Latest news with #ShingoTsukamoto
Scotsman
08-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
New tool allows UK online shoppers to try on clothes before they buy
Online fashionistas can now try before they buy! | Makip An online sizing technology provider has announced today (May 8) that UK shoppers will be presented with a personalised 3D avatar to see how their next fashion item will fit them. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Makip, an online Japanese sizing tech specialist, has upgraded its flagship product, Unisize, which allows consumers to check their 3D avatar from four angles - front, back, left, and right - to see how a clothing item will fit their body shape before buying. It comes as research from independent economics research consultancy, Retail Economics, showed that in 2024, 17 out of every 100 products sold online were returned. The fashion industry saw return rates reach as high as 30 per cent due to issues such as incorrect sizing, and the cost of returns continues to be an unwelcome line item on the balance sheet of many online retailers. Especially as many online shoppers seem perfectly happy to order multiple sizes, colours, or styles of an item to return most of the order after trying them on at home Shingo Tsukamoto, CEO and President of Makip, said: 'The average return rate for the UK fashion industry is 26%. 'One in every four items purchased online is returned, usually at the expense of the retailer. 'We feel that this cannot continue. 'In recent years, some retailers have taken a stand and started charging customers for returning items, however, we approach this from the view of customer experience. 'If we can provide customers with more accurate sizing options at the time of purchase, this leads to a reduction in returns. 'This has been proven across our Japan-based fashion clients with the average return rate dropping by 20%.' The announcement comes following increasing online returns for clothes | Shutterstock How does the 3D avatar work? The 3D model is generated based on the dimensions of the clothing and the user's body shape information, and allows consumers to check the looseness and fit of the clothing item before making a purchase. The model can be viewed from 360 degrees, so all angles are covered, and because of the 3D element, users can now view the silhouette while wearing shoes (which can be changed from sneakers to heels) and how the hemline of pants falls when wearing different footwear. Tsukamoto added: 'In recent years, platforms like TikTok and YouTube have normalised individually tailored content, influencing all generations. 'Similarly, personalisation in apparel e-commerce is expected to become an essential element of the online fashion industry. 'We will continue to expand our services with a focus on personalisation. 'We already have the FaceChange feature within Unisize, which allows users to upload an image of their face onto the model used for the fashion item, and our personalisation database allows returning users to compare previously purchased items with new items to see how the fit matches or differs.' Makip is the number one online sizing recommendation provider in its home country of Japan. This latest upgrade to its Unisize product is part of its global expansion strategy to strengthen its presence in overseas markets.
Fashion Network
08-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Makip upgrades Unisize tech in UK
It comes as retailers and brands continue to work towards reducing online returns with size and fit issues one of the main reasons for an outsized number of returns by e-shoppers compared to in-person shoppers. Research from Retail Economics showed that last year, while 17 out of every 100 products sold online across all categories were returned, the fashion industry saw return rates reach as high as 30% due to issues such as incorrect sizing. On average a quarter of clothing items are returned. The problem for retailers isn't just that consumers are returning items due to them not fitting as they expected but that those shoppers are now regularly ordering multiple sizes, colours, or styles of an item and would only ever keep one. Understandably, this is a major logistics problem and contributes to a huge number of returned items being marked down each season. Unisize 3D works by generating a 3D avatar based on the dimensions of the clothing and the user's body shape information. The avatar allows users to check the looseness and fit of the clothing item before making a purchase. The 3D model can be rotated to provide a 360-degree view of the silhouette so they can see, for instance, how the item fits across the chest or arms when viewed from the side or how it hangs from the hips down to the ankles. For trousers there's also a key enhancement. With 2D online sizing, user images were displayed barefoot, but with the new 3D function, users can now view the silhouette while wearing shoes and the model's footwear can be changed from trainers, shoes or heels. That said, this particular function is currently available for select avatars only. Shingo Tsukamoto, CEO and President of Makip, said that with an enormous number of fashion items being returned 'usually at the expense of the retailer, we feel that this cannot continue. In recent years, some retailers have taken a stand and started charging customers for returning items, however, we approach this from the view of customer experience. If we can provide customers with more accurate sizing options at the time of purchase, this leads to a reduction in returns. This has been proven across our Japan-based fashion clients with the average return rate dropping by 20%'. He added that 'in recent years, platforms like TikTok and YouTube have normalised individually tailored content, influencing all generations. Similarly, personalisation in apparel e-commerce is expected to become an essential element of the online fashion industry. We already have the FaceChange feature within Unisize, which allows users to upload an image of their face onto the model used for the fashion item, and our personalisation database allows returning users to compare previously purchased items with new items to see how the fit matches or differs.' The new development comes after Makip this year set up a UK-based company, Makip London Limited, 'marking an important step in accelerating its global expansion and strategy to strengthen its presence in overseas markets'.
