Long Tall Sally which specialises in fashion for tall women, has launched the first mannequin based on the exact proportions of an actual customer. Using the latest in 3D scanning and printing technology, Long Tall Sally created the precise likeness of one of its very own customers – Harriet Winters from London, who stands at 6’0″ and wears a US size 10.
As a true specialist in apparel for women 5’8″ and taller, with a focus on having every item fit properly and proportionally on a tall figure, Long Tall Sally wanted to create a figure that was atypical for a standard “fashion” mannequin. To keep its customers’ fit and design needs at the forefront, the goal was to develop one that reflected the actual shape of a “real woman,” combined with the facial likeness of one of its customers.
The result: a one-of-a-kind, 3D-printed mannequin that will be utilized in Long Tall Sally’s design studio in London for regular fittings and size checks to provide the team a unique opportunity to ensure their designs fit properly and proportionally on the dimensions of a real woman.
“In an industry-first, we’re now able to see what our collections will look like on a mannequin created from the exact likeness of one of our customers, which is incredibly exciting,” says Andrew Shapin, CEO of Long Tall Sally. “Our talented designers pay special attention to the particular fit that taller women need, so bringing a customer, like Harriet, to the heart of this process will be invaluable.”
The process works by scanning the entire body with a 3D machine and mapping the scan to create a mannequin blueprint that matches the measurements and curves of the subject. Once it has been divided into sections, similar to those of an in-store mannequin, it is then crafted into a solid figure using foam and resin.
Long Tall Sally’s new mannequin also marks a significant departure for the fashion and retail industry, which typically utilizes a mannequin that stands around 5’9″ and wears a US size 4, measuring 34″ in the chest, 24″ in the waist, and 34″ in the hips. For years, Long Tall Sally had to special order mannequins for its in-store displays at 6’0″ tall, size 8 to fit the brand’s sample size. Long Tall Sally’s new mannequin stands at 6’0″ and wears a size 10, measuring 38″ – 31″ – 40″.
Fashion industry expert, June Rowe, who specializes in the history of mannequins, believes that this type of personalization is the future for the industry.
“The mannequin has always adapted with fashion, and new digital technologies have seen the industry embrace cutting-edge and dynamic forms – such as holograms and mannequins that move,” says Rowe. “The 3D scanning of a customer meets the new demand of consumers that are looking for a more ‘real’ reflection of themselves in their shopping experience, as well as a more inclusive and forward-thinking fashion industry.”
“To me, most mannequins in stores look so similar and don’t always reflect real body shapes,” says Harriet, the 6’0″ customer who inspired the new mannequin. “I’m proud of my figure, and it’s really powerful to see a mannequin with the dimensions of a real woman.”
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