Digital Tailoring

The most fastidious dressers know that, when it comes to fit, nothing comes close to a tailor-made suit. But repeated visits to a shop — for initial measurements and follow-up fittings — are a time-consuming luxury that most people can’t afford. So some entrepreneurial tailors in Southeast Asia have developed a smartphone app that could greatly expand the market for custom-made clothing.

Called UKYS, the iOS app combines body measurements with client photos taken according to precise instructions to generate a comprehensive body metric in much the same way a seasoned tailor would. Users can then choose from a variety of customizable features such as overall design, fabric, cuff style or collar style, and the garment is tailored and shipped to the customer.

The app recently claimed first prize at a competition organized by the U.S. Embassy in Viet Nam. It has also drawn attention from some big names in the textile and garment industry as the next big thing in custom tailoring.