Finding clothes online that fit well or making bespoke garments is now easier with intelligent 3D human-modelling technology developed by Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU).
Developed by Dr Tracy Mok, associate professor from the Institute of Textiles and Clothing at PolyU, and Dr Zhu Shuaiyin, PhD graduate of the same institute, it digitally reconstructs the shape and size of a person from two full-body photographs within five to 10 seconds using integrated computer graphic and vision technology.
In reconstructing the 3D shape, the system can extract more than 50 measurements such as the girth of bust, waist, hip, thigh, knee, calf and neck, as well as arm length and shoulder slope.
It is available as a mobile app from Apple or Google that covers all steps from taking a photo to model customisation and size extraction via “big data analytics” where a large dataset with more than 10,000 human scan models are used to analyse 3D shapes and predict body profiles.
The digital reconstruction of human subjects can provide competitive advantages for the fashion industry, says Dr Mok. “With an accurate projection of the size and shape of the human body, these customised models will enhance the online shopping experience and stimulate growth in buying fashion online.”
Customers will also be able to visualise how an item of clothing will look on them before deciding to buy. “This frees us from the limitations imposed by needing to take body measurements physically,” says Dr Zhu.
With support from Shanghai Technology Entrepreneurship Foundation-PolyU China Entrepreneurship Fund, Dr Zhu has a start-up, Tozi, in Shenzhen to commercialise and further develop the 3D human-modelling technology, echoing PolyU’s commitment to foster culture that boosts entrepreneurship and inspires entrepreneurs.
Tozi has collaborated with “Industry 4.0” factories to launch a customer-to-manufacturer (C2M) service that enables customers to order tailormade clothing within just three minutes anywhere, anytime. By a few clicks on smartphones, customers can measure their own shape and size to order tailored shirts, with a range of fabrics, collars, pockets, cuffs and front plackets as options.
