Only in Korea, the virtual fashion mall

Michelle Attmore of Miss Selfridge, sent me this interesting ditty

I-Fashion!

South Korea's Shinsegae Department Store is claiming a world first by launching an advanced virtual reality fashion store to help enhance customer choice and boost apparel sales.

On the i-Fashion website, (www.iFashion.or.kr ), shoppers can create a virtual image, or avatar, by recording their personal dimensions to create an exact size and figure shape onto a smart card that can be saved for future use. Users are then able to try on any item in the virtual shop and get it custom fit.

The system, built by the Clothing Technical Centre at Konkuk University and clothing manufacturer FnC Kolon Corp with support of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, aims to become a global leader in revolutionary online shopping services.

"We hope our technology will revolutionise the global online retail market through digital clothes," added Park Chang kyu, director of the iFashion Clothing Technology Centre at Konkuk University. "Other existing online clothing retailers worldwide are competing with brands, marketing, and design. But what we have done is create a whole new different ball game; no one in the world has this technology yet."

Jung Dong-chang, head of the ministry's textile industry team, noted: "Anyone with this card will be able to easily try on and buy clothes using mobile phones and computers," adding that people with access to the body measurements of friends and relatives could also buy gifts without fear of the wearer returning the clothes because of a bad fit.

He said such innovative sales systems could be created since South Korea has one of the most advanced and extensive IT networks in the world. Its companies can create digital catalogues, virtual mirrors, mannequins and advanced radio frequency identification (RFID) systems.

Jung also said virtual i-Fashion shops could help clothing makers move into value-added, custom clothes more effectively by receiving online orders, improving the competitiveness of clothing manufacturers.

While the shop is still in the "experimental" stage, Shinsegae Co said the service is expected to expand rapidly, while researchers will continue to advance the system with strong support from the government, the Commerce Ministry said. FnC Kolon said it will operate its own i-Fashion store starting in November.

Another thread in the story of Digital Korea

So a big virtual thank you to Michelle!

Comments

[Paul (Dog Clothes) J.]

I think it's a very smart move this day and age and it'll only be a matter of time before you see think kind of thing everywhere.

Regards,

Paul J.

[Dental Spa]

"We hope our technology will revolutionise the global online retail market through digital clothes"

I honestly think it will as well.

[Dandy Handbags]

www.iFashion.or.kr is a wonderful website that gives you so much more that the traditional shopping website. I'm sure it will do fantastic in the future.