Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1017146
I T M A Y S O O N be commonplace that instead of going to a store and trying on clothes in a dressing room, you' ll try on clothing anywhere — virtually. Your very own digital avatar, with your precise mea- surements based on a 3-D body scan, will suit up for you, show you how you'll look, and even suggest other more flattering outfits. is is already a reality for students of MyungHee Sohn, a fashion design professor in the department of family and consumer sciences at CSU Long Beach. Her stud ents are creatin g clothin g w ith th eir exact m easurem ents after undergoing 3-D body scans in a TC2 body scanner, which creates person- alized digital avatars. In the future, people will be able to order custom clothing based on their measurements instead of hav- ing to choose from standard sizes that aren't an exact A Perfect Fit In this class, digital avatars are now in fashion By Sherry Posnick-Goodwin Photos by Scott Buschman match, says Sohn, a California Faculty Association member. "Clothing avatars can be especially helpful for online shopping, when consumers are forced to buy items without trying them on first," she says. "It will make online shopping more fun and help women make better choices." e body scans are created by multiple cameras that capture dif- ferent angles. Body scanners were at one time extremely expensive, but are now much more affordable. CSU Long Beach has had one for several years. Sohn thinks that online shoppers using digital fashion avatars will become more interactive with retail companies, suggesting colors, fabric and design. at in turn will help retailers, including brick- and-mortar stores. "Companies will know what customers want instead of guessing. It will cut down on waste. Stores often waste clothing if they overor- der or a style is not popular." Sohn grew up in South Korea. She was initially intrigued by 3-D MyungHee Sohn, fashion design professor at CSU Long Beach, with the body scan program on her computer. 16 cta.org Perspectives M E M B E R S P O T L I G H T MyungHee Sohn • Assistant professor at CSU Long Beach since 2014. Teaches advanced apparel draping and tailoring and computer applications for fashion. • "I have had many passionate design students with good construction skills. To advance their learning, I've incorporated my research and new pattern-making methods in class." • Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in apparel studies, University of Minnesota.