There are a variety of technologies trying to solve Fit, but very few are could be a viable asset to retailers. Bodymetrics, though, is one of them. Today, they receive a big endorsement from Bloomingdale’s by launching a 3-D technology in their Palo Alto, Calif., store that helps shoppers better understand their silhouette and body type when shopping for jeans.
Riding on the success of the Bodymetrics Pod’s pilot program during Bloomingdale’s Century City’s Denim Days, the department store partnered with the body-mapping technology company to institute the first permanent Pod in the US; Selfridges in London debuted the Pod, which still assists customers with denim purchases.
The Bodymetrics Pod uses the 3-D technology of Microsoft’s Kinect, popular for gaming, to take hundreds of measurements around the body. The sensors gauge the shopper’s body type and contours, making an outline which can be used to compare jean cuts and sizes. Then, Bodymetrics can deduce the best jean fit from a variety of brands, including 7 for all Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, J. Brand, Hudson, and Paige.
The technology has the capability to help with fashion and fit beyond jeans. Think men’s suits, cocktail dresses and swimwear. With online shopping on the rise and “fit” the number one reason for retail returns, technology such as this could help stores increase digital and in-store sales while reducing the number of returns. If you know it’s going to fit, why hesitate to click “add to cart?”
But we, at Decoded Fashion, believe that brands and retailers should be using great ideas in tech, not just a marketing stunt but a way to elevate their brand and drive consumers to a physical store, bridging the online-offline gap. Fit is among our favorite topics, and we showcased a few great ideas at our first major forum at Lincoln Center in April.
We’ll bring this theme to our London Forum, November 1, when we will be able to discuss insights on how consumers are being impacted by Bodymetrics, and the ROI is has brought to major retailers.
