Finding the Perfect Pair of Jeans
Archetype Solutions Inc. of Emeryville, Calif., has launched zafu.com, a Web site devoted to helping women find the perfect-fitting jeans.
Visitors to the site answer 11 questions pertaining to fit, size and style preferences, and Zafu provides recommendations from a database covering hundreds of styles from more than 70 brands. The site takes visitors to various retail Web sites such as saks.com and others featuring the recommendations. Zafu gets a share of the sale.
The system employs algorithms based on more than five years of research and development, which included measuring, assessing and photographing thousands of women in jeans to identify key body shapes and using technology to match them with the right garments.
The brands in the database have not paid anything to be included, a company spokeswoman said. Beta tests have resulted in 94 percent success rates in finding the best-fitting denim, she said.
“Women struggle to find the right fit. There are more variables. Ask any woman and you’ll see,” said Rob Holloway, Archetype’s founder and chief executive officer. He also is a former CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. “We have at last solved this problem. By using zafu, it is much easier for women to find their perfect jeans, whether they shop online or take our recommendations on their next trip to the store.”
Archetype has worked with several national retailers with fit programs, including Target Corp.’s “Target to a T” custom clothing program.
