iTry - Sustainability in e-commerce

Degree Project 2022

E-commerce returns harm the environment. In 2019, the writer Clara Monserrat Forssen published an article in the magazine Research and Progress which highlighted the problem that many use their home as a fitting room. According to Forssen, Swedish consumers return 3.3 million goods that they bought online annually. Among these, the fashion industry stands out, where just over one in five purchases are returned.

For economic reasons, these returns are often transported abroad, which gives rise to both many and long transports. In addition, some of the clothes are thrown away as it is not economically beneficial to keep them. Furthermore, it may also be the case that some clothes go out of the range and for that reason are discarded.

So, how can returns when buying clothes online be minimized?

This project shows the process from ideas to finished concept for a concept that is intended to reduce returns within the fashion industry, caused by the wrong fit.

iTry is a concept that aims to minimize returns caused by the wrong fit and size. The concept allows the user to try clothes online and physically. For a perfect fit, the user scans their body in a smart mirror, that scan can then be saved to an app in the user's phone. Trying on clothes online is almost the same as in a physical store. Fashion companies that focus on e-commerce can subscribe to iTry's service and then customers can test their collections in iTry's store and app.

Helping the customer to find the right size directly is beneficial. Companies will consume less packaging, save time and pay less shipping. The customers are satisfied not having to return items. In addition, this will lead to less emissions and be more sustainable for our environment.

Nina Långström

Bachelor's Programme in Industrial Design
Illustration Image:Umeå Institute of Design

iTry

Illustration Image:Umeå Institute of Design

Exploded view smart mirror

Illustration Image:Umeå Institute of Design

iTry app

Image:Umeå Institute of Design

Scan smart mirror, rotatable platform.

Illustration Image:Umeå Institute of Design

Camera and sensors

Illustration Image:Umeå Institute of Design

Platform

Illustration Image:Umeå Institute of Design

Interface smart mirror - scan

Illustration Image:Umeå Institute of Design

Trying clothes in smart mirror

Illustration Image:Umeå Institute of Design

Overview app

Illustration Image:Umeå Institute of Design

App and functions

Fotokollage Image:Umeå Institute of Design

Work process

Illustration Image:Umeå Institute of Design

Prototype app and mirror