purposeful shopper rather than an impulse buyer. Day-to-day, I’m a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy, usually paired with a set of [Adidas] Sambas; it’s a simple uniform that works for most situations. I prefer fewer pieces that are high quality, well-constructed and versatile. I’m also increasingly looking for brands that align with my values around innovation and sustainability.
What are the top three product attributes that you factor into your purchasing decisions?
Quality: I want garments that last, both in construction and design.
Functionality: Comfort and performance matter, whether I’m working or traveling.
Sustainability: I’m committed to supporting brands innovating toward lower-impact manufacturing and circularity.
What is a retail experience that stands out to you?
I love one-stop-shop design store concepts. I’m not someone who loves shopping, but when I do, I enjoy places where I can grab a coffee, find what I need, maybe pick up a gift or two and then stay for a great lunch—all under one roof.
Merchants on Long in Cape Town is a standout for me—a stunning concept store showcasing African fashion and design from across the continent in a beautiful historic space. I also loved The Department Store in Auckland, curated by Karen Walker, which blended fashion, homeware and design into a single, cohesive experience. And I’m always inspired by British department stores like Harrods, which seamlessly integrate retail with incredible culinary experiences; they do that better than anyone.
What keeps you up at night?
Our industry’s inertia. Despite all the discussion about sustainability and innovation, there’s still massive resistance to change. We have the technology to produce apparel more responsibly and closer to home, but it takes courage from brands and manufacturers to move away from entrenched, volume-driven systems.
What makes you most optimistic?
The ingenuity and grit I see from engineers, scientists, designers and entrepreneurs who refuse to accept business as usual makes me optimistic. I’m fortunate to work alongside forward-thinking designers and supply chain innovators as our partners who are determined to change fashion, bringing new models to market and new kinds of apparel to customers. That collective drive gives me tremendous confidence in the future of our industry and in American manufacturing.
