Digital Doppelgangers Provide Unique Fashion Fix
New York, NY (PRWEB) July 24, 2013 -- Chic styles, smart convenience: that is the promise of Qvit, a company that combines innovative technology with the style sensibilities of three 20-something professional sophisticates. Sisters Lorena and Mayra Roa and best friend Laura Pastrana have developed software that creates custom avatars for individual customers’ bodies, allowing online shoppers to see how a carefully curated boutique of unique designer garments will fit them before placing an order.
Founder and CEO Lorena Roa originally dreamt up Qvit while at school in Indiana, finding herself frustrated with the lack of local retail variety and the aggravation of online returns. “The perfection achieved in a unique garment created by a master designer obsessed me,” she states. “I considered them a piece of art, art that is actually wearable. And with any piece of art there shouldn’t be room for doubts on the acquisition and fit.” A freshman at the time, she asked older sister Mayra, now CFO, to put her accounting smarts to use by helping write up a business plan. In the process, Mayra fell in love with Lorena’s concept. That just left COO Laura, who explored Qvit’s feasibility with a marketing project and quickly jumped onboard as well. “As a digital enthusiast, Qvit is the result of a personal conviction that finding the desired fit in online shopping can greatly enhance user experiences while simultaneously revolutionizing the apparel industry.”
Qvit launched in 2009, as the trio worked with software developers to build their site that would allow shoppers to digitally “try on” clothes using custom-made avatars. Following several years of development and excitement from early users, Qvit will unveil its groundbreaking technology on September 2—along with its expanded boutique of over 100 new products from 80 different men’s and women’s designers, ranging from Dolce Vita to Joe’s Jeans. In the meantime, the public can sign up for an account at http://www.qvit.com to secure a spot in the exclusive membership network; post-launch, membership will be offered by invitation only.
Each Qvit avatar is a personalized digital replica of that individual’s physique, based on input measurements and other details including skin tone. Using multiple applications that respect the physical garment’s characteristics, such as stretch and drape, and offering users differing vantage points and feedback, this generated twin allows shoppers to view themselves in the varying styles, sizes and colors they’re considering. Ultimately, it allows them to select the fit they prefer as they would be able to do in a physical dressing room. This greatly reduces or altogether eliminates the nuisance of returns and exchanges, repeat shipping, wasted time and frustration. It also closes the gap between customers and designers: it allows shoppers to freely fall in love with individual garments from new brands whose specific sizing they may not be familiar with, and thus increases those brands’ sales and customer satisfaction. The current designer cache includes 80 different brands, and the founders say Qvit only has more room to grow from here on out.
Qvit.com is free to use—but, alas, you have to buy the clothes! Prices start at $25.
Experience Qvit at http://www.qvit.com.
About the Founders:
Qvit is the brainchild of Lorena Roa, Founder & Chief Executive Officer. A native of Neiva, Colombia, Lorena graduated from Purdue University with a major in Management and a triple minor in Entrepreneurship, International Business, and Art and Design. Prior to the launch of Qvit, Lorena honed her professional abilities at Copa Airlines and Versace USA.
Mayra Roa, Founder & Chief Financial Officer, sister of Lorena, also grew up in Neiva, Colombia. She is a graduate of Babson College where she received undergraduate degrees in Accounting and Entrepreneurship, summa-cum laude, as well as a Masters in Accounting, building the skill set with which she constructed Qvit’s original business plan. Prior to the launch of Qvit, Mayra was a financial auditor for Ernst & Young.
Laura Pastrana, Founder & Chief Operating Officer, is a native of Bogotá, Colombia. She is a graduate of Babson College with a double major in Finance and Entrepreneurship, summa-cum laude, where she created Qvit’s marketing plan in her final semester. Prior to the launch of Qvit, Laura joined Lehman Brothers and then, following its acquisition, Barclay’s Capital as a Fixed Income Latin America Sales Analyst.
About Qvit:
Qvit was founded in June 2009 by Laura Pastrana, Lorena Roa, and Mayra Roa and currently consists of a team of 21 entrepreneurs, programmers, software developers and 3D fashion designers based in Bogotá, Colombia and New York City. Qvit’s ever-expanding body of participating designers numbers over 80 and includes such labels as Dolce Vita, Joe’s Jeans, Madison Marcus, Jay Godfrey, Vkoo, Hunter Dixon, and Finders Keepers.
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Leah Pellegrini, The Bromley Group, +1 (212) 696-1100, [email protected]
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