In this study, we compared reliability, acceptability to the consumer, and predictive validity of consumers’ responses to three kinds of virtual garment fit images: from the internet site My Virtual Model™ (MVM); an apparel CAD program ‘i-designer’; and the 3D body scanner.
We made three types of virtual models of 30 female participants, ages 18 to 25, who fell within the selected jean sizes 6 to14. The test garment chosen for the study was a boot cut blue jeans style with slight flare since it was likely to provide the most acceptable fit within the participant pool and is a preferred style of the selected target market. The participants were scanned with our Human Solutions Vitus body scanner for measurements. They then tried on a pair of the study jeans and were scanned and photographed in the jeans.
The first avatar was created using the measurements from the body scan according to the instructions on the MVM™ website. A second avatar was created in the patternmaking and virtual fit software ‘i-designer’, which uses a computer algorithm to construct the avatar from the 3D body scan data. A pattern was made from the test jeans, and these jeans were virtually fitted to each participant’s avatar in ‘i-designer’. Finally, a third avatar was made from each participant’s body scan. The scan was modified to smooth areas of the body and to compress the stomach, as the jeans do when worn. A separate scan of the jeans was overlaid on the body to demonstrate fit.
Participants returned to view their three avatars and rated the avatars on how accurate they felt each avatar was, which image they liked the best, and which image they would trust as a virtual fit avatar. They were also asked if the virtual fit experience would make them more likely to purchase online, and how confident they would be that they would find good fit based on each different virtual avatar.
