ABSTRACT
This research collected primary data from three localities and analysed it to develop an application for tailors and consumers. Touch & Stitch is a mobile application developed to connect the tailors and consumers and make easy order placement of customized garments. It includes video calling, Payment Option, third party delivery option, 50 plus designs for each category, and a special feature for customization or designing of garment as per the consumer’s wish. The questionnaire was used to assess the acceptance of the application among 50 tailors and 50 consumers. Consumers suggested the addition of extra features to make the application easier to handle. The Touch and Stitch mobile application was a successful attempt to create something beneficial for society, making it easy for consumers to order and customize garments and providing a ray of light for tailors.
INTRODUCTION:
This app will connect tailors and consumers, providing a platform for tailors to project their best garments and grab orders. It will also move the attention of consumers towards the stitched garments and create more market. The app will be beneficial for many people in society, as they don’t have enough time to make a purchase or order customizable apparels. It will make it easier for people to decide what type of pattern and colour they want in their
product and can order it to an available tailor. The Touch and Stitch mobile application was developed to provide a connection between tailors and consumers, allowing them to showcase their skills and find the right tailor. It was shared with 50 tailors and 50 consumers and was loved by almost everyone. It was a successful attempt to create something beneficial for society, making it easy for consumers to order and customize garments and providing a
ray of light for tailors. Tailors are facing problems due to the increasing demand for readymade garments due to the fast fashion market.
METHODOLOGY:
The objective 1 was to find out the struggling tailors who are not getting consumers due to readymade garments and those who need consumers for their career growth. 2 sets of questionnaires were prepared, one for tailor and one for consumer. 3 localities, Santacruz, Andheri and Bandra, were selected as the area for conducting the survey. 300 respondents, 100 from each locality, and 100 respondents for tailors were selected. Data was collected and analysed statistically. In objective 2 the mobile application was developed which can connect tailors and consumers and make easy order placement of customized garments. At the initial stage, an app was developed which had multiple features like video calling Tailor, Payment Option, third party delivery option, 50+ designs for each category and a special feature for customization or designing of garment as per the consumer’s wish. However, due to heavy data load on the server, the app was crashed many times and was not responding to the inputs given. Thus, a simple and basic app was developed, which included two sections: the tailor’s section and the consumer’s section. In the tailor’s section, tailors can add their bio and create their profile and register themselves in the application. In the customers section, customers can select the category of garments according to the gender and then select the same ready customized designs available from the list. The second part of the app is the extra customization of the design, which is itself another mobile application linked to the main application. If the customer is willing to customize out of the box, there is a link of another app given below the category, on which after clicking, the customer will be able to customize.
The questionnaire was prepared to check the acceptance of a developed application among respondents. 50 tailors and 50 consumers were randomly chosen from the 3 localities of Mumbai city, Santacruz, Andheri and Bandra. The questionnaire was based on the app’s working, design and handling, and overall rating. The survey was taken face to face and physically by meeting the tailors and consumers and explaining them the technical things related to the app and the thesis project. The data was then collected and analysed statically.
Swatch book was developed to collect and present basic and common fabrics used for stitching a garment, with at least 20 swatches of categories collected.
RESULTS AND DISSCUSION:
Tailors from Bandra, Santacruz and Andheri use smart phones for social media, business, talking and camera. Only 2 of them are from 0-10 years old. 56 tailors stitch all types of garments, charging between 100-350 rupees for Salwar kameez, blouse, kurta, jeans top, skirt and lowers. Tailors take extra charges for urgent garments, keep fabrics at store, can arrange fabric, lining, trimming and accessories, and offer customization options. Delivery services
are available, but additional charges are taken from customers who opt for delivery services.
The fast fashion market has made it easier for consumers to have fashionable and comfortable garments in affordable prices, leading to a decrease in tailors. A survey of 100 respondents from Mumbai city revealed that they use mobile phones for 0-4 hours, 4-8 hours, 8-12 hours, and more than 12 hours.
Almost all respondents prefer both customized and stitched garments, and most prefer local tailors over boutiques due to their affordability. The respondents agreed to use a Touch and Stitch application to contact tailors and pick up their stitched and ready garments, reducing the time spent on trying tailors and picking up their repaired garments.
Fig. No. 1 Distribution of respondents as per basic cost taken for Fol biding, overlock and repair work
Fig. No. 2 Distribution of respondents as per fitting of Readymade Garments
Touch and Stitch mobile application was developed to bridge the gap between tailors and consumers, with the aim of providing a link between them and providing delivery services. 78% of respondents found the app easy to handle, with 72 liking the working of the application and 61 giving excellent ratings.
Fig. No. 3 Distribution of respondents as per overall rating of the Application
CONCLUSION:
To conclude, this project was a successful attempt. The basic idea of creating something to give out for society which will be beneficial for the people was seemed to be possible. The simple concept of developing an application which will make easy for consumers to order the stitched and customized garments and also a ray of light for the tailors for having a good market for them of consumers was made possible through the development of Touch and Stitch mobile application. As per the data and survey, this app was readily accepted by the people. Few changes and improvements were also given by the respondents as feedback, which will be surely included as a future update of the application.