Fashion Network
08-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Makip upgrades Unisize tech in UK
It comes as retailers and brands continue to work towards reducing online returns with size and fit issues one of the main reasons for an outsized number of returns by e-shoppers compared to in-person shoppers. Research from Retail Economics showed that last year, while 17 out of every 100 products sold online across all categories were returned, the fashion industry saw return rates reach as high as 30% due to issues such as incorrect sizing. On average a quarter of clothing items are returned. The problem for retailers isn't just that consumers are returning items due to them not fitting as they expected but that those shoppers are now regularly ordering multiple sizes, colours, or styles of an item and would only ever keep one. Understandably, this is a major logistics problem and contributes to a huge number of returned items being marked down each season. Unisize 3D works by generating a 3D avatar based on the dimensions of the clothing and the user's body shape information. The avatar allows users to check the looseness and fit of the clothing item before making a purchase. The 3D model can be rotated to provide a 360-degree view of the silhouette so they can see, for instance, how the item fits across the chest or arms when viewed from the side or how it hangs from the hips down to the ankles. For trousers there's also a key enhancement. With 2D online sizing, user images were displayed barefoot, but with the new 3D function, users can now view the silhouette while wearing shoes and the model's footwear can be changed from trainers, shoes or heels. That said, this particular function is currently available for select avatars only. Shingo Tsukamoto, CEO and President of Makip, said that with an enormous number of fashion items being returned 'usually at the expense of the retailer, we feel that this cannot continue. In recent years, some retailers have taken a stand and started charging customers for returning items, however, we approach this from the view of customer experience. If we can provide customers with more accurate sizing options at the time of purchase, this leads to a reduction in returns. This has been proven across our Japan-based fashion clients with the average return rate dropping by 20%'. He added that 'in recent years, platforms like TikTok and YouTube have normalised individually tailored content, influencing all generations. Similarly, personalisation in apparel e-commerce is expected to become an essential element of the online fashion industry. We already have the FaceChange feature within Unisize, which allows users to upload an image of their face onto the model used for the fashion item, and our personalisation database allows returning users to compare previously purchased items with new items to see how the fit matches or differs.' The new development comes after Makip this year set up a UK-based company, Makip London Limited, 'marking an important step in accelerating its global expansion and strategy to strengthen its presence in overseas markets'.
Fashion Network
08-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Makip upgrades Unisize tech in UK
It comes as retailers and brands continue to work towards reducing online returns with size and fit issues one of the main reasons for an outsized number of returns by e-shoppers compared to in-person shoppers. Research from Retail Economics showed that last year, while 17 out of every 100 products sold online across all categories were returned, the fashion industry saw return rates reach as high as 30% due to issues such as incorrect sizing. On average a quarter of clothing items are returned. The problem for retailers isn't just that consumers are returning items due to them not fitting as they expected but that those shoppers are now regularly ordering multiple sizes, colours, or styles of an item and would only ever keep one. Understandably, this is a major logistics problem and contributes to a huge number of returned items being marked down each season. Unisize 3D works by generating a 3D avatar based on the dimensions of the clothing and the user's body shape information. The avatar allows users to check the looseness and fit of the clothing item before making a purchase. The 3D model can be rotated to provide a 360-degree view of the silhouette so they can see, for instance, how the item fits across the chest or arms when viewed from the side or how it hangs from the hips down to the ankles. For trousers there's also a key enhancement. With 2D online sizing, user images were displayed barefoot, but with the new 3D function, users can now view the silhouette while wearing shoes and the model's footwear can be changed from trainers, shoes or heels. That said, this particular function is currently available for select avatars only. Shingo Tsukamoto, CEO and President of Makip, said that with an enormous number of fashion items being returned 'usually at the expense of the retailer, we feel that this cannot continue. In recent years, some retailers have taken a stand and started charging customers for returning items, however, we approach this from the view of customer experience. If we can provide customers with more accurate sizing options at the time of purchase, this leads to a reduction in returns. This