Augmented Reality A Tool For Better Fit

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Vandana Narang

Globally, apparel industry faces a serious concern of satisfactory fit. The paper is a study of exploring Augmented Reality to analyze body dimensions- measurements, proportions & postures for achieving better fit of menswear upper body torso garments. It also explores possible solutions in terms of better fit especially in an E- market environment.

Keywords – Fashion; Menswear; Fit; Pattern development; digital technology; Augmented Reality; 3D modeling

Introduction

"We can’t solve problems by using the same thinking we used when we created them."

-Albert Einstein

"The most profound technologies are those that disappear. They weave themselves into the fabric of everyday life until they are indistinguishable from it" the statement of Mark Weiser in 1991 in an article "The Computer for the Twenty-First Century" has been a major source of inspiration and guiding force for further work and ongoing research in the field of pervasive computing.

The Goggle glasses, the latest ‘hot’ tool for Augmented Reality, informs the wearer, about immediate environment like nearby eating joints, where could one buy the bag which one sees being carried by the person on the street and how much will it cost. The glasses even record the events as seen by the eyes of the wearer.

The reality today, with latest technology is myriad and amazing. It’s very close to what one experiences through the human senses like eyes, and phones with cameras. The possibilities of working with Internet are overwhelming. New tools mean that the world around can now be watched with a layer of new information from the Internet, and is actually of great help, thanks to live maps, one doesn’t get lost in a new and unfamiliar or even hostile environment.

The Computer graphics have become increasingly sophisticated since the introduction of video games in 1970; graphics for games have pushed the photorealism to new heights. Researchers and graphic designers are taking visuals & graphics out of the TV screen or computer monitor and are, incorporating them into real-world environments. This technology, called augmented reality, blurs the line between what's real and what's computer-generated by enhancing what we see, hear, feel and smell.

Measured on a scale or band between virtual reality, which generates virtual world, and the real world, augmented reality is closer to the real world. Augmented reality adds graphics, sounds, gives continuous feedback to the natural world, as it exists. The graphics for virtual games and Mobile phones are continuously giving impetuous to the development of the technology in the field of augmented reality. Everyone from travelers, to armed forces, to a common man on the street looking for the closest petrol pump benefits from the ability to find the place through virtual graphics in their line of vision through AR.

Even with the latest technology that makes dreams possible on one hand, the fashion industry is still struggling to provide customers with well fitted or acceptably fitted apparel. Well into the 21st century, the industry has not been able to achieve the goal of providing the same quality of fit for everybody. Rather, it has dismissed the unique human body and expects all bodies to fit into standard sized garments. Barnes stated that making clothing which really fit, is one of garment making industries greatest challenges – and crucial successes.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Professor, Fashion Design

National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi

[email protected]

Experts in several studies have identified that apparel consumers have difficulties finding clothes that provide appropriate fit and that comfort and fit are among the highest determinants for apparel purchase in today’s markets. Finding the perfect fit is a challenge to many because of variation in body size, shape and perception of acceptable fit (Pechoux et al, 2002). Though globally, anthropometric surveys have been conducted by individual nations to establish the relationship between the body and optimal fit requirements the sizing systems still remains a missing piece of a puzzle. The numbers of studies that have been undertaken to define and evaluate fit and suggest suitable methodology to achieve perfect fit only reinforces the fact that it is an important and sensitive issue. Despite the effort and work being done in the area, consumer dissatisfaction with ready to wear apparel remains, as is.

This paper aims to study how the use of modern technology; especially AR can help in solving issues of Fit. It also explores possible solutions, both in terms of better / perfect apparel fit that would make better business sense in an E- market especially for luxury market. By using simple tools like smart phone that can help in analyzing body dimensions in terms of measurements, body proportions & body postures for achieving garment fit of menswear upper body torso. It studies the feasibility of captured images on smart phone to be translated/ transformed into "mapped to scale" images and 3D Graphic modeling to enable accurate body measurement and body proportions that will yield perfect fit pattern.

Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) is altering the way the world or immediate environ is viewed, especially for the users of this technology. Imagining the way the world would appear and be experienced, while walking or driving down the street. With augmented-reality displays, informative graphics will appear in the corner of the glass, and an audio prompt, would inform about whatever one is seeing. This information will be refreshed in tandem with movements of the wearer. Similar technology is already available in smartphones.

Pervasive computing is about making the computer disappear and this can be done in several ways. Disappearance of computer has been described by Streitz (2001) in two ways as physical disappearance that refers to integrating devices in everyday use objects such as, clothes and secondly as mental disappearance refers to objects that can be big in size but are not generally perceived as computers such as, interactive walls or interactive tables, with technology moving into the background.

According to Streitz (2005), the future way of pervasive computing, lies in the manner, man designs human-information interaction and supports human-human communication and cooperation by exploiting the affordances of existing artefacts in our environment.

"It seems like a paradox but it will soon become reality: The rate at which computers disappear will be matched by the rate at which information technology will increasingly permeate our environment and determine our lives", Streitz et al (2005) illustrated how computers are increasingly becoming an important part of our day-today activities and will determine a wide range of the physical and social contexts of our future life.

By definition, ‘Augmented Reality’ is essentially "layering" of live, direct or indirect view of the physical world, real-world objects, environment or even images with some computer generated active or passive sensory inputs like images, graphics, sound, video and/or Global Positioning System (GPS) Data etc. to modify the view of reality, be it to diminish it or augment it. It is also considered in more general terms as "Mediated Reality". While, the ‘Virtual Reality’ simply replaces the real world experience with the computer simulated/generated experience, the "Augmented Reality" enhances the current perception of the reality by augmenting it with some sensory inputs. It empowers us to make the real world experience more interactive, and even manipulate the live & real view or experience.( Scharver, et al 2011)

AR functionality can be achieved with help of very few readily available gadgets or Computer Peripherals & Software Tools. Essentially, one needs a Smartphone or Tablet or laptop or even a regular desktop computer with a camera to capture the "Reality". Internet Connection for receiving or transmitting the "Layer" of Information; and lastly, appropriate Software on the Smartphone/Tablet or Laptop/Desktop to bring it all together, in the manner that it can provide the desired "Augmentation". According to experts additional Sensors like Global Positioning System, Compass, Accelerometers and Microphones can also be used as per the need of a particular AR Application. Android & iOS App Stores already have a plethora of Apps available for generic AR applications. (Carmigniani, et al 2011)

Augmented reality can also work with a camera attached to your computer. You can hold products in front of the camera and see a layer of information on your screen that makes reality more interesting and even fun. Works better on a machine that is GPS enabled. Augmented reality (AR) may seem like a futuristic concept, but it will be a reality of our digital lives very shortly. AR is a new technology that blurs the line between what is real and what is Computer generated by enhancing what we hear, see and feel. It is predicted that by the end of this year, it will be used everywhere, in every walk of life.

Fit

No matter how lovely the fabric, how fine the garment design, or how expert the sewing, the results are disappointing if the garment fits poorly. A report, by Kurt Salmon Associated for the International Wool Textile Organization, 2005 stated that, fit and comfort has been described by consumers being synonymous with quality. Clothing which fits, provides a neat and smooth appearance and will allow maximum comfort and mobility for the wearer – Shen et al, (1993). Satisfactory garment fit also involves an understanding of the individual fit preferences of a client. With the development of a mass customization model, the apparel industry got the opportunity of providing custom fitted and designed garments for the individual. The fitting itself should be conducted in such a way that it will achieve a good and accurate fit, pleasing style lines and satisfy the customer. One of the greatest functions of clothing is to hide figure problems and to make the most of good features, also creating optical illusions and camouflage.

Importance of fit

Good fit goes beyond a set of body measurements (Anderson, 1999). Human Bodies come in all shapes and sizes and it is not possible to divide them on the basis of simple averages which lead to unrealistic sizes of a standard body (Gupta et al, 2006). Rather, through the size charts apparel industry has dismissed the unique human body and expects all bodies to fit into standard sized garments "The feedback we’ve gotten from readers is that they want clothes they can actually wear, not clothes you’d only find on a runway," says Mike Wood, editor-in chief of the gay-lifestyle magazine Instinct. Anthropometric surveys in proved that a garment sizing system for a certain body type does not cover more than the 25 per cent of the population in which it is addressed.

