[Retric]

Bonding agents are not the problem. The issue is working with cloth as it becomes a complex 3d shape. Picture adding pockets to a pant leg such that everything lines up to within 1cm. Now build it cheap enough to compete with someone making 250$ / month and working 80 hour weeks.

PS: Often a machine will cut the right shape and do the first seam, but after that it gets complex.

[Animats]

Patch pocket sewing has been automated for years.[1] For standard products like jeans, most of the operations are performed on an assembly line with special purpose machines. Direct labor content of the pair of jeans shown is 12 minutes and 15 seconds.[2] Even at $20/hr, that's only $4. Most of the human labor is putting parts into machines and taking them out.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaOtX1btpUM [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DzEpOp2Jy8

[Retric]

External Patch pockets are fairly simply, I am talking about the internal khaki pants pocket style.