- TOP
- About
- Affiliated League
- Information
- Column
- Media Information
- Job Information
- League Report
- League Members
- Partners
-
公式X
Search League Members
3D Scanning Transforms the Apparel Industry: A Next-Generation Platform Solving Real-Life Problems Virtually[2025 ICT Startup League Member Interview: VRC Inc.]
Anyone who has purchased apparel from an e-commerce site has likely had the bitter experience of clothing or underwear "not fitting my body type" or "not being what I expected." There is a startup that uses virtual technology to solve this real-life problem: the difficulty of judging whether something will look good on you without actually trying it on.
That startup is VRC Inc., which holds over 30 patents for 3D scanning and body data processing. VRC, short for "Virtual Reality Creative," aims to revolutionize the apparel industry with its cutting-edge, proprietary technologies, including 3D scanning, AI stylists, and virtual try-ons.
Originally from China, CEO Xie has lived in Japan for over 20 years. After studying image processing and 3D technology at Waseda University and working for companies like the Samsung Group, he went independent in 2013. He founded VRC in 2016, known as the "first year of VR." We asked him about the advanced, next-generation services his company is developing.
The VRC Inc. teamA Vision for a 3D Platform to Enhance Daily Life
What inspired you to start this company?
Xie: My childhood dream was to be a scientist, but I grew more and more curious about how my skills could be applied in the real world. In modern society, information is primarily recorded in 2D, like images. However, we live our lives in 3D physical space. Foreseeing that 3D recording and data processing would become a future trend, I started marketing with this as the core. That's when I focused on "3D information related to the human body." My inspiration came from wanting to precisely capture three-dimensional data—including depth—such as the human body's shape, structure, function, and movement, and use it to provide future solutions.
What kind of service is it, specifically?
Xie: Based on "3D information related to the human body," such as appearance and body shape, I want to popularize a global platform as a next-generation infrastructure that allows individuals to grasp their body's condition in real-time and use it to enhance their daily lives. For example, it can store information like your body shape and measurements, allowing you to instantly visualize changes in your body by comparing it with past data. We will contribute to solving various real-world problems through the safe, easy, and privacy-protected use of 3D information.
How do you take the measurements?
Xie: We scan the entire body with our proprietary 3D scanner. From the acquired data, we detect the body's joints and composite various motion data to automatically generate a moving 3D avatar. We are continually upgrading it, and we're now on the 17th generation. Our latest model provides 3D scanning technology capable of capturing an image in just 0.2 seconds. This high-speed scanning is useful for capturing moving subjects or when needing to measure many people in a short amount of time.
It seems like it could be applied in various fields. What industries do you envision using it?
Xie: We are primarily focusing on apparel and entertainment. In the apparel sector, this includes virtual try-ons for clothes tailored to one's body shape and coordination suggestions by AI. In entertainment, it involves creating realistic 3D avatars and character models for games. In the future, it could also be used in fields like health and fitness.
Full Body ScannerThe Next Generation of Fashion, Created by 3D Scanners and AI
Why did you start with the fashion industry?
Xie: It started when I became aware of the serious problems of mass production and mass waste that the apparel industry faces amid globalization. The reality is that a vast amount of water is used to make a single piece of clothing, yet much of it is discarded, placing a huge burden on the environment, businesses, and society. I wanted to contribute to solving this problem. With this solution, we aim to improve the consumer's purchasing experience, help brands reduce return rates, support data-driven product planning, and revolutionize the apparel industry.
What sets you apart from competing services, both domestic and international?
Xie: Our greatest strength is that we provide a fashion-tech solution that integrates three innovative core technologies, which is rare even globally. Specifically, these are: "3D body scanning technology" that boasts better-than-industry-standard accuracy at a fraction of the cost of conventional scanners, which can cost millions of yen; "AI stylist technology" that understands trends and fashion aesthetics to make personalized suggestions; and a "virtual try-on engine" that uses proprietary technology to create a high-quality try-on experience.
Where is it currently in operation?
Xie: We had a wonderful opportunity and are collaborating as a partner with Wacoal, which sells women's innerwear. Working with Wacoal has been a catalyst for our business development. Our 3D body scanner technology has been introduced in several of their physical stores and in their 3D measurement service, "SCANBE." It supports services like "My Perfect Bra Diagnosis," helping customers choose bras that fit their body shape and providing body frame type analysis. This solution was also exhibited at events like the Osaka Expo 2025 and CEATEC, a comprehensive digital innovation exhibition.
What has the reaction been from customers and store staff?
Xie: The number of registered users is growing every year, and it has been well-received. At first, some customers felt anxious or hesitant about being scanned in their underwear, but in recent years, it's being used not just for fashion but also as a tool to measure how the body changes over time. While some customers are surprised by their 3D data, it's valued for showing objective changes in their body shape, which leads to repeat use. Human body data is the ultimate personal information, so we've worked very hard to balance data utilization with privacy protection.
