Smartex Harnesses AI to Minimize Textile Supply Chain Waste

By Matt High
May 28, 2025

In a new step to cut waste in textiles, Smartex uses advanced AI. The company built tools that inspect fabric using fast cameras and clear software. The machine finds flaws in cloth. Big backers like Amazon and H&M help this work.

The Roots of Smartex’s Innovation

Co-founder Gilberto Loureiro once worked as a fabric inspector in a Portuguese mill. His time in the factory felt both good and bad. He saw slow, manual checks drag the work down. When he finished his master’s degree in physics, he helped start Smartex. The team uses AI and high-speed cameras to spot defects. The machine work cuts waste and ends error-filled manual checks.

"I really love the textile field and solving problems, but I hate the old way of doing inspections. It is one of the toughest jobs out there," Gilberto said. His words drive the change in the industry.

Addressing Global Fashion Waste

The textile field wastes large amounts of cloth. Studies report that a truckload of clothes is thrown away every second. Smartex puts its tool into early production stages. The system spots small flaws that add up to big waste. One report said Inditex processed 678,596 tonnes of fabric in 2024. At this scale, a small saving makes a big dent. In three years, Smartex saved more than one million kilograms of fabric from waste. The work cuts costs and eases transport needs.

Investment and Industry Evolution

The textile field has been slow to adopt new tech. Gilberto sees this gap as a chance to change the old ways. He says the field is huge and harms the earth. Many investors notice this gap. In 2022, Tony Fadell led a $24.7 million funding round with Lightspeed Venture Partners. H&M Group also backed Smartex with funds that fit its goal of less waste. A representative said the tool helps industries cut waste and work smarter. Smartex also gets support from Amazon Web Services via the Compute for Climate Fellowship program. AWS supplies the computer work and tech support Smartex needs.

Demonstrating Value in Competitive Markets

Smartex aims to show fast gains for textile factories in busy hubs like Bangladesh and Vietnam. In these areas, owners judge ideas in just 30 seconds. If a factory leader does not see a gain within a year, the plan stops. The tool cuts power use and yarn waste while reducing scrap. Gilberto sees a future where Smartex ties machines to brands. The system sends real-time data from production floors. It helps trace raw cloth, clear production steps, and even check water use. These facts help many brands gain the clear picture they need.

With its use of AI and care for our world, Smartex now drives change in the textile field. The work cuts waste and may bring better ways to work in fashion.