CLO Weaves Digital Future in China's Manufacturing Heart

DONGGUAN, China – December 19, 2025 – CLO Virtual Fashion, a global leader in 3D garment simulation, has officially launched a new office in Dongguan, China, marking a significant move to embed its advanced digital technologies directly within one of the world's most critical apparel manufacturing hubs. The expansion is coupled with the strategic integration of swatchbook, a digital materials platform acquired by the company in July, signaling a concerted effort to revolutionize the fashion supply chain from the ground up.

The new office, CLO's 16th globally, is more than a geographical expansion; it represents a deliberate strategy to bridge the gap between digital design and physical production. By establishing a presence in the heart of the Greater Bay Area's manufacturing ecosystem, CLO aims to accelerate the adoption of 3D design, virtual prototyping, and digital material management among the vast network of suppliers and manufacturers that form the backbone of the global fashion industry.

A Digital Bridge in the Greater Bay Area

Dongguan's role as a powerhouse for apparel production provides an unparalleled real-world laboratory for CLO's suite of digital tools. The region's comprehensive supply chain network offers extensive application scenarios for 3D technology, creating a fertile ground for innovation and digital transformation. This move allows the company to work directly with manufacturers to streamline workflows, enhance efficiency, and foster a more agile production environment.

The company's software, including its flagship CLO and Marvelous Designer, is already a staple for major international brands like Hugo Boss, H&M, and Nike. This new office will serve as a vital link, connecting these global design teams with their production partners in China through a unified digital language. This direct-to-manufacturer approach promises to shorten development cycles and improve collaboration across continents.

"Dongguan is not only a cornerstone of apparel manufacturing in China but also an indispensable innovation hub within the global supply chain," said Simon Kim, CEO of CLO Virtual Fashion, in a statement. "Extending an office here reflects CLO's long-term commitment to the Chinese market and our resolve to build a sustainable cooperative ecosystem through localized operations."

The Power of the Digital Swatch

Central to the Dongguan strategy is the integration of swatchbook, a California-based digital materials solution provider acquired by CLO Virtual Fashion on July 1, 2025. The acquisition solidified CLO's position as the world's largest digital fabric database company, combining its advanced simulation software with swatchbook's vast library and intelligent management tools.

The Dongguan office will spearhead the rollout of the "swatchbook by CLO Material Digitization Service (MDS)". This service is designed to create hyper-realistic digital twins of physical fabrics and trims sourced directly from local suppliers. By digitizing materials at the source, designers globally can access accurate, high-fidelity virtual fabrics for their 3D creations. This process drastically reduces the industry's reliance on shipping physical sample swatches around the world—a practice that is both costly and environmentally taxing.

The benefits are twofold. First, it accelerates the design process, allowing brands to visualize and iterate on collections in days instead of weeks. Second, it drives sustainability by minimizing the waste associated with physical prototyping and material sampling. For an industry under increasing pressure to reduce its environmental footprint, this shift towards a digital-first workflow is a critical evolution.

Reshaping the Global Supply Chain

CLO's expansion into Dongguan places it in direct competition with other major players in the 3D fashion technology space, such as Browzwear and Optitex, which also have a presence in the Asian market. However, the deep integration of a massive material library via swatchbook provides CLO with a distinct competitive advantage. The company is no longer just selling software; it is offering an end-to-end ecosystem that connects material sourcing, 3D design, and production readiness.

This integrated approach addresses a key pain point in the industry: the disconnect between digital design tools and the physical realities of manufacturing. By embedding its technology and material digitization services within the manufacturing hub itself, CLO is creating a more cohesive and responsive supply chain. This move is poised to empower local manufacturers, enabling them to offer more advanced, tech-driven services to their international clients and move up the value chain.

"CLO is dedicated to merging global resources with local insights to empower each regional market in its digital transformation," Kim further emphasized. "Our China offices will not only be a pivotal support point for serving our global user base but also a springboard for co-innovation with Chinese enterprises, designers, and academic institutions, helping them advance onto the international stage."

Fostering a New Era of Smart Manufacturing

The establishment of the Dongguan office aligns with China's broader ambitions for industrial upgrading and the development of the Greater Bay Area as a global hub for technology and innovation. By providing local enterprises with tailored technical support and advisory services, CLO is actively participating in the shift from traditional manufacturing to smart, digitized production.

This initiative is expected to cultivate a new set of skills within the local workforce, focusing on 3D design, digital pattern making, and virtual material management. As brands increasingly demand digital proficiency from their supply chain partners, this upskilling will be crucial for the long-term competitiveness of the region's manufacturers. The collaboration with local academic institutions mentioned by the company's CEO points to a long-term vision for building a sustainable talent pipeline.

With its latest funding round secured in late 2024 and an estimated annual revenue of $35 million as of mid-2025, CLO Virtual Fashion is well-capitalized to execute this ambitious global strategy. The Dongguan office is a key component of this plan, acting as both a service center for its vast user base and an innovation lab for the future of fashion. As the company continues to embed its forward-thinking digital solutions within local industrial landscapes, it reinforces its central role in steering the global fashion industry toward a more efficient, sustainable, and interconnected future.