The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
TOKYO, Japan — Japanese online fashion retailer Zozo Inc says the successor to its "Zozosuit" body-measuring suit has solved the flaws that sank its earlier version.
The original polka-dot bodysuit, which when scanned with a smartphone allowed users to upload their measurements and order custom-made clothes, received massive interest from the fashion industry but failed to drive sales amid complaints of poor sizing.
Zozo's engineers had reworked their algorithms and increased the number of measuring markers to 20,000 from 400 previously for the "Zozosuit 2", Chief Operating Officer Masahiro Ito said in an interview.
"We have spent the last two years getting rid of every issue that people had so the entire process is more robust," he told Reuters.
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"Last time we were going too fast. Right now, I don't think we need to be too careful either," said Ito.
Accurate and easy-to-use body measuring technology is being targeted by online fashion retailers trying to reduce returns.
Zozo, which is controlled by SoftBank's domestic internet business, is also seeking partners in fitness, healthcare and other sectors.
The company hopes to offer the suit within a year. The new design can be produced at low-cost via an easily scalable printing process, Ito said.
Best known for the Zozotown online mall, the firm also offers the "Zozomat" for measuring feet, which it says has cut shoes returns by around a third.
Founder Yusaku Maezawa exited the firm last year. He has attracted more than 10 million Twitter followers with cash giveaways and a plan to orbit the moon on a SpaceX rocket.
By Sam Nussey; editor: Andrew Heavens.
The algorithms TikTok relies on for its operations are deemed core to ByteDance overall operations, which would make a sale of the app with algorithms highly unlikely.
The app, owned by TikTok parent company ByteDance, has been promising to help emerging US labels get started selling in China at the same time that TikTok stares down a ban by the US for its ties to China.
Zero10 offers digital solutions through AR mirrors, leveraged in-store and in window displays, to brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Coach. Co-founder and CEO George Yashin discusses the latest advancements in AR and how fashion companies can leverage the technology to boost consumer experiences via retail touchpoints and brand experiences.
Four years ago, when the Trump administration threatened to ban TikTok in the US, its Chinese parent company ByteDance Ltd. worked out a preliminary deal to sell the short video app’s business. Not this time.