Another trend that is being seen is that when consumers do not find clothes that fit them they blame themselves and have negative feeling towards their own bodies rather than the ill-fitted clothing (Labat et al, 2007). People are more consious of fit and are paying more attention to the fit of the garment that they are wearing.

Apparel fit can be defined as the relationship between the size and contour of garment and those of the human body. A well fitted garment is a garment that hangs smoothly and evenly on the body, with no pulls or distortion of the fabric, straight seams, pleasing proportions, no gaping, no constriction of the body, and adequate ease for movement. Hems are parallel to the floor unless otherwise intended, and the garment armscyes and crotch do not constrict the body.

Evaluating fit

According to Chen fit evaluation is a complicated process in which the relationship of the garment to the body is analyzed based upon certain criteria. Fit evaluation determined by the individuals wearing the garment tends to be subjective. Two individuals who have same body measurements may perceive clothing fit differently (Ashdown et al, 2004). Complex clothing systems can only function properly when they are correctly fitted to the body. This is not an easy job to perform, since the variation in body dimension between humans is tremendous. Gender, age and ethnicity are some of the factors that add to the variability. (Daanen, et al, 2008)

Critical to the development of an apparel pattern, is the way in which human body is measured and how those measurements are interpreted. Securing accurate physical measurements is crucial to achieve a successfully fitted garment. The knowledge of anthropometric dimensions is necessary for the development of garment pattern (Gupta, 2010). For translating body measurements into a garment pattern there is a need to identify consistent body landmarks. Bony protrusions or natural bends in the body provide easily identifiable landmarks, however the fleshy portions are harder to pin point (Bye et al, 2006). The measurements needed for apparel are unique because of the fit relationship between body and clothing. The relation between the size charts and body dimensions is not constant because of the changes that occur in the human population. Measurements can be classified as primary and secondary (Fang et al, 2005). A dimension is called as primary when it plays an essential role in assessing whether a garment is wearable or not. The primary dimension is a crucial measurement for development of a garment pattern. A secondary dimension plays an essential role for assessment of garment fit (Mpampa et al, 2010). The chest girth is primarily used a base for pattern development of the upper body garments. The neck girth measurement is primary measurement for the shirt. The waist girth is essential measurement for the lower body garments. The primary dimension for upper body garments is the chest girth and the secondary dimensions are the waist girth and the height. The primary dimension for male shirts is neck girth and the secondary dimension is sleeve length (Mpampa et al, 2010). The measurments required for construction of upper torso garments girthwise are Neck, chest, back shoulder, across back, waist, hip and bicep. The lengthwise measurements are centre front waist length, shoulder to chest, centre back waist length, armhole depth and sleeve length (Gupta, 2010; Aldrich, 1984; Kawashima, 1986; Cabrera et al, 2007). Traditional pattern making uses formulae to draft patterns, however, actual measurements cannot be replaced by default formulae, as it does not give satisfactory result in terms of good fit (Turner et al, 1999).

Defects in garments are connected with, and conditioned by, a variety of circumstances; the shape of the figure is one of the concerns apart from the texture of the fabric, and type of garment and the way it is worn. Most of the fitting problems are due to figure abnormalities. The activities of garment cutting and fitting include correct measurements and figure observations – careful cutting and accurate fitting.

Body contour, posture, body proportion and symmetry affect the fit of clothing also improper posture causes fitting problems. The rigid posture shortens the distance from the back of the neck to the shoulder blade, and lengthens the distance from the base of the neck to the waist in front thereby create fit issues.

In some sizing systems, men’s body has been classified by a "drop value’. The drop value for men’s sizing system is calculated by subtracting the waist measurement from the chest measurement.

Men’s body types

In Analysis of Men’s figures Kwong classified men’s figures into nine different figure types, namely: Stooping, Short neck, square, Normal, Long neck, sloping, Head forward, Erect, Corpulent, Tall & thin, and Large shoulders. Researchers have stressed on the fact that figure abnormalities cause fitting problems.

