Good fits are a challenge for the apparel industry, as shown not only by the returns statistics of online retailers. Expansion into foreign markets has always been just as challenging because body dimensions are not the same in all regions of the world. Just 20 years ago, it would have been unthinkable to want to measure people worldwide in order to finally be able to develop better-fitting collections based on real body data. But the U.S. company Alvanon has taken on the mammoth task and has now scanned hundreds of thousands of people.
Important result: our basic assumptions about real body measurements are often incorrect. Equally important: the digital body data provides a solid foundation for 3D product development, the creation of digital garment libraries and digital workflows throughout the supply chain. This is where the future of the apparel industry lies, believes Jason Wang, COO of Alvanon and member of the founding family. He is considered one of the world’s leading experts in body shape analysis and 3D avatar creation. We spoke with him about his insights and the future of product development.