Fashion, Mass Customization, Body Scanning, Sizing and Fit

Dr. Istook has conducted extensive research in the areas of 3D Body Scanning, sizing systems, fit, mass customization, and rapid prototyping.    These endeavors have been directed at finding ways to enable the industry to meet the clothing needs of its customers. She works on national committees to help establish data integration standards for developing technologies, as well as sizing standards for apparel products.   

Since an understanding of the target market is essential for profitability, consumer preferences, needs, and descriptions are a basis for much of the practical side of the research.  Finding ways to meet consumer needs through better market research, improved customization processes, better forecasting, improved fit of ready-to-wear, better use of available technologies, and shorter time to market are all integral inputs to the research being conducted.

Dr. Istook conducts workshops and seminars for industry leaders and educators to facilitate their understanding and use of the developing technologies.  Past workshops have included: 3D Body Scanning, Mass Customization, Rapid Prototyping, Digital Printing, and a Technological Review for the Apparel Industry.Other areas of interest include:

• Pattern Grading Processes
• Mass Customization
• Rapid Prototyping
• Digital Printing
• Alteration Processes Fit
• Grain Orientation in Apparel Production
• Product Development Processes
• 3-D Body Measurement Processes
• Consumer Apparel Behavior
• Design of Fashion Products 

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Dr. Cynthia L. Istook received her Bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising, Clothing, and Textiles from Texas Christian University. She worked for Sanger Harris (a Federated Department store) for almost three years in the management training program as an assistant buyer and department group manager. Dr. Istook obtained a Master's degree and a Ph.D. degree from Texas Woman's University. Her master's thesis research concerned the durability of Texcellana 80% Cotton- 20% Wool fabric. Research for her dissertation was centered on Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) in the apparel industry.

She has taught Fashion Design at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, Fashion Merchandising at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, and Marketing at Texas Woman's University.  Dr. Istook was appointed to the NCSU faculty in the Fall of 1997 as an associate professor in the apparel management program.  She teaches FTM 317-CAD for Fashion Design, FTM 497- Senior Collection Studio, TTM 515- Advanced Apparel Production, and TTM 517 Advanced CAD for FASHION.

In May 2010, Dr. Istook became the first female to be promoted to Full Professor at the College of Textiles at NC State University in it's 100+ year history.  She is now Associate Department Head and Director of Undergraduate Programs.

FTM 317 -- CAD for Fashion Design, FTM 415 -- Fashion Product Development, FTM 497 -- Senior Collection Studio, TTM 515 -- Advanced Apparel Production, TTM 517 -- Advanced CAD for Fashion .

Graduate students are currently conducting research in several different areas:

1. Hispanic consumers are soon to become the largest minority population in the United States, yet not a great deal is known about their basic clothing preferences or actual sizing needs.  Our research hopes to determine 1) sizing systems most appropriate for the Hispanic consumer, 2) garment silhouette preferences, 3) fit preferences, and 4) any other criteria that might impact the selection of a garment when making a purchase decision.

2. We have studied sizing, shape, and fit for the past 10 years in combination with 3D body scanning and continue to do so in many different ways.  We have a multi-year study in process gathering data on the Teenage population.  No sizing survey has been done on any population under 18 that gathers a comprehensive set of measurements.  Our ultimate goal is to obtain scans of 1200 subjects under the age of 18. 

Another 3D related study is to design garments in 3D on a body that has been 3D scanned.  This research will allow us to design, prototype, and fit garments to prove the technology so that we can move toward virtual fitting in On-line stores.  If we can demonstrate fit appropriately in the 3D Virtual world, we can expect to increase online sales and reduce returns of products due to "bad fit".  This is definitely not a trivial process.

3. We are also studying consumer acceptance of non-traditional textile stubstrates in apparel and accessories for certain end uses.  There have been some wonderful new developments in nonwoven fabrics that make them interesting to certain apparel and accessory markets.  Our study is trying to determine if consumers will be willing to accept these fabrics in those markets.

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

     Committee Membership: D-13 Textiles

         Subcommittee Memberships: 13.54 Subassemblies; 13.55 Body

         Measurements for Apparel Sizing; 13.66 Apparel & Sewn Products 

         Automation

International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) 

         Committee Membership: Chair, Public Relations; 

         Co-Chair, Jurying Aesthetics and Design

National Association of Female Executives (NAFE

Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society--TWU Chapter

Textile Institute (TI)