IFM and École 42 host Fashion Tech hackathon

The Institut Français de la Mode and École 42 recently held a Fashion Tech hackathon at VivaTech, bringing together nearly 40 students to address industry challenges through technology. The event resulted in three distinct projects aimed at resolving specific friction points in the fashion sector.

One project, EasyTry, focuses on the e-commerce experience by proposing an extension that allows users to visualize clothing on their own bodies to generate fit and comfort scores. This aims to reduce uncertainty in the French apparel market, which sees 30% of its 35 billion euro value generated online, while also addressing accessibility for individuals with functional limitations.

A second project, Continuum, explores health-integrated jewelry. It involves a ring designed to detect menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes, via heart rate and temperature sensors, and respond with localized cooling and breathing guidance.

The third project, Luma, utilizes AI to capture in-store feedback for fashion houses, helping brands understand customer sentiments regarding product comfort and fit that are often lost in physical retail environments.