StyleScan Inc. uses visualization technology using artificial intelligence to improve online shopping. The Brentwood-based company was founded in 2018 by Larissa Posner, who holds a certificate in business application of machine learning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has more than 10 years of experience advising companies on investor relations and strategies. She also worked as a catalog model. StyleScan customers include jewelry brand Millianna, clothing brand Alla Berman and luxury consignment boutique The Remoda.
How long have you been in the tech industry and what did you do before StyleScan?
I worked on Wall Street for almost a decade before founding StyleScan. I was a registered investment advisor working with hedge funds, and at the time quantitative trading was the hottest investment area.
Although I wasn’t a “Quant” myself, my job was to analyze and understand the strategies and meet the scientists who created them. I have found that the most effective strategy uses something called machine learning to predict stocks. That’s when I knew I wanted to work in tech and specifically AI, and I started thinking about how it could be applied to other problems.
Tell me about your role at StyleScan and your main responsibilities?
As a CEO of a startup, I wear many hats. The aspect I enjoy the most is creating our product and moving it forward from all angles: from a client/user perspective, from a technical capability perspective, from a long-term vision perspective, etc. I’m always analyzing the industry and what it’s missing and making sure the technology StyleScan met these needs.
Our technology generates zero textile waste and saves costs.
Larissa Posner
StyleScan
Why is technology so important in the fashion industry?
Today, the processes of the fashion industry are still extremely inefficient. While other industries have innovated in software, AI, automation, virtualization, etc., fashion has lagged behind. I’m a big believer that physical processes can be replicated digitally, and as such the idea of StyleScan seemed very obvious to me. For example, StyleScan software helps businesses save on the cost and labor of photo shoots by rendering garments on models virtually. And the StyleScan turnaround happens in minutes, not weeks.
What other ways can we see the fashion and e-commerce industry becoming more innovative with technology?
The experience that e-commerce offers today feels very dated. I believe the future of online shopping will be highly personalized. And that is the core of our mission; we allow shoppers to choose models that represent them, never have to guess their sizes and see color combinations before they buy. Introducing a new era of inclusive shopping for women of all shapes, sizes and ethnicities.
Fashion is constantly changing; How do you approach the StyleScan business to adapt to an ever-evolving industry?
Technical talent is the secret sauce to adapting to an ever-evolving industry. Members of our core technology team have previously developed systems to beat the stock market, casino games and even cancer by coming up with unique protocols.
They achieve all this thanks to the implementation of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Its application to computer vision, which is at the heart of garment visualization, was a natural progression. The team has been ahead of the curve several times and in a fast-paced industry like fashion, they can adapt to its ever-evolving nature.
How can StyleScan technology be used to make areas in the fashion industry more sustainable and cost-effective?
StyleScan is as fundamental to fashion sustainability as it is to environmental, social and governance (ESG) more generally.
At the business-to-business level, we enable a fully digital approach that extends from design to merchandising to production. Clients can sell first and produce second. We enable clients to sell clothes – on digitized fashion models – that they have not yet produced in their factories. Our technology generates zero textile waste and saves costs.
At the business-to-customer level, we equip consumers with virtual testing and visualization. This allows them to make precise decisions that reduce returns.
What’s next for StyleScan?
Ongoing expansion and customization for clients using our software platform. Businesses using StyleScan have full creative control over model selection and full styling of every element of clothing, right down to detailed accessories. Our technological capabilities and model database are constantly growing.