AMSTERDAM – Byborre is amongst eight winners of this year’s Dutch Design Awards for its new Create platform – a digital tool which enables users to create 3D-knitted fabrics.

Hailed as a “gamechanger” by judges, the technology has been labelled the Adobe Photoshop of textile design.  

The Amsterdam-based innovator has developed the platform in collaboration with material suppliers and textiles manufacturers to ensure its functionality complements the operations of industry stakeholders.

The design tool factors in aspects such as colour, patterns and textures to create a realistic rendering of how a garment would look if produced, and is said to understand the requirements of circular knitting machines so that no additional complexities present themselves within the supply chain. 

Speaking with Dezeen, Byborre founder Borre Akkersdijk, said: “I've developed textiles for over 15 years, but I never know how colour will come out of the machine until I see it, because you cannot process the blending of six different colours in your head.

“Byborre Create lets you know what is going to come out. We want to see less and less materials used in the wrong way or on the wrong machines.”

Apparel design technologies have greatly advanced over recent years, to the point where companies can be sure that the designs they pass for production will be exactly as expected. This attention to detail also yields waste savings, as the volume of offcuts or surplus fabrics used is minimised.

“Byborre Create makes clear that an intrinsic problem in textile production can be solved, while at the same time paving the way for greater innovation,” said judges.