Critical areas of Fit for menswear

Several researchers have maintained that the critical area of the body concerning fit in menswear was around the shoulders. They stated that if garments fit the figure perfectly between the neck and the horizontal line encircling the figure at the lowest level of the armhole, then the main fitting difficulties can be overcome. Jackets are not close fitting garments at the chest level and armhole area, many clients can be fitted in the jackets with only shoulder corrections, along with slight length and width adjustments at the hem and side seams. There are also no defined rules for the shoulder width in jackets it’s a matter of style. Shoulders on some oversized jacket patterns extend as much as three inches on either side past the normal shoulder measurement. They have further advised that shoulder pads cannot adequately support a jacket for more than 1 ½ inches beyond the normal shoulder level without having creases. (Kwong)

Good Fit in Menswear for upper torso garments

According to Rasband in the book Fabulous Fit, Jackets should fit loose enough to case comfortably over a shirt or sweater. Traditionally, suit jackets and sport coats should cover the seat of men’s slacks. Jackets should not pull tight around the abdomen or hips when fastened. Coats should fit loose enough to ease comfortably over a jacket or suit worn underneath.

The necklines should fit the curve around the base of the neck, without cutting into the neck, wrinkling or gapping. Collars and Neckbands should fit the neck comfortably snug when buttoned at the neck one finger should fit easily into a shirt collar i.e. the collar should have half an inch ease. A suit collar should show only about half an inch of a shirt at center back. The outer edge of the collar should just cover the back neckline seam in the jacket. Lapels of the jacket should lie flat on the chest and should be symmetrical and lapels should not gape open on the front chest in case they do then they are shorter than the desired length.

Shoulder Seams should lie flat on top of the shoulder, they should appear to bisect the neck and shoulder, and end at the shoulder joint unless otherwise designed. Shoulder pads should be well placed, appear natural, not too large or lumpy.

Armhole seam lines should cross the shoulder at the shoulder joint (end of the collar bone). The under arm seam line should appear in line with the back arm crease. Armhole seam in a jacket may extend a maximum of ½" to 1" beyond the shoulder joint and in overcoat by a maximum of 1" to 1 ½" beyond the shoulder joint.

Armholes should be large enough to allow for easy movement without cutting into the arm, binding at the bicep or gapping at the upper arm. The lowest point should lie 1" to 2" below the armpit unless designed to do otherwise.

Upper Back areas should lie smooth, without wrinkles or strain at the armhole seam when arms are forward. There should be no horizontal wrinkle, bubble or bulge below the collar.

Centre front seam and center back seams should be centered on the body and fall straight down, perpendicular to the floor. They should not shift towards either front or back or pull to the side.

Closures should hand straight and smooth, without wrinkles or gapping across the chest, hips, back, abdomen or hip area.

Side Seams of the garment should extend from the center of the underarm straight down and should appear to be perpendicular to the floor and should not shift or pull to the front or back. Side seams should appear to intersect the waistline at a 90 degree angle.

Lengthwise Grain (vertical fabric threads) should fall straight down the center front or center back, perpendicular to the floor, unless fabric is cut on the bias (diagonal grain). Lengthwise grain also hangs down the center of a sleeve above the elbow and down the crease of slacks or trousers.

Crosswise Grain (horizontal fabric threads) should be parallel to the floor at the chest, upper back, upper arm, hop and hem unless cut on the bias (diagonal grain).

Set-in Sleeve Caps should lie at the end of the shoulder and curve smoothly around the armhole, without puckers or wrinkles. Fullness should be evenly distributed, front and back.

Sleeves should be large enough to lie smooth around the arm with about 1 ½" ease. Ease at the elbow line should be sufficient to allow the arm to bend without binding restrict the movement.

Jacket Sleeve should end at the wrist bone when the arm is bent upward at the elbow – when arms are down at your sides, long sleeves should hang no longer than the bend of the wrist. The shirt sleeve cuff should show about ½" below a suit or sport jacket sleeve, for both men and women.

Pockets should lie closed and flat against the body unless styled to extend away.

