Humanoids are taking over the ground floor lobby of Ocean Terminal in Hong Kong’s Kowloon for three weeks as technology meets retailtainment. 

Hong Kong shopping centre Harbour City has teamed up with humanoid (avatar) technology company Quantum Matrix to launch what the companies bill as a world-first real-time personalised ‘Auto-fit Virtual Try-on System’ called Quantum Fit, or Qfit. At My Virtual Closet, kids can experience instant 360-degree virtual fitting of 11 fashion brands at Harbour City, and virtually “touch” the clothing’s materials. 

To participate, kids need to take a selfie and input simple data like height and weight in the mall’s virtual closet. A personalised virtual avatar with their own face and body measurement will be displayed in real-time.

Qfit took Quantum Matrix 10 years to research and develop. The company claims it provides consumers with “a significant and realistic immediate try-on effect on screen in real time”. 

Patented Scan-to-Avatar Automation and Real-time Auto-fit Clothing Systems offer instant high-resolution virtual try-on solutions to manufacturers and consumers. 

QHuman, another of Quantum Matrix’s patented technologies, uses AI (artificial intelligence) to analyse a consumer’s body shape by taking 100 photos in just one second, to produce realistic digital human figures quickly and on a mass scale. The company likens the process to bringing high-tech used to create special effects in Hollywood movies to everyday life. 

“We hope to bring innovative omnichannel retail solutions to shopping malls and brands, and a highly engaging and personalised shopping experience to the end consumers,” said Kwai Bun, founder & CEO of Quantum Matrix. 

“We are committed to the development of virtual-technological solutions, such as virtual humans, virtual garments, and virtual idols, and to open new doors for retail, social network and entertainment in the new era.” 

He said the technology enables a “next-level personalised shopping experience, yet promotes sustainable fashion by reducing fashion waste and lowering the manufacturing cost”.

The fashion labels partnering in the project by making clothing available for virtual try on are Burberry Children, Dolce & Gabbanna Children, Fila Kids, Kenzo Kids, Kids 21, Momonittu, Monnalisa, Mothercare, Nanos, Petit Bateau, and Stella McCartney Kids. 

The pop-up event at Ocean terminal lasts until June 20.