has been proven across our Japan-based fashion clients with the average return rate dropping by 20%'. He added that 'in recent years, platforms like TikTok and YouTube have normalised individually tailored content, influencing all generations. Similarly, personalisation in apparel e-commerce is expected to become an essential element of the online fashion industry. We already have the FaceChange feature within Unisize, which allows users to upload an image of their face onto the model used for the fashion item, and our personalisation database allows returning users to compare previously purchased items with new items to see how the fit matches or differs.' The new development comes after Makip this year set up a UK-based company, Makip London Limited, 'marking an important step in accelerating its global expansion and strategy to strengthen its presence in overseas markets'.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unisize, a sizing recommendation software for fashion apparel e-commerce, releases a new demo of 'FaceChange' AI Function
FaceChange AI function enables online shoppers to virtually try on clothes by changing the facial features of models and matching them with their own, including skin colour, facial contours and hairstyles LONDON, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Makip London., Ltd. has updated its sizing recommendation software - Unisize - and released a new feature that allows online shoppers to replace the facial features of the online model with their own face, including hairstyle, facial features, skin colour, etc. The new 'FaceChange' (patent pending) AI fashion software allows users to virtually try on clothes at home and check how the latest fashion items will fit them. This new AI fashion service will provide users with a more realistic virtual try-on experience. Users securely upload an image of their face and FaceChange then replaces the online model's face with their own - allowing them to see how they would look wearing the item. The satisfaction rate of online shoppers who have used the new FaceChange functions increased by 112%*.*Satisfaction of users who utilise the new synthesis compared to traditional synthesis methods. You can demo the FaceChange software feature using your own face on the FaceChange Demo. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link. A video accompanying this announcement is available at Shingo Tsukamoto, CEO and President of Makip Co. Ltd, said, 'With our FaceChange AI fashion technology, online shoppers can 'virtually try on' the clothing items of their choice, gaining instant visual feedback. Now shoppers are not only confident that they are purchasing the right size but are also confident that they will look great. Our Japanese clients using FaceChange have increased sales by four times* using FaceChange and now we want to bring similar success to our UK clients.' This release is the latest development of the highly accurate online sizing technology, Unisize, which is quickly becoming established in the UK retail e-commerce market. The FaceChange AI fashion technology has been successfully used in Japan since 2023 and is proven to increase conversion rates by over four times*. *Comparison of purchase rates between users who used FaceChange and those who did not use FaceChange. Feedback from users who have used FaceChange 'Until now, when shopping online, there have been times when the item arriving was different from what I imagined, or didn't fit me. By using this service, I can see clearly what the item will look like using my face, so shopping has become easier.' 'It is easy to use and it is easy to imagine how I will look wearing the product.' 'When I tried it using my face, I found that some items that looked good on me and some did not, which was helpful.' "I was able to check how the item looked using my face, which helped me choose the colour." 2,572 users took part in the survey of FaceChange, which was carried out from 27 September 2024 to 13 March 2025. Tsukamoto concluded, 'This marks a significant step forward to making shopping for clothes online in the UK as satisfying as shopping in a physical store. As our FaceChange AI fashion technology advances, Unisize will be able to accurately adjust both the body shape and features to the specific sizes of the online shopper, creating an even more accurate online shopping experience. These advances will increase sales and reduce clothing returns - a win-win situation for consumers and retailers.' Founded in 2015, Tokyo-based Makip supports over 300 online retail/eCommerce sites and popular fashion brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Lacoste with its innovative online sizing technology. About FaceChange FaceChange is a service that combines images of models and staff wearing the product on an eCommerce website with a photo of the user's face, allowing users to check how the product will look before purchasing. It was released in Japan in November 2024 and is already in use by several major apparel E-commerce services. (Patent pending) FaceChange solves the problem of users being unsure whether they will look good wearing the clothing item. About MakipMAKIP LONDON LTDCEO, Shingo Tsukamoto72-74 Dean St, London, W1D 3SG, UNITED KINGDOMhttps:// A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in to access your portfolio
