PolyU Innovates Tissue Deformation Tech for Better Garment Fit
Soft tissue deformation during body movement has long been a key challenge in achieving the perfect garment fit and comfort, particularly in sportswear and functional medical apparel. Researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have introduced a groundbreaking anthropometric method that delivers precise measurements of tissue deformation, enabling significant advancements in the design and performance of compression-based garments.
Prof. Joanne Yip, Associate Dean and Professor of PolyU School of Fashion and Textiles, and her research team developed a novel anthropometric method using image recognition algorithms to systematically access tissue deformation while minimising motion-related errors.
The research, led by Prof. Joanne Yip, Associate Dean and Professor of the School of Fashion and Textiles at PolyU, leverages image recognition algorithms to systematically measure tissue deformation while reducing motion-related errors. The team also developed an analytical model based on the Boussinesq solution and stress function methodology to predict deformation with exceptional accuracy. This approach allows garment designers to directly correlate garment pressure with tissue response, providing vital data for optimising compression wear and improving both comfort and functionality.
By leveraging image recognition algorithms, this innovation quantifies tissue deformation during movement, addressing a longstanding challenge in the sportswear and wearable tech design.
Historically, inaccurate deformation measurements during movement have led to poor garment fit, reducing performance efficiency. This new method addresses the problem by minimising motion artifacts and producing reliable, data-driven insights that link material properties, garment pressure, and body response.
Soft tissue deformation directly impacts garment appearance, wearer comfort, athletic performance, and physiological outcomes such as circulation and muscle support. By incorporating mechanical property testing, the method accurately predicts tissue deformation, achieving deviations of just 1.15 mm under static conditions and 2.36 mm during dynamic motion when compared with body scanning measurements.
Prof. Yip emphasised the adaptability of this method, stating, “Our technology is highly adaptable to compression-based garments, including sportswear such as leggings and functional medical wear like compression stockings and post-surgical garments. The analytical model can be tailored to different garment types by adjusting parameters like material mechanical properties and circumferential dimensions.”
Sports leggings with different material mechanical properties, pattern designs and circumferential dimensions were used as experimental samples.
Experimental studies using sports leggings with different material properties and pattern designs confirmed that the method provides actionable insights for improving garment ergonomics. This advancement represents a leap forward in biomechanical simulation techniques and offers a practical tool for designing compression garments that enhance athletic performance and reduce injury risks.
The new technology is also highly cost-effective, as it can be integrated into CAD/CAM systems, streamlining the prototyping process and reducing reliance on trial-and-error garment fitting. By quantifying individual tissue responses, it enables personalised garment design, particularly beneficial for medical compression wear tailored to patient-specific needs. The image-based method also reduces dependency on expensive motion-capture systems, making it an accessible solution for SMEs.
The research findings have been published in the academic journal Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology under the title, “A novel anthropometric method to accurately evaluate tissue deformation.”
This breakthrough highlights PolyU’s excellence in interdisciplinary research, merging fashion, biomechanics, materials science, computing, and engineering to solve real-world challenges in compression sportswear and medical garment design.