Lets Talk About Fit

Part of the reason we love having people visit us in store is because we can help them find the right fit.

Fit matters.

When something fits well, you wear it.
You feel comfortable.
You feel confident.
You reach for it again and again.

That's why we have our classic styles, that people know and love. Its also why, once we’ve found the right shape, we don’t deviate.

But there's a bigger question.

Did you know there is no UK standard sizing?

Or that the methods used to grade clothing sizes haven't changed since the 1940s?

Recently, I visited Manchester Metropolitan University to learn more about sizing and about 3D body scanning and how it could re-shape the future of clothing.

We're all different shapes, sizes and proportions yet we're expected to fit into a handful of standard sizes.

What if clothes could adapt to people, instead of people adapting to clothes?

At Palava, we've always tried to make our clothes work for as many people as possible. Adjustable belts, elasticated waists and different silhouettes are all part of that thinking. We love seeing our clothes fit well and the confidence they give.

We get so many lovely emails and feedback from our customers but, as you may well know, its impossible to fit everyone.

But what if it wasn’t? What if we could make clothes fit each person perfectly?

For us, this is where things start to get interesting.

3D Body scanning opens up possibilities that simply didn't exist before.

Traditionally, if you wanted something made just for you, every measurement would be taken by hand before a pattern was created. We start talking about tailoring and the price tag that comes with it.

But …

3D Body scanning could offer another way to understand how a garment might work for an individual, quickly and consistently. It's still early days, and there is a great deal to learn, but it's exciting to think about where that technology might lead.

It also fits naturally with the work we're already doing around made-to-order clothing.

We're beginning to experiment with different ways of making garments, giving people more choice and asking better questions. As those ideas develop, technologies like 3D body scanning could become game changer.

Not just for the individual, but for the planet.

Better fit = Better lifetime for the garment

The more confident you feel, the more joy a garment brings you, the more its worn.

And ultimately, that is our goal, to give people clothes they love and will wear and wear.

We don't see this technology as the answer on its own.

We see it as another way of helping people find the right fit.

That's why fit matters.