TrueToForm x Core3D: Introducing a visual size guide that uses 3D to simplify fit

Digital fashion platform Core3D is launching their latest tool, a visual size guide, as part of their recent collaboration with 3D avatar platform TrueToForm. With this feature, Core3D customers can now visually view fit proportions of clothing products across a size run of 3D rendered avatars.

Core3D's visual size guide: three black avatars with a blank white hoodie draped on each form. Each hoodie appears to be slightly different in size.
Core3D's product line is now featured on TrueToForm generated avatars.

Core3D

A pioneer of the digital fashion wave, Core3D has set out to bridge the digital and physical product world. They've worked with notable fashion brands such as Brooks Brothers and Bonobos to bring 3D visualization throughout the fashion value chain. Core3D's platform helps any brand or artist design, collaborate, sell and reward using the latest in 3D design and Web technology. Core3D’s most recent venture has been partnering with TrueToForm to develop a visual size guide that's integrated with their on-demand manufacturing workflow to help shoppers find their preferred fit in the most sustainable way.

An industrial machine printing custom artwork onto fabric.
Core3D employs on-demand manufacturing.
"We believe that through 3D design and on-demand manufacturing, brands and artists have the ability to build value for their customers like never before. But for that value to translate to the customer, the physical product needs to fit! This is why we're thrilled to be partnering with TrueToForm who provides that missing link." - Gwan Yip, CEO and Co-Founder at Core3D

The Visual Size Guide

In this digital collaboration, TrueToForm generated 3D avatars for Core3D to showcase the different fits of basic garments on different sized bodies. Core3D’s mission is to incorporate 3D renderings of their clothing on bodies of all shapes and sizes, taking size guides to the next level. With advancements in fashion technology, ready-to-wear brands can now engage in these essential partnerships to help showcase how their sizing works in ways that reduce the mental load of their customers when deciding their size.

A more detailed image of Core3D's visual size guide: two size Medium avatars, one wearing size Small and one wearing size Medium white hoodie.
Shoppers can easily compare fit across various product sizes.

Why a visual size guide is a game changer for shoppers

In a recent study conducted by TrueToForm, participants were interviewed on their experiences regarding buying clothing online and the issues they face when it comes to choosing their clothing size. 90% of the study participants reported that they experienced issues with sizing and fit and encountered size inconsistencies across brands. Half of the participants felt they had an atypical body shape, consistent with the published statistic that 57% of women struggle finding clothes that fit their body type.1 Furthermore, shoppers of different generations and body shapes had different preferences for how they prefer their clothes to fit. One common method participants used to determine how a garment would fit was by looking at models of different sizes and comparing them to their own body type. With Core3D’s visual size guide, shoppers can now get a closer look at how a garment fits across the size spectrum.

Industrial sized excavator moving garbage in a landfill at sunset.
An estimated 5 billion pounds of returned goods end up in landfills every year.

The importance of clear sizing and fit

Consumer shopping habits have shifted alongside the popularity of e-commerce, and with this increase, online returns have likewise skyrocketed. It is estimated that fit-related returns are contributing to over $33 billion in company losses in the US. Online retail site Shopify reports that 80% of apparel returns are due to issues with fit.2 A high number of online returns inevitably has a negative impact on the environment, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions as well as packaging waste, 85% of which ends up in landfills. Armed with this data, companies are striving to come up with more innovative ways to reduce return rates and develop more sustainable production and selling practices. 

Virtual image of Core3D clothing: front and back of hoodie with custom graphic artwork with closeup view of graphic.
The global virtual fitting room is projected to reach $10 billion by 2027.3

Sustainability in fashion

Advanced technology is contributing to retailers’ and manufacturers’ efforts to become more sustainable. Virtual showrooms are becoming more widespread, allowing businesses across the fashion spectrum to render and view accurate 3D products digitally, saving on cost in numerous ways, including lowering sampling costs and reducing fossil fuel consumption with shipping physical goods. Another fast-growing approach is on-demand manufacturing, where companies work closely with suppliers to produce products to order, reducing the risk of poor projections and wasted goods, as well as saving on warehousing and transportation costs. Core3D is employing these methods as part of their end-to-end approach, which helps reduce clothing production waste as well as offering a more cost-effective approach to product design for up-and-coming artists and clothing brands.

Is your business looking for innovations for sizing and fit? Contact us to learn more.

Resources:

  1. https://nypost.com/2017/10/09/women-agree-its-impossible-to-find-clothes-that-fit/
  2. https://www.shopify.com/retail/why-your-retail-store-needs-a-sizing-guide-and-how-to-create-one
  3. https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2021/04/13/2209350/0/en/Virtual-Fitting-Room-Market-Value-Predicted-To-Reach-US-11-5-Billion-By-2027-Acumen-Research-And-Consulting.html