[Sanddancer]

This seems pretty much an obvious area for automation, seeing as how repetitive sewing can get...and that automation in the clothing/textile industry was the birthplace of one of the first disruptive technologies. Thousands of people lost their jobs, thousands of people gained jobs as clothing could now be made faster and easier than before. This just continues a trend that's been going on for centuries.

[dalke]

As perhaps the most relevant predecessor, look at the effect the cotton mills of Lancashire had on textile production in India.