Special Report: Zero Waste Fashion – Los Angeles Business Journal

StyleScan Inc. uses AI-powered visualization technology to enhance the online shopping experience. The Brentwood-based company was founded in 2018 by Larissa Posner, who holds a machine learning business applications certificate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has more than 10 years of experience advising companies on investor relations and strategy. She also spent time working as a catalog model. Some of StyleScans’ customers include jewelry brand Millianna, clothing brand Alla Berman, and luxury consignment boutique The Remoda.

How long have you worked in the tech industry, and what did you do before StyleScan?
I worked on Wall Street for nearly a decade before founding StyleScan. I am a registered investment advisor working with hedge funds, and at the time quantitative trading was the most attractive area of ​​investment.
While I am not a Quant myself, my role is to analyze and understand strategies and meet with the scientists who designed them. I’ve found that the most effective strategy uses something called machine learning for stock predictions. That’s when I knew I wanted to work in technology, and specifically with AI, and started thinking about how that could be applied to other problems.

Tell us about your role at StyleScan, and your main responsibilities?
As the chief executive of a startup, I wear many hats. The aspect I love most is creating our product and pushing it forward from all angles: from a client/user standpoint, from a technical capability standpoint, from a long term vision standpoint, etc. I’m always analyzing the industry and things in it. less and ensure StyleScan technology meets those needs.

Our technology generates zero textile waste and saves costs.
Larisa Posner
Style Scan

Why is technology in the fashion industry so important?
In this day and age, the fashion industry process is still very inefficient. While other industries have been innovating with software, AI, automation, virtualization, etc., fashion is lagging behind. I’m a firm believer that physical processes can be replicated digitally, and thus the idea of ​​StyleScan seems very clear to me. For example, StyleScan software helps businesses save on cost and effort on photo shoots by rendering clothing on models virtually. And StyleScan cycles happen in minutes, not weeks.

What other ways can we see for the fashion and e-commerce industry to become more innovative with their use of technology?
The experience that e-commerce offers today feels very old-fashioned. I believe that the future of online shopping will be very personal. And that’s the essence of our mission; we allow shoppers to choose a model that represents them, not having to guess at sizes, and to see color combinations before they make a purchase. We represent a new era in making shopping inclusive for women of all shapes, sizes and ethnicities.

Fashion is constantly changing; how do you approach the StyleScan business to adapt to the ever-evolving industry?
Technical flair is the secret sauce for being able to adapt to a constantly evolving industry. Members of our core technology team previously developed systems to beat the stock market, casino gaming and even cancer by creating unique protocols.
They achieve all of this through the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Applying it to computer vision, which is the heart of garment visualization, was a natural progression. The team has been ahead of the curve several times before, and in an industry as fast-paced as fashion, they have been able to adapt to its evolving nature.

How can StyleScan technology be used to make areas within the fashion industry more sustainable and cost effective?
StyleScan is as important to fashion sustainability and more broadly, environmental, social and governance (ESG).
On a business-to-business level, we facilitate an all-digital approach from design to merchandising to manufacturing. Clients can sell the first and produce the second. We allow clients to trade clothing with digital fashion models that they have not yet produced in their factory. Our technology generates zero textile waste and saves costs.
On a business-to-customer level, we arm consumers with virtualized trials and visualizations. This allows them to make informed choices that lower returns.

What’s next for StyleScan?
Advanced expansion and customization for clients using our software platform. Companies that use StyleScan have full creative control in choosing models and completely arrange every element of clothing, down to the details of accessories. Our technology capabilities and model database are constantly evolving.