SEAM
Seam is a platform that revolutionizes the way that consumers can interact with designers, making it easier than ever before to receive a design by you for you.
We are the first gig economy app for fashion (Uber, Doordash, Instacart).
We connect customers with specific garment needs to designers ready to make their dreams a reality.
Mission and Benefits / Why
Mission Statement
Transform the way clothing is purchased from designer to consumer
We aim to connect young talent with people in need of bespoke designs or adaptable clothing
Benefits
Allows young artists to gain more exposure
Increases quality of life for individuals with disabilities
Helps small businesses gain more customers
Adaptive clothing background
Adaptive clothing is described as clothing that is adapted to make dressing easier, improve comfort and promote independence for individuals with disabilities or limited mobility.1
Examples of adaptive clothing
Garments with a wrap around zipper
Buttons replaced with magnetic closures
Clothing or footwear that can be put on in a sitting position
Someone on the spectrum who has a specific material that calms them
Anything that tailors to the specific needs of someone with a disability
Web Interface
App Interface
Download.
Open.
Shop.
Custom Order Process
Security
3-Step Payment System
To ensure a secure payment, we employ a three step payment method along with Paypal’s buyer protection. The payments are released in increments until both parties have been satisfied.
Coding
Current design uses PHP and MySQL in the back-end
Deployed using Cloud Run, Docker and Cloud SQL
Current Prototype has home and create page, but no back-end
Future plans to use React Native to deliver an app
Branding
If you can dream it, you can SEAM it.
Logo pack
Tagline
Milestone Markers
First year goals
Recruitment events at 10 different schools
We hope to work with 3 different hospitals, starting first at the Cleveland Clinic then expanding.
50,000 Registered users and sellers in the first year post launch. (1,000 Designers, 49,000 Customers)
5 different celebrity stylists in the first year.
Competitors
Etsy
Differentiation- Etsy is a marketplace first. People offer specific items for sale and there's many hoops to go through to commission a specific piece. It’s not something the platform allows.
Proper cloth
Differentiation- Proper Cloth makes perfectly tailored business attire but can not make casual clothing or bring your specific vision to life.
MTailor
Differentiation- MTailor specializes in online measurement, producing casual clothing for an audience that doesn’t like the hassle of in-person fittings, whereas SEAM aims to satisfy a customer’s need for a well-fitting, but truly bespoke garment (an adaptable one-of-a-kind piece). SEAM has no limits in terms of garment construction.
SWOT Analysis
Market research / Target Market
Market research
Target Market
Survey conducted by market research company yougov shows that 49% of American adults are interested in buying customized clothing2
They also found that people are willing to spend on average between $207-$267 on basic customized garments3
The custom apparel market is projected to grow 5.34% YOY between 2022-20254
Conducted independent research on test market showing a majority of students are interested (Kent State University Design Students)
Sourcing journal claims that much of the custom apparel market growth will be driven by Millennials
Our tagline “made for you” is the truth. We have a designer for everyone. Our target market will fluctuate as we grow.
Demographics:
Ages 25 - 70
Salary of $100,000+
Psychographics:
People looking to start a fashion brand but need help with samples
People who have a disability that have specific clothing needs
Anyone who needs a specific garment needed
Expansion plans
Recruit new designers by visiting university campuses and holding events for fashion design students
Fashion students use large following for organic marketing
Continue hospital partnerships
Include contract bidding with large celebrities (getting stylists on the platform)
Local tailor businesses start using SEAM
Move to profitability through economies of scale
Pathway to Market
Critical tasks - Sourcing students for SEAM’s beta phase. Update interface according to information gathered from beta. Develop the Android and iOS applications for smartphone usage.
Research - Observe survey data; whether students are willing to participate in the beta process of the application. Conduct in-depth observation of the product-to-customer process (customer satisfaction with the user interface and the finished garment and its ability to meet the needs requested).
Objectives & tactics - To aid in the accessibility of adaptable garments. To create opportunity for student designers to acquire work experience. Overall, to provide a platform for individuals who want to commission or purchase custom clothing from current or rising designers.
Responsibilities moving forward - Screening users and their skillset to ensure they are fit to sell on SEAM. This system is defined by verified and unverified users. The verification process is as follows: users wanting to be verified are sent a half scale pattern for a garment of our choice and must construct this garment within a two week period. Unverified sellers are not required to prove a skill set through the half scale pattern. A verified account charges ten dollars per month, prioritizing them in the search algorithm, while also aiming to incentivise sellers to complete requested commissions.
Pathway to Market
Entities
Entities include: The Cleveland Clinic, physically disabled clients (sourced from medical partners), stylists, fashion design students (sourced from various fashion programs and organizations), and standard customers looking for bespoke clothing.
Budget considerations
Some considerations are the cost of app development, web development, cost of university recruitment events, and marketing and advertising. Users are charged a service fee. Unverified users are charged 7% on the total transaction amount including shipping costs. Verified users are charged 5%.
User Testing
Citations
Image Citations