Manifest Vegas | Cam Myers, CreateMe Technologies on Onshore Automation and AI-Powered Robotics
•February 17, 2026
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Why It Matters
The breakthrough cuts shipping windows from months to weeks, reshaping cost structures and giving retailers real‑time inventory agility, while accelerating domestic job growth in advanced manufacturing.
Key Takeaways
- •AI robotics overcome fabric handling challenges.
- •Adhesive bonding replaces thread for faster automation.
- •Enables 100‑unit production runs versus 5,000‑unit minimums.
- •Boosts U.S. onshoring and cuts 60‑day shipping delays.
Pulse Analysis
The apparel sector has long wrestled with the "soft material" problem—fabric’s unpredictable drape and elasticity make it difficult for conventional robots to grasp, cut, or sew with precision. Recent advances in computer vision and reinforcement learning now allow machines to model these unstable physics in real time, turning what was once a manual art into a repeatable process. CreateMe’s AI stack leverages large‑scale data from thousands of garment trials, enabling robots to adjust grip force and motion pathways on the fly, a capability that could unlock billions in untapped automation potential across fashion, home textiles, and medical fabrics.
Beyond perception, the company’s decision to abandon thread in favor of industrial adhesives represents a strategic redesign of the garment assembly line. Adhesives cure in seconds, eliminate the need for needle‑based stitching equipment, and reduce waste associated with thread inventory. This shift not only accelerates cycle times but also simplifies supply chain logistics, as factories can switch between fabric types without retooling. For brands, the cost per unit drops dramatically when production scales to 100‑piece runs, making limited‑edition drops and rapid trend responses financially viable.
The broader economic impact lies in the acceleration of onshoring. As U.S. manufacturing labor pools expand quarterly, AI‑powered robotics provide the productivity boost needed to compete with low‑cost offshore operations. Retailers can now align production closely with real‑time demand signals, slashing the traditional 60‑day overseas transit lag. This quick‑response manufacturing model improves sell‑through rates, reduces markdowns, and supports a more sustainable, circular supply chain. Looking ahead, the convergence of AI, adhesive technology, and domestic labor growth positions the United States to become a hub for high‑mix, low‑volume apparel manufacturing, reshaping global trade dynamics.
Original Description
Cam Myers is the Founder and CEO of CreateMe Technologies, an AI and robotics company tackling the "pinnacle problem" of automation: soft materials. With a deep background in software and e-commerce, Cam is utilizing a technology-first approach to solve systemic supply chain issues like liquidation waste and the 60-day transit lag from overseas manufacturing.
BizClik attended Manifest Vegas in Las Vegas to speak with Cam Myers on Onshore Automation and AI-Powered Robotics. The conversation explores how CreateMe Technologies is disrupting the apparel industry by automating the handling of soft materials—items with unstable physics that have historically defied robotic precision. By integrating AI with a specialized robotics stack, CreateMe is facilitating a massive shift toward "Quick Response Manufacturing" that brings production closer to the end consumer.
A core pillar of this strategy is a first-principles rethink of garment assembly. Rather than relying on traditional thread, CreateMe uses advanced adhesives, which are significantly more conducive to high-speed automation. This shift doesn't just change how clothes are made; it changes the entire financial model of the supply chain, allowing brands to move away from the massive 5,000-unit minimums required in Asia toward agile, 100-unit lot sizes.
Cam highlights that the manufacturing labor base in America is already seeing a quarterly increase, signaling that the "locomotive" of onshoring is finally gaining speed. By tightly coupling supply with real-time demand, retailers can drastically increase sell-through and eliminate the reliance on 60-day shipping windows. These long-run trends represent a fundamental evolution in how technology and labor intersect in the modern supply chain.
Key Takeaways
• The Soft Material Barrier: Why AI is the essential component for managing the unstable physics of fabrics in a robotic environment.
• Adhesive-Based Assembly: How replacing thread with adhesives serves as a more efficient, automation-friendly foundation for manufacturing.
• Small Lot Revolution: Shifting from 5,000-unit minimums to 100-unit runs, enabling hyper-responsive inventory management.
• The Onshoring Locomotive: Why the recent increase in U.S. manufacturing labor is part of a long-term, accelerating trend in the global supply chain.
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