ReStyle | Devpost

Inspiration

We were inspired by the idea because we love shopping, but we're frustrated by the lack of sustainability and ethical practices in most brands. Many people face the same challenge, not knowing where to find ethical options. We see the growing popularity of second-hand shopping and want to create a platform that simplifies sustainable shopping, bringing all options together in one place while fostering a sense of community and responsible consumption. By doing so, we aim to not only make sustainable fashion more accessible but also support Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles by promoting ethical practices within the fashion industry.

What it does

Our idea connects users to sustainable fashion options, promotes second-hand shopping by encouraging users to share clothing stories, and builds a vibrant university community. Through clothing exchanges, style advice, and a marketplace for buying and selling, we aim to make sustainable fashion accessible, engaging, and community-driven, fostering responsible consumption and eco-conscious choices.

How we built it

We employed a combination of design and coding experience. Figma served as our design tool, allowing us to craft a user interface that's not only visually appealing but also user-friendly. For the program that allows people to upload a picture, where a trained program will identify characteristics such as type of clothing and colour, before using information scraped from different sources across the internet to generate a list of clothing that matches the picture uploaded, and is more sustainable. This was coded in python, and built with frameworks including SerpAPI, Google Reverse Search API, and the beautifulsoup module, to help us scrape the internet for relevant matching items, and tensorflow to train the model that can help us identify characteristics on the clothing.

Challenges we ran into

At the start of our project, we had to learn how to use Figma and 3D modeling tools, which were new to us. It wasn't easy because we were unfamiliar with these tools. However, we tackled it as a team, dividing tasks among us and learning together. We shared our findings and explored the tools collaboratively. Having been the first time that we used any of these API’s and modules, it was a very exciting, refreshing, yet challenging experience, as we constantly ran into unknown errors and unexpected outcomes. Among one of the most difficult problems was scraping data off the internet. To do this, we had to analyze complex levels of HTML code, and selectively identify appropriate class and id names to allow us to extract the desired data. Despite the initial challenges, our teamwork prevailed. We not only mastered the tools but also improved our ability to work together effectively. These challenges turned out to be opportunities for us to learn and grow as a team.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Throughout this project, we've achieved several accomplishments that highlight our team's strengths. Firstly, our ability to think creatively and develop an innovative idea as a cohesive team. Our brainstorming sessions resulted in a solution that seamlessly merges sustainability and fashion, reflecting our collective passion. Secondly, our adaptability to new tools and technologies has been a valuable asset. Despite facing unfamiliar tools like Figma and 3D modeling in the initial stages, we quickly adapted, showcasing our capacity to learn and embrace emerging technologies. Lastly, we're particularly proud of implementing our clothing analysis tool. This tool underscores our commitment to making sustainable fashion more accessible to users, aligning with our project's core mission. These accomplishments have not only shaped our project's success but have also positioned us for future growth and impact in sustainable fashion and technology.

What we learned

Throughout this project, we've learned essential skills as a team. We learned how to think innovatively, turning ideas into practical solutions that reflect our passion for sustainability and fashion. Teamwork played a crucial role, helping us overcome design and technology challenges effectively. We also embraced knowledge sharing, promoting a culture of support and adaptability. Lastly, we placed high value on taking feedback from our teammates, ensuring our project continuously improved based on their insights. These lessons have not only driven our project's success but also equipped us with valuable skills for the future.

What's next for ReStyle

At this stage, we're using Figma for mock-up demos, 3D modeling for a captivating mascot and virtual closet room. We've also integrated Python to analyze clothing characteristics from user-uploaded photos, providing environmentally friendly alternatives. Looking ahead, our focus is on refining user experience, gathering feedback, and enhancing our clothing analysis tool for even more precise suggestions. Our vision for ReStyle is to become a hub for sustainable fashion, fostering a vibrant community of eco-conscious fashion enthusiasts.