Waistbands should fit comfortably snug at the natural waistline when standing, yet remain comfortable when sitting. Two fingers should slip easily inside a waistband or should have about an inch of ease for comfort.

Vents and Slits in jackets should hang straight, flat, closed and smooth against the body when standing, not gap or pull open.

Guide for good Fit in menswear for upper torso garments

S. no.

Part of the Garment

Description of perfect Fit

Shirt

1

Necklines

Necklines should fit the curve around the base of the neck, unless designed to do otherwise, without cutting into the neck, wrinkling or gapping

2

Collars and Neckbands

Collars and Neckbands should fit the neck comfortably snug unless designed to do otherwise. When buttoned at the neck, one finger should fit easily into a shirt collar.

3

Shoulder Seams

Shoulder Seams should lie on top of the shoulder, appear to bisect the neck and shoulder, and end at the shoulder joint unless designed to do otherwise.

4

Armhole Seam lines

Armhole Seam lines should cross the shoulder at the shoulder joint (end of the collar bone) unless designed to do otherwise. The seam line will appear in line with the back arm crease.

5

Armholes

Armholes should be large enough to allow for easy movement without cutting into the arm, binding or gapping. The lowest point should lie 1" to 2" below the armpit

6

Upper Back

Upper Back areas should lie smooth, without wrinkles or strain at the armhole seam when arms are forward. There should be no horizontal wrinkle, bubble or bulge below the collar.

7

Centre Front and Back Seams

Centre Front and Back Seams should be centered on the body and fall straight down, perpendicular to the floor. They should not shift or pull to the side

8

Closures

Closures should hang straight and smooth, without wrinkles or gapping across the chest, back, abdomen & hip

9

Side Seams

Side Seams should extend from the center of the underarm straight down, perpendicular to the floor. They should not shift or pull to the front or back. Side seams should appear to interest the waistline at a 90°angle

10

Lengthwise Grain

Lengthwise Grain (vertical fabric threads) should fall straight down the center front or center back, perpendicular to the floor, unless fabric is cut on the bias (diagonal grain). Lengthwise grain also hangs down the center of a sleeve above the elbow

11

Crosswise Grain

Crosswise Grain (horizontal fabric threads) should be parallel to the floor at the chest, upper back, upper arm, hop and hem unless cut on the bias (diagonal grain).

12

Set-in Sleeve Caps

Set-in Sleeve Caps should lie at the end of the shoulder and curve smoothly around the armhole, without puckers or wrinkles. Fullness should be evenly distributed, front & back

13

Sleeves

Sleeves should be large enough to lie smooth around the arm with about 1 ½" ease. Ease at the elbow should be sufficient to allow the arm to bend without binding.

14

Sleeve Length

Long Sleeve Length should end at the wrist bone when the arm is bent upward at the elbow – when arms are down at your sides, long sleeves should hang no longer than the bend of the wrist.

15

Pockets

Pockets should lie closed and flat against the body unless styled to extend away

 Jacket 

16

Jackets

Jackets should fit loose enough to case comfortably over a shirt. Traditionally, suit jackets and sport coats should cover the seat of men’s slacks. Jackets should not pull tight around the abdomen or hips when fastened. Coats should fit loose enough to ease comfortably over a jacket or suit worn underneath.

17

Collars and Neckbands

Collars and Neckbands should fit the neck comfortably snug unless designed to do otherwise. A suit collar should reveal about ½" of a shirt collar at center back. The outer edge of the suit collar should just cover the neckline seam.

18

Lapels

Lapels should lie symmetrical and flat without gapping open

19

Upper Back

Upper Back areas should lie smooth, without wrinkles or strain at the armhole seam when arms are forward. There should be no horizontal wrinkle, bubble or bulge below the collar.

20

Centre Front and Back Seams

Centre Front and Back Seams should be centered on the body and fall straight down, perpendicular to the floor. They should not shift or pull to the side

21

Closures

Closures should hand straight and smooth, without wrinkles or gapping across the chest, but, back, abdomen or hip area.

