Research collective Synflux has developed a system of digitised couture that reduces the amount of fabric needed to make clothes by creating garments that exactly fit the wearer’s body. Called Algorithimic Couture, the project involves 3D scanning a body to determine its exact proportions, which are used to create customised clothing. Synflux runs machine learning algorithms over the data collected to find the optimum garment pattern that reduces fabric waste to zero. The program then generates optimised fashion pattern modules comprised of 2D rectangles and straight lines. These 2D modules that make up the overall garment are then modeled using computer-aided design software to produce a fashion pattern for an item of clothing that is both comfortable and sustainable.

Synflux aims at disrupting the current system employed by the fashion industry, from design to factory production. It hopes that Algorithmic Couture will be widely implemented to reduce waste and energy in the fashion production industry more generally.

Synflux’s system also allows the user to customise the shape, fabric and color of the final garment to reflect their personal style. The garments are optimised to the user’s unique body shapes. Algorithmic Couture aims at revitalising how people fashion their own style through personalisation in the digital design process.