InteliSpark client, Couture Technologies Inc., wins $256k from the National Science Foundation to develop a sophisticated process to enable photo-realistic clothing simulations for virtual fittings based on 3D modeling and fabric simulation technologies.
E-commerce is booming, but businesses face the major hurdle of high return rates of online purchases, a rate far exceeding the return rate for in-store purchases. One of the primary reasons cited for returning goods was dissatisfaction with garment fit.
Couture Technologies, a data analytics tech startup based in Tennessee, is developing proprietary software aimed at greatly reducing return rates for online purchases. Their novel solution will utilize machine learning, numerical simulations and 3D graphic renderings to generate virtual garments and enable customized fit and sizing visualizations prior to purchase.
With even a 1% reduction in returns, this technology would give back $2.3 billion to fashion retailers and keep over 50 million pounds of goods out of landfills. This project, funded through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, shows promise in stimulating economic growth and technological innovation in the private sector.