22

Side Seams

Side Seams should extend from the center of the underarm straight down, perpendicular to the floor. They should not shift or pull to the front or back. Side seams should appear to intersect the waistline at a 90 °angle

23

Lengthwise Grain

Lengthwise Grain (vertical fabric threads) should fall straight down the center front or center back, perpendicular to the floor, unless fabric is cut on the bias (diagonal grain). Lengthwise grain also hangs down the center of a sleeve above the elbow

24

Crosswise Grain

Crosswise Grain (horizontal fabric threads) should be parallel to the floor at the chest, upper back, upper arm, hop and hem unless cut on the bias (diagonal grain).

25

Set-in Sleeve Caps

Set-in Sleeve Caps should lie at the end of the shoulder and curve smoothly around the armhole, without puckers or wrinkles. Fullness should be evenly distributed, front and back

26

Sleeves

Sleeves should be large enough to lie smooth around the arm with about 1 ½" ease. One finger should fit easily under a sleeve hem. Ease at the elbow should be sufficient to allow the arm to bend without binding. Fullness should be centered over the end of the bone when the arm is bent.

27

Sleeve Length

Long Sleeve Length should end at the wrist bone when the arm is bent upward at the elbow – when arms are down at your sides, long sleeves should hang no longer than the bend of the wrist. The shirt sleeve cuff should show about ½" below a suit or sport jacket sleeve

28

Vents, Slits

Vents, Slits should hang straight, flat, closed and smooth against the body when standing, not gap or pull open

In a study data was collected from 322 men at two different demographic levels. Sizing and fit of men’s shirts, pants, suits and their garment features were reported to investigates fit issues men’s ready to wear business clothing and their relationship to sizing and overall body composition findings – Results indicated that many men self report fit issues with their businesses clothing including issues with the key sizing dimensions of their body. (Sindichich, et al, 2011)

3D Software for fit provision and testing is still at the experimental stages. Software can manipulate standard type garments with basic features; dealing with asymmetrical shape is still problematic. Available literature focuses on the "promise" of the technology rather than highlighting techniques and procedures. It is apparent that technology is still at the development stage resulting in currently limited functionality.

It is anticipated that enabling technology such as CAD/CAM will continue to facilitate the delivery of meeting customers’ individual demands by customizing garments.

AR in Fashion industry

Quick Response (QR) codes are increasingly getting popular in print catalogs the next phase in this to enhance their experience could be AR. Retailers such as Walmart have catalogs where a customer can hold their phone above a page to find out more about the products and make a purchase. (Tode, 2013). Several brands are successfully using AR to merchandise their products successfully.

The use of AR in process of Fit is very recent and is in its nascent stage. An article in e magazine Business of Fashion on 19th December 2012, stated that online sales of apparel is growing faster than any other e commerce product segment in US, driven primarily by new return policies. However, the customer is still apprehensive about whether the actual garment will fit, without physically trying it on. It states that a number of companies are offering solutions like Virtusize, fits.me, True fit and clothes horse are offering solutions from morphing mannequins to size recommendations that aim to provide well matched a well fitted garments that would increase conversion rates of visitors to shoppers and reduce number of returns.

Virtusize helps customer select garments based on the garment in their wardrobes; the customer has to measure a well fitted garment physically and enter these details into the application. This cannot be long term solution as the customer may not have expertise in measuring a garment.

Fits.me enables customer to view garment on robotic mannequin based on self-reported measurements. The robot can mimic 100,000 body types based on user data of height, neck, chest, waist, hips and arm measurements. These are self-reported measurements and that can be incorrect or with error and it still does not take into account the body types.

True Fit has an extensive and time consuming questionnaire about body and select preferred brand and silhouettes, height age and weight, works only for brands which use the True Fit solutions.

Clothes Horse offer solutions of size and fit based on inputs height weight and body type, combined with preferred brands and comfort in a brand, but its questionnaire is less time consuming. However it does not take into account the posture of the person.

Augmented Reality and fit

‘Virtual Dressing Rooms’ that use AR technology to show how different clothes and accessories look on a person in real time, without having to move from the computer screen have brought the AR to a new level of Interactive, personalized and yet Online shopping experience. Zugara’s Webcam Social Shopper is one such AR initiative.

