CUTTING METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR APPAREL AND FOOTWEAR MANUFACTURING

The present invention relates to cutting methods and systems for manufacturing of apparel and footwear. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a piece of apparel, in particular a shoe, comprising cutting at least one patch from a panel or roll of source material with a cutting means, receiving the at least one cut patch by an automated gripping means after cutting, wherein the cutting means and the automated gripping means are arranged on opposite sides of the panel or roll of source material during cutting and translating the at least one cut patch with the automated gripping means to a target location after cutting. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a system for manufacturing a piece of apparel, preferably a shoe, comprising cutting means adapted to cut at least one patch from a panel or roll of source material, automated gripping means adapted to receive the at least one cut patch after cutting, wherein the cutting means and the automated gripping means are adapted to be arranged on opposite sides of the panel or roll of source material during cutting and wherein the automated gripping means is adapted to translate the at least one cut patch to a target location after cutting.