Comments on: SPESA Trip Report: Kathleen pt.4

By: Eric H

Eric H — Thu, 24 May 2007 16:00:56 +0000

I believe Miracle is right about the squishiness. I can’t remember if it was Ram or someone else who told me that fitting things like swimsuits was exactly why they used that material (silicon I think). The squishiness also gives it a “tackiness” like real skin.

A software vendor located near Tuka told me that the forms had been “molested” and that many people would look around to make sure nobody was watching.

By: Debra

Debra — Thu, 24 May 2007 01:14:23 +0000

A company I worked for in the past researched all the top dressforms makers. We visited Alvanon, they demonstrated how they can scan a live person, in this case our fit model, and we watched on the PC screen as her body was in fact copied from head to toe, and shifted her body double around on the screen. She then came out from the scanning area to also view her double.
She couldn’t believe it, she said it was very surreal to see “her” body duplicate, even her face had her features. It was wierd, but also very interesting. Of course then they would incorporate all the data into producing a dressform in the end that was identical to her bodyshape. The process had many steps, including a mold made identical to her, and that would make the final dressform.
I can’t remember the cost, I do remember it was high.
Next we visited Wolf, Superior and a few more.
Dressform making is very interesting, making the molds, filling them with paper mache’ in layers to actually mold into the shaping of the form, workers also did this with there hands, then in rough form the bodys would be hand sanded and sent to the workers that fit the muslin on, kinda a shrinking technique in the end, they also hand sew all the seams on the body parts, as anyone can see when they look closely at the seaming. Amazing. I thought it was quite an art. Our company did end up chosing one of the makers to build a copy of our fit model, which we then used in product dev. when she wasn’t present. (In addition to the standard size dressforms we had). I wondered most about what happens if she quits someday and they hire another fit model? What was the point of all that work and cost if they had to use a new girl and she still was a size 10 BUT, her shape is not the same? Would they once again have this fit model “cloaned”, and would they be in need of the previous fit model, and on and on? I saw many fit models come and go there. Personally, I say use a standard fit for your company and go with it, in all the market research we did at that company, we discovered the obvious in the end …in my opinion, everyone who has been in the product dev. process, knows of course you could have 15 size 10’s all lined up, dressed in the same tights, in front of you , also having them turn this way and that to compare while taking photos and measurements, creating spreadsheets and diagrams ….and see that those 15 are all shaped differently yet they wear size 10’s.
(of course some looked better fitted then others). In the end you just have to try to fit a general shaped 10 body, keeping within some tolerances.
and yes I have touched those spongey dressforms, they are unique, and I favored the regular dress form with the added feature of just a soft belly, so when you tried slacks on the form you could stick your fingers between that and the waistband to actually feel how tight it might feel on a real belly. I have stuck my fingers in between waistbands and a real body as well. You have too, it is part of fitting.
In the end all the dressform businesses were great! Their prices varied.

By: Miracle

Miracle — Wed, 23 May 2007 17:41:56 +0000

Kathleen,

I’ve been a follower of Tukatech forms for some time and two of the markets they really target is swimwear and lingerie (i.e. the bust only form in the background), which is the reason for the “squishiness” of the forms (I believe they are made of silicone, no?).

The squishiness has a definite advantage, depending upon the type of apparel you are manufacturing. It is made to emulate the fleshiness of a real human body and is supposed to show you where your clothing inappropriately pinches the body or causes a “piece of anatomy” (for lack of a better phrase) to do something (or look a certain way) that it should not.

Having said that (as some of you know, I’m in the intimate apparel industry, so I’m biased), I totally understand the squishiness and although I love accurate shaping of the firm, pinnable form, I do think the Tukatech product introduces a very valid, and important, feature. And in certain markets, I am not even sure it makes sense to fit against a firm form because you would not get that “feedback”.

By: J C Sprowls

J C Sprowls — Wed, 23 May 2007 16:37:23 +0000

I think the initial perception is shocking. I averted my eyes at first, too. But, if you had a product which necessitated working on that type of form (i.e. undergarments), it would be invaluable.

From personal experience, I know that the waistband curtain of a trouser can have one of the seams located in an uncomfortable position. I’ve tried to elicit feedback from customers on that; but, they sometimes have a difficult time articulating. A human may not respond kindly to me plunging my finger inside their waistband to check the fit, position and finish of the interior seams.

By: Alisa Benay

Alisa Benay — Wed, 23 May 2007 15:50:14 +0000

Ann, on the Alvanon site, there is an “online store” button. Root through there & you can find pricing. Although they don’t give the measurements, just says “size 8″ etc.

I love their logo.

I’d be creeped out by cellulite on dress forms, too, Kathleen. gross.

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Wed, 23 May 2007 15:36:42 +0000

Okay, I WANT those children’s forms!!! Thank you for the report. It’s great to see so much progress being made in this area, and I think that the relationship with you and Alvanon sounds perfect.

By: Ann K

Ann K — Wed, 23 May 2007 05:31:51 +0000

The Alva Forms look like something I could definitely lust after. However, I couldn’t find any mention of price on their website. Could you give us a rough idea of the cost, Kathleen?

By: Esther

Esther — Tue, 22 May 2007 23:35:28 +0000

I like the shaping of the children’s forms!

By: Karen C

Karen C — Tue, 22 May 2007 22:36:17 +0000

OK, I checked out the website. Must say it took me way too many clicks (over 20) to get to the pricing and ordering. Busy business people do not have that much time. It was frustrating. They may want to re-work their site to make it more user-friendly.

By: Karen C

Karen C — Tue, 22 May 2007 21:47:55 +0000

Yippee!!! A new over-55 body stat study. You know this makes me happy. Hopefully, I won’t have to wait too long. Good post, Kathleen. Thanks.