3D avatars currently used in the apparel industry are hard. They do not behave like real human bodies and do not change shape in response to the garments. This is a major challenge for use of 3D technologies for predicting fit, especially for close-to-body garments such as intimates, athletic apparel, swimwear, and footwear.

The soft avatar project at UBC is a multi-year effort to capture not only the 3D shape of a human body but also its physical properties, including elasticity, soft tissue volume, and how the body responds to touch with garments and other objects.  The project has measured more than a hundred human participants, from diverse populations, and created the world's first database of soft tissue properties.  These tissue properties are used in finite element (FEM) models of the human body and its interaction with garments.  In parallel efforts, we are also measuring physical properties of real garments, and realistic tissue movement during dynamic activities. Existing garment patterns developed in garment CAD systems can now be simulated with soft avatars.  I will present results of this process in creating personalized digital avatars and evaluating the fit of sports bras.