SBIR Phase I: Using Automation to Deliver Photo-Realistic Clothing Simulations for Virtual Fittings

Couture Technologies Llc, Gallatin TN

Investigators

Abstract

The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will be to demonstrate the feasibility of the virtual garment creation and try-on system. As businesses increase their e-commerce presence, they face a major challenge: the high rate of returns in e-commerce. The return rate for online purchases exceeds that of in-store purchases by roughly 4 to 1, with customers (52-74%) citing dissatisfaction with the garments’ fit as the primary reason for returns. A reduction in returns as small as 1% could keep over 50 million pounds of goods out of the landfill and return $2.3 B to fashion retailers. This Phase I project is aimed at developing a sophisticated process using 3D modeling and fabric simulation technologies to enable customized fit and sizing visualizations prior to purchase. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will demonstrate the feasibility of the virtual garment creation system by using machine learning, numerical simulations and 3D graphic rendering to generate virtual garments based on (i) images and text that describe the garment and (ii) a minimum set of measurements of the customer's body. This process will advance the translation of novel approaches to combining artificial intelligence and 3D representation of a deformable shape in a computationally efficient manner. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.