Research; Body Scanning

Body Scanning

Body scanning is a new technology that is starting to be used by tailors to take measurements. The traditional way, still used in Savile Row tailors, is to take the client into a curtained area and measure them over their clothes. The tailor takes an average of 25 measures which are written down and passed to the pattern cutter who draws the pattern based on the measurements. With the 3D body scanner, the client enters a fitting room equipped with 14 infared sensors. They should be wearing well fitting underwear so that the measurements can be taken accurately. In under 10 seconds, the sensors gather data from over 120 measurement points and measurements are accuarate to within 1/10 of a mm.

Pros:

- Quicker and more accurate than traditional measuring

- Pattern cutters can have a visual representation of the customer’s body and posture, rather than just the measurements and any notes taken by the measurer

- A client could potentially order a suit online taking measures with body scanner, never have to attend a fitting

- More private / less intrusive for customer as they aren’t being measured by a person

Cons:

- Removes the job of measuring and loses the skill

- Less of a personal experience for the client

Tailor Made London are the first and only English men's tailors to use a 3D body scanner to take measurements of their clients. The customer only needs to attend a single consultation where the measurements are taken and design elements and cloth are chosen. The suit is then made and the customer returns to collect the suit. If any alterations are needed they will be completed within an additional few days, but most men walk out with their suits straight away. The small number of visits the customer needs to part-take in reduces the time taken making the suit. Tailor Made London can make a suit within 4 to 6 weeks of the first consultation, as opposed to traditional Savile Row suits taking up to 6 months, with multiple fittings required. The cut down on time also considerably reduces cost, with a Tailor Made London suit starting at £660 and averaging around £895, compared to Savile Row prices starting around £3,000 and averaging about £5,000.

Tailor Made London have access to the same fabrics as Savile Row tailors and claim their suits are made to the same standard, however I'm sceptical because I cannot see how the price can possibly be reduced by that much. I feel that there must be some reduction of hand sewing, either that or the labour is shipped elsewhere for lower costs. They're visiting us on Monday at uni so they may convince me otherwise then.