Garment fit can be divided into two zones that is fit zone and fashion zone, where fit zone is in direct contact with the body and is responsible for the comfort factor and fashion zone of the garment is for aesthetic appearance.

AR can be successfully applied to achieve better Fit in mass customization. It can be effectively applied to achieve a perfect fit in customized clothing or bespoke apparel or made to measure (MTM) clothing by using simple tools.

In the era of globalization a customer may want to purchase garment that have been made for him specifically without him physically going to the ‘bespoke’ expert who may be in another city or country.

This can be made possible by an app or software developed especially for a company. The customer may be asked to create an account and fill basic demographic data. Then asking the customer to take his pictures and fill a questionnaire about his body measurements height and weight along with his lifestyle and fit preference. The application can have prototypes of body shapes and he may be asked to select the one as he perceives his body.

The pictures to be taken could be guided and prompted by the app and he can be asked to stand in a particular stance wearing appropriate clothing. He should be asked to take pictures standing in front of a flat surface. The pictures must be taken in a particular order, first for the front view, then he may be asked to take his picture for a back view and then for side view for the shape of his body. He may be asked to take pictures of the natural posture of the body.

This information can be analyzed by the pattern expert in the company, judge and categorize the posture and his body type with these pictures. Scanned documents are increasingly being replaced with pictures of the same. In future, with help of technology these pictures may be able to give the correct body measurements.

Methodology

The client could be asked to take his own pictures in systematically in the following format. In order to correctly analyze a man’s figure, the client must be first viewed from the front to ascertain the body type, whether he has sloping or square shoulders, and to check whether the he is broad or narrow chested.

Then the person should be viewed from the side to determine his posture if he stoops, or he stands erect, if the head leans towards the front or backwards. Then, he needs to be viewed from the back to check, the shoulder blades length of the neck. A single customer may have a combination of two or more figure types for example, a man could be stooping and have sloping shoulders or could have his head leaning towards the back with small shoulders. He can also have sloping shoulders, stooping and have large shoulder blades, and then also have a long neck, or he can have square shape, with small shoulder blades etc. These figure types can also have different drop values for example any of these combinations can have a corpulent or stout figure. Body types also changes with age, ethnicity and health, social and economic conditions of the customer.

The questionnaire can be interactive rather than close ended, a virtual garment using suitable software can be made for the client to try out in the similar fashion as Fits.me before being actually made clients suggestion on design, fabric details, trims, finishing and length of garment may be sought. This would provide an opportunity to the client to approve the final look, which would beneficial to both the client and manufacturer.

The major challenge in developing AR applications is in the field of appropriate software development. Since other essential components for creating an AR experience are mostly available either off the shelf or, as integral peripherals of Smartphones, tablets and/or Laptops/desktops. Several software tools, Software Development Kits (SDK) and Software Development Platforms (SDP) are already in the market. Even Augmented Reality Browsers are not a novelty in the AR landscape. However, recently with integration of HTML5 language with CSS3, improved image recognition, new and better 3D rendering, improved user interface and better integration with other offline and online channels; are some of the new features which have made the augmented reality SDKs, SDPs & Browsers a lot more ‘AR developer’ friendly. Speed & improved quality of these developments is a result of aggressive competition among the major players like: Layer, Junaio, Wikitude and Aurasma. The AR application development has now become relatively easier, fluent, cost-effective and most significantly, better supported on different mobile and computer platforms by virtue of new versions of Metaio SDK, Qualcom’s Vuforia, Wikitude SDK and Total Immersion’s D’Fusion Studio. Some of these software tools don’t require any coding and hence are being used to easy-to-build AR applications by non-IT developers.

Conclusion

It is evident that ‘Augmented Reality’ voted as one of the most Disruptive Technologies for the decade, which is developing very fast, can be leveraged to resolve nagging problem of better Fit or ‘custom Fit’ for apparel especially in online shopping environment. The customer with smart phone who is comfortable doing online shopping would be able to benefit. The companies would be able to expand client base by providing an app on website which will help client make informed decisions. The added effort required to achieve this shall be to develop the correct software with structured ‘layering’ of various live & static inputs to achieve the required level of customization and precision in the ‘Fit’.