What is your vision for the entertainment sector?
Xie: We have a service where customers can 3D scan themselves to create a 3D avatar, which they can then enjoy compositing into 3D backgrounds (like tourist spots or amusement parks). We are in discussions with companies that hold IP (Intellectual Property, particularly manga and anime) like Shogakukan, to collaborate on "pilgrimage" experiences (where you enter a 3D space from the series). We also believe we can create a "3D Purikura" (photo booth) experience.
How do you want to grow the business in the medium to long term?
Xie: First, to accelerate the transformation of the apparel industry, I want to develop an ICT platform that allows brands to quickly and easily adopt our core technologies of 3D scanning, AI stylist, and virtual try-on. The main R&D elements are a system to securely manage sensitive 3D body data, an interface to integrate product information from multiple brands, a personalization engine to analyze the correlation between body shape and products, and a system to embed these functions into brands' existing apps. Second, I want to increase the selection of available clothing by advancing partnerships and collaborations with fashion brands that understand DX (Digital Transformation) and personalization services. Third, I want this to become a digital infrastructure for society, one that can also be used in a healthcare context by acquiring vital data like weight and body fat percentage. We aim for a platform that can be used across all fields, much like Japan's "My Number Card." We also want to expand globally, to markets beyond Japan in Asia, as well as to North America and Europe.
That will require talent and a budget. What kind of people do you want to join you?
Xie: First, people who share our vision. And I want to work with people who "Think Big" and are not afraid to put in the steady effort to "Dive Deep" into subjects.
What do you hope to accomplish in the ICT Startup League?
Xie: During the League's support period, I intend to complete the development of our "fully cloud-based ICT platform," which will be the foundation for the widespread social implementation of our core technologies. We aim to develop an SDK (Software Development Kit) that allows brands to easily integrate our functions into their existing apps and e-commerce sites, and to build a "Product Information Management System" and "Automatic Accounting System" to reduce the burden on adopting companies. By doing this, I want to dramatically lower the barriers to technology adoption and achieve our goal of acquiring more fashion brand partners.
What are your expectations for the ICT Startup League?
Xie: I am nothing but grateful. I applied thinking it was a long shot, not expecting that a company founded by a foreigner like myself would be selected. It's not just the financial support; being selected is an honor. Above all, it's encouraging to have entrepreneurs from various fields gather with the same goal of being a "startup" and form a community. The exchanges with other entrepreneurs and the value-up sessions have been valuable learning opportunities.
Finally, what is your ambition?
Xie: The ICT platform we are developing will solve serious issues for apparel brands, such as high return rates and sustainability. It will be the key to enabling all brands to adopt it quickly and at a low cost. I want people to see the potential of our efforts—not just to grow our own company, but to accelerate the DX of the entire apparel industry.
An example of generative AI developed by VRC Inc.Editor's Note
Mr. Xie, with his passion hidden behind a calm expression, left a strong impression. His grand vision to popularize the "3D information related to the human body" that his company provides as a next-generation digital infrastructure, linking it to solutions for a wide range of modern societal problems, is drawing strong interest.
The collaboration with Wacoal clearly shows that this technology is already contributing to real-world customer satisfaction. While paying meticulous attention to data utilization and privacy protection, VRC is expanding, focusing on apparel and entertainment, with the future aim of creating a platform that enriches people's lives, extending even into the healthcare domain.
In an age of information overload driven by AI, there is a modern-day awareness of the challenge of objectively grasping one's own physical information and balancing it with external information. Amidst this, we will continue to watch the potential for VRC's technology to leap forward into becoming social infrastructure and the evolution of its strategy.
■ICT Startup League
This is a support program launched in FY2023, triggered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' "Support Program for R&D in Startup-Creating, Germinal-Stage."
The ICT Startup League supports startups through four pillars.
① R&D Expenses / Mentorship Support
Up to 20 million yen in R&D expenses is provided in the form of subsidies. Additionally, through mentorship support, the selection committee members involved in choosing the League members will continue to mentor them and promote their growth even after selection. For companies that the committee members rated as "definitely want to select," a dedicated support system is established where the committee members themselves provide ongoing advice on business plans and offer growth opportunities.
② Discovery & Nurturing
We provide opportunities for learning and networking to promote the business growth of League members.
We also work to discover individuals who aim to start businesses in the future, seeking to expand the base.
③ Competition & Co-creation
It serves as a place for positive competition, much like a sports league, with a system where startups learn together, engage in friendly competition, and win the funding they truly need (up to 20 million yen). We also provide a venue for co-creation, where League members can collaborate and expand their businesses through various opportunities, such as sessions with the selection committee.
④ Promotion
We will promote the initiatives of League members in collaboration with the media! By raising awareness of their businesses, we aim to expand opportunities for new matching and chances.
■Related Websites
VRC Inc.
／
VRC Inc. (LEAGUE MEMBER)
／
ICT Startup League
