Tag: online shopping

The Future is Here: Thinx Underwear!

thinx_mainThere are those who believe that underwear can change the world. And when you consider the way that young girls are disadvantaged, disrespected, and neglected worldwide, you have to believe they’re onto something. In many poverty-stricken countries, young women are disadvantaged simply by being young women, and because of a lack of health and medical services as well as sanitary products.

And that’s one of the reasons that Antonia, Miki and Radha Agrawal decided to come up with the product known as the Thinx. After a series of harrowing experiences and inspiration gained from traveling abroad, they developed the idea for a leak/stain-resistant, anti-microbial, and moisture-wicking underwear. And with a little crowdfunding through Kickstarter ($130,000 to be exact), they were able to make it a reality.

thinxThe women also partnered with Uganda-based organization AFRIpads, which creates washable pads for women in developing countries so they don’t have to miss work or school for a week each month. For each pair of underwear Thinx sells, it donates enough money for AFRIpads to create seven pads for young women in their country.

And as a final boost, the women beat out another 145 entrepreneurs in a contest held by the online marketplace known as the Daily Grommet, to have their product sold on the online marketplace, promoted in the media and be featured on the funding website Indiegogo. Here, the ladies appear together to offer their thoughts on insights on how their product can help change the world, as well as relating the story of how they came came up with it.

afripad

So in addition to showing how new media and international marketing to help change the world, this also demonstrates the power of crowdfunding and taking socially-conscious, sustainable ideas directly to the marketplace. What an age we live in! And one also has to consider what this case demonstrates about small things making big impacts.

In addition to helping women in the industrialized world avoid embarrassment and infection, it also will help girls abroad overcome the disadvantages that are so often heaped upon them because of their gender. And this comes not long after the development of the Smart Bra, a revolutionary undergarment that helps women beat breast cancer through early detection. Who say’s underwear can’t change the world?

And be sure to check out the video of the Agrawal sisters Indiegogo interview:


Source: shethinx.com, fastcompany.com, indiegogo.com

Robots Meet the Fashion Industry

robot_fashionRobotics has come a long way in recent years. Why, just take a look at NASA’s X1 Robotic exoskeleton, the Robonaut, robotaxis and podcars, the mind-controlled EMT robot suit, Stompy the giant robot, Kenshiro and Roboy, and the 3D printed android. I suppose it was only a matter of time before the world of fashion looked at this burgeoning marketplace and said “me too!”

And here are just some of the first attempts to merge the two worlds: First up there’s the robot mannequin, a means of making window shopping more fun for consumers. Known as the MarionetteBot, this automaton has already made several appearances in shops in Japan and can expected to be making debut appearances across Asia, in North America and the EU soon enough!

Check out the video below to see the robot in action. Designed by the Japanese robotics company United Arrows, the mannequin uses a Kinect to capture and help analyze the movements of a person while a motor moves a total of 16 wires to match the person’s pose. Though it is not yet fast or limber enough to perfectly mimic the moves of a person, the technology shows promise, and has provided many a window-shopper with plenty of entertainment!


And next up, there’s the equally impressive FitBot, a shape-shifting mannequin that is capable of emulating thousands of body types. Designed by the British virtual shopping company Fits.Me, the FitBot is designed to help take some of the guesswork out of online shopping, where a good 25% of purchases are regularly returned because they were apparently the wrong size.

But with the FitBots, along with a virtual fitting room, customers will be able to see right away what the clothes will look like on them. The only downside is you will have to know your exact measurements, because that’s what the software will use to adjust the bot’s body. Click here to visit the company’s website and see how the virtual fitting room works, and be sure to check out there video below:


What does the future hold for the fashion industry and high-tech? Well, already customers are able to see what they look like using Augmented Reality technology displays, and can get pictures thanks to tablet and mobile phone apps that can present them with the image before making a purchase. Not only does it take a lot of the legwork out of the process, its much more sanitary as far as trying on clothes is concerned. And in a world where clothing can be printed on site, it would be downright necessary.

The "magic mirror"
The “magic mirror”

But in the case of online shopping, its likely to take the form of a Kinect device in your computer, which scans your body and lets you know what size to get. How cool/lazy would that be? Oh, and as for those AR displays that put you in the clothes you want? They should come with a disclaimer: Objects in mirror are less attractive than they appear!

Source: en.akihabaranews.com, technabob.com