The Internet of Things (IoT), which is a network of physical objects like devices, vehicles, buildings and the like, embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity, connected through the internet, is increasingly making its way into the manufacturing industries of Japan, including textiles.

IoT is already being used in a wide variety of sectors, including services industry and transportation infrastructure, in the United States and Europe. Japan has started moving in a similar direction. Textile manufacturer Seiren Co is one such comany, which has installed virtual changing rooms in department stores, particularly in Tokyo.

The company has adopted innovative digital dyeing technology Viscotecs to create such virtual changing rooms, through which shoppers can simulate wearing clothes of different sizes and patterns in front a large screen that is connected to a tablet computer. Seiren plants take orders via the Internet and start making the clothes to order. Shoppers receive the products about three weeks later.

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According to a Seiren official, creating such virtual rooms helps the company reduce inventory losses that eventually leads to reduction in costs.

IoT has recently garnered a lot of attention in many industries and countries. For instance, Germany has termed the application of IoT in manufacturing industries as Industrie 4.0, indicating that this is the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The governments are making earnest efforts to catch up with the latest trend –IoT. In this regard, the IoT Acceleration Consortium was founded to promote technological development and trials through governmental, industrial and academic collaboration in October 2015.

Meanwhile, US research firm Gartner Inc, in a study, has predicted that IoT will generate sales gains, cost cuts and other economic benefits valued at $1.9 trillion in 2020.