The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.
Name: Fitted Fashion
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Quick Pitch: 3D scanners and pattern-making software are used to create perfect-fitting jeans and other clothing.
Genius Idea: As almost any woman will tell you, the single most challenging item of clothing to shop for is jeans. According to a ShopSmart poll published in June 2010, more than 56% of women say they have trouble finding well-fitting and flattering jeans, with 8% seeking professional guidance to locate a pair.
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Fitted Fashion, a recent graduate of startup incubator Betaspring, is one of several startups aiming to address that problem. The company is currently testing 3D body scanners alongside its own pattern-making software to develop custom jeans and suits, among other items.
The scans, says cofounder and recent Harvard Business School graduate Jamal Motlagh, helps Fitted Fashion derive a precise set of individual body measurements that he and his team can then use to make perfectly fitted clothing.
"Self or tailor-made measurements tend to have a lot of errors," Motalgh notes. "It's hard to measure your own inseam. And even if you went to five different tailors you would get five different sets of measurements."
The body scanners, which were built by a company called [TC]², allow Fitted Fashion to obtain a more accurate and a broader set of measurements, Motalgh contends. He and his team aren't just incorporating traditional hip and inseam measurements into their clothing; they're also taking into account the length and circumference of every part of the body. Design is also taken into account. Pockets of jeans are repositioned to complement different hip widths, for instance.
The technology isn't new. 3D body scanners have appeared in Brooks Brothers, Selfridges and in a few other retailer stores over the past couple of years, but they haven't yet been adopted widely by the industry. As the technology improves and the machines become more affordable, it's likely that trend will change.
Fitted Fashion is currently testing its designs with a group of 65 women. Motalgh says feedback on fit has been positive thus far, but he and his team are still experimenting with different kinds of denim to optimize the jeans they hope to bring to market.
Early next year, the company plans to open up a design studio in SoHo where men and women can come and get fitted for custom clothing. Denim will be priced between $160 and $180. Suits will run in the $500 to $900 range.
The design studio is more of a short-term project to introduce people to the technology, explains Motalgh. He and his team are ultimately hoping to partner with existing brands and retailers to produce lines of custom-fit clothing. They also hope to establish their own online retail outlet where visitors can shop across a wide array of partner brands using measurements stored in Fitted Fashion's system.
The startup has raised $250,000 in private seed funding to date.
Series Supported by Microsoft BizSpark
The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark, a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.
This story originally published on Mashable here.
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