This paper thoroughly reviews the current state of digital simulation technology and its strategic
implementation across applications, primarily focusing on advanced compression garments. Despite the
significant impact of three-dimensional digital garment simulators (3DGS) on the apparel and textile
industry, their usage has largely been confined to visual prototyping, visual quality check, or marketing
tools. Notably, these simulators’ physical or mechanical representation has been understated in the
context of advanced functional manufacturing. This review delves into the potential strategic integration
of virtual physical properties to augment garment functionalities, particularly within wearables and
medical-grade compression fields. The initial phase of this study provides a comprehensive overview
of the status of 3D garment simulation tools and their digitisation capabilities. Subsequently, a gap
analysis focuses on minimising disparities between simulated and actual physical property assessments.
Despite the absence of reliability and standardised testing within a virtual environment, this paper
focuses on the relevant literature to gain crucial insights for apparel and textile engineers, providing
a nuanced understanding of the capabilities and limitations of 3DGS mechanical representation in
enhancing advanced functionalities, specifically customised for diverse end-users.