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 was presented at Design Indaba last month and involves 3D-scanning a body to determine its exact proportions, which are used to create customised clothing.
Synflux aims to disrupt the current system employed by the fashion industry, from design to factory production.
"The existing linear model created on the premise of mass production and consumption desperately calls for a change," said the creators. "Looking to a more sustainable future, we must reconsider the holistic cycle of fashion."
Algorithimic Couture uses machine learning to create clothing that uses as little fabric as possible Synflux runs machine-learning algorithms over the data collected to find the optimum garment pattern that reduces fabric waste to zero. The programme then generates optimised fashion pattern modules comprised of 2D rectangles and straight lines.
These 2D modules that make up the overall garment are then modelled using computer-aided design (CAD) software to produce a fashion pattern for an item of clothing that is both comfortable and sustainable.

"By utilising 3D-scanning technology alongside computer-aided design (CAD) software, we are able to optimise garments to the unique body types of the user, independent from the prêt-a-porter sys...