Ribbing is back on the runway. And it’s showing up in an unexpected place: the cuff, the collar, the hem. Spring/Summer 2027 knitwear leans hard into edge detailing. That shift puts pressure on the cutting room, not just the design studio.
What is a collarette trim and why is it trending in 2027? A collarette trim is a ribbed knit band. It’s cut from tubular fabric and sewn onto a cuff, collar, or hem for stretch and structure. It’s trending in 2027 because designers favor edge detailing over heavy, all-over patterns. Ribbing delivers texture exactly where it needs to sit.
Why are ribbed cuffs and collars trending in 2027?
A return to craftsmanship
Fashion forecasters call this season a return to craftsmanship. Trend analysts at POP Fashion describe Spring/Summer 2027 knitwear as centered on detailed stitching. That stitching concentrates at the edges of a garment, not across the whole piece. Cuffs, hems, and necklines get the attention, while the body of the garment stays simple.
Why manufacturers should pay attention
This shift matters for manufacturers. A ribbed cuff or collar does real structural work. It holds a sleeve or neckline in place, without a zipper, button, or drawstring. So when a trend calls for that detail on nearly every piece, cutting rooms need a fast, consistent way to produce it.
Trend forecasting platform Trendalytics also points to a broader move toward relaxed silhouettes and natural texture. This spans Spring 2027 runways, from Milan to Copenhagen to Tokyo. Ribbing fits neatly into that story. It’s tactile, and it reads as considered rather than mass-produced. It also works across nearly every knitwear category, from athleisure to elevated basics.
What machine makes collarette trims?
How the cutting process works
A collarette cutting machine converts tubular knit fabric into ribbed bands. These bands get sewn onto a cuff, collar, or waistband. First, the tube feeds onto a rotating turntable. Then a blade slices continuous, uniform bands as the table turns. Band width is set before the fabric touches the blade. As a result, every strip comes off at the same measurement, cut after cut.
Semi-automatic vs. fully automatic
Two broad categories exist. Semi-automatic machines need an operator to load the fabric and start the cycle, then step back while the machine cuts. Fully automatic machines add more: PLC-driven speed synchronization, auto-stop sensors, and higher throughput. This suits manufacturers running long production runs of the same trim.
Both approaches produce the same result: a clean, ribbed band with a consistent width. However, they differ in speed, automation, and how many bands a single pass can cut. That’s exactly what separates Svegea’s EC-series models from each other.
How do I choose between the EC300, EC200C, EC200CS and EC50?
Svegea builds four collarette cutting machines. Together, they cover everything from small-batch production to high-speed, high-volume cutting. The table below breaks down what each one handles.
| Model | Automation | Bands per pass | Band width | Max speed | Best for | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EC 50 | Semi-automatic | 2–3 (4 with extra knife unit) | 16–140 mm | Up to 30 m/min | Small to mid-size production, hands-on operation | svegea.se/product/ec-50-semi-automatic/ |
| EC 200C | Fully automatic | 3 (4 with extra knife unit) | 16–170 mm | Up to 40 m/min | Mid-volume runs needing zero-waste, hands-off cutting | svegea.se/product/euro-collarette-200c/ |
| EC 200CS | Fully automatic | 4 (5 with extra knife unit) | 16–260 mm | Up to 60 m/min | Wider bands at high speed, PLC-synced production | svegea.se/product/euro-collarette-200cs/ |
| EC 300 | Fully automatic | 4 (5 with extra knife unit) | 16–170 mm | Up to 60 m/min | High-volume runs needing both scissor and crush cutting | svegea.se/product/euro-collarette-300/ |
Matching a machine to your production
On the EC50, operators cut up to three bands at once. A fourth band is possible with an added knife unit. It’s a solid starting point for manufacturers who don’t yet need full automation. Meanwhile, the EC200C is built for zero-waste, fully automatic cutting once a job is set up. That makes it a natural step up for mid-volume runs of a single trim width.
The EC200CS handles wider bands, up to 260 mm, without needing a second machine. So it suits collections that mix narrow cuffs with wider waistbands in the same run. On the EC300, manufacturers get both scissor and crush cutting. This gives more control over edge finish, especially when a collection spans different fabric weights.
Weighing speed against cost
Speed is capped at 30 m/min on the EC50, since an operator manually manages the load and finish. By contrast, the three fully automatic models run two to four times faster. Their fabric feed, cutting speed, and stop points sync automatically. If your 2027 lineup leans on one or two standard rib widths at moderate volume, the EC200C is the more economical fit. However, if widths vary across styles, or volume is climbing fast, the EC200CS or EC300 earn back their higher price point in throughput.
Ready for the ribbing comeback
Ribbing isn’t a passing microtrend. It’s shaping up to be one of the defining details of 2027 knitwear. Manufacturers who can produce consistent, high-quality collarette trims at scale will keep up with buyer demand. Every EC-series machine is engineered in Sweden, with cutting components made from high-grade steel. So the choice mostly comes down to volume and bandwidth, not build quality.
See the full lineup and specs in the Collarette Range Family brochure. For a side-by-side look at every semi-automatic and fully automatic model, visit svegea.se/collarette-cutting-machines/.
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FAQ
What is a collarette trim?
A collarette trim is a ribbed knit band. It’s cut from tubular fabric and used on cuffs, collars, and hems for stretch and structural finishing.
Why is ribbing trending in fashion for 2027?
Spring/Summer 2027 knitwear favors detailed stitching at the edges, not all-over patterns. Ribbed cuffs, collars, and hems fit that trend directly.
What’s the difference between a semi-automatic and fully automatic collarette machine?
A semi-automatic machine, like the EC50, needs an operator to load fabric and start each cycle. Fully automatic models, like the EC200C, EC200CS, and EC300, add PLC-driven speed sync and auto-stop sensors for continuous, hands-off cutting.
Which EC-series machine cuts the widest bands?
The EC200CS cuts bands up to 260 mm wide, the widest range in the current EC lineup.
Do I need a fully automatic machine for small production runs?
Not necessarily. The EC50 handles small to mid-size runs well, and it costs less to start with. Fully automatic models pay off once volume or band-width variety increases.
