Custom Clothes

This essay is about a suggested student project in Java programming. This essay gives a rough overview of how it might work. It does not describe an actual complete program. I have no source, object, specifications, file layouts or anything else useful to implementing this project. Everything I have to say to help you with this project is written below. I am not prepared to help you implement it; I have too many other projects of my own.

I do contract work for a living, which could include writing a program such as this. However, I don’t do people’s homework for them. That just robs them of an education.

You have my full permission to implement this project any way you please.

The Problem

It requires massive inventories.

You often cannot find the clothes the colours, fabrics and sizes you want.

Clothes do not fit properly.

All kinds of clothes get manufactured that nobody likes. They end up fobbed off on less affluent people, or as rags.

People trying on clothes makes them less desirable for others to buy.

The custom-fitted, tailored styles (such of those of the 1940s) are not feasible.

You have to buy what is in style, even if you detest the current style.

You have to pick popular clothes. It is expensive and time-consuming to find anything unique or off the beaten track.

You can’t customise your clothes unless you have sewing skills.

The Solution

Measuring: this would probably be done the traditional way with a tape measure taking sufficient measurements to create a 3D model of the client.

Creating a 3D model of the exposed body parts of the client, perhaps using a laser scanner or image analysis.

Huge library of styles in digital form that can be rendered to fit the client’s body.

Clothing visualisation: You let the client sit at a computer and play dress-up doll trying on clothes on a 3-D realistic, animated representation of themselves. The customer can fine tune designs, decorations, fabrics, durability etc.

Electronic order system to schedule workers all over the world to actually create the garments.

Conversion of electronic patterns and client measurements to geometry of the various pieces needed, and optimal cutting of fabric to dovetail orders to avoid wasting fabric.

Electronic tracking of cut parts automated collecting into bundles needed to create a single garment, and delivering them to a worker with the sewing machine.

Manual sewing the parts together, though that too will eventually fall to automation.

System to deliver the finished garment to the customer efficiently.

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