Hi, I’m Rosie.
When I started my fashion tech startup, Rosie Hong, every vendor told me the same thing: “Don’t do custom. It doesn’t scale. Just do Ready-to-Wear (S/M/L), manufacture in bulk, and run ads.”
They were right. The "SaaS model" of fashion (write code once, sell a million times) is efficient. But I realized that in fashion, "efficient" is often a synonym for "ill-fitting."
I decided to do the opposite. I built a business model that combines high-tech with high-touch. Here is the breakdown:
1. The Tech Stack (The Logic): We use 3D body scanning to capture the client’s architecture. I don’t write code to automate the whole process; I write algorithms that translate a 3D point cloud into a unique 2D pattern, correcting for posture and shoulder slope…
Hi, I’m Rosie.
When I started my fashion tech startup, Rosie Hong, every vendor told me the same thing: “Don’t do custom. It doesn’t scale. Just do Ready-to-Wear (S/M/L), manufacture in bulk, and run ads.”
They were right. The "SaaS model" of fashion (write code once, sell a million times) is efficient. But I realized that in fashion, "efficient" is often a synonym for "ill-fitting."
I decided to do the opposite. I built a business model that combines high-tech with high-touch. Here is the breakdown:
1. The Tech Stack (The Logic): We use 3D body scanning to capture the client’s architecture. I don’t write code to automate the whole process; I write algorithms that translate a 3D point cloud into a unique 2D pattern, correcting for posture and shoulder slope.
2. The Human API (The Soul): This is the part that scares investors but delights customers. Once the pattern is printed in Vietnam, the "algorithm" stops. We work with Master Tailors in Saigon - veterans with 30+ years of experience. They handle the "feeling" (drape, ease, stiffness) that math can’t calculate.
The "Made in Vietnam" Arbitrage: For decades, my country has been viewed as a source of cheap labor for fast fashion. I’m flipping that script. I’m positioning Vietnam as a source of Technical Craftsmanship. We aren’t competing on price ($5 t-shirts). We are competing on Dignity.
The Result: A garment that fits better than off-the-rack and feels more personal than a pure algorithm could ever produce. It’s harder to scale, yes. But the "Moat" is huge because few are willing to do the hard operational work.
Ask: Has anyone here successfully scaled a "Phygital" (Physical + Digital) service? Would love to hear how you handle the QC when humans are in the loop.