TOYOSHIMA's Vision for a New Way to Measure Clothing: VIRTUAL STANDARD AI MEASURE

A lifestyle-focused trading company that supports products for everyday life as “experts in material selection.” That is “TOYOSHIMA.” Combining a history dating back to the Edo period with a flexible sensibility that captures modern needs, the company handles everything from raw material procurement to material development and even product planning, meeting the needs of a wide range of industries. While the company is well-known for its upstream approach as a materials development expert, did you know that, as a behind-the-scenes player in the industry, it also conducts development aimed at streamlining operations for midstream and downstream businesses?

I visited the TOYOSHIMA exhibition and had the opportunity to see the machines they’ve developed.

A World Where Machines Free Up People's Time

This is an automatic measuring machine currently under development by TOYOSHIMA. In addition to accurately measuring the dimensions of specified body parts, it can also take measurements at the customer’s location after delivery. Furthermore, it is designed to capture images simultaneously with the measurements, allowing that data to be used directly for e-commerce sales.

TOYOSHIMA is currently exhibiting at trade shows, where we are gathering feedback from a wide range of visitors. We plan to incorporate this feedback and, as early as 2026, begin selling and renting our machines, operating as a subscription-based business, with the goal of contributing to the industry.

When you click the button on the screen, the scanner located at the top activates. This system allows you to capture product images via scanning—rather than photography—and even take measurements and weigh items.

You can specify various parameters—such as total length, body width, shoulder width, hem width, hem length, sleeve width, cuff width (right and left), AH (straight line), neck width, front slope, collar width, and ribbing (cuffs)—and the measurements are displayed instantly. This is made possible by AI-powered image recognition—a task that would take an enormous amount of time if done manually.

After laying out the garment and taking measurements as described above,

You'll be able to fold the clothes, take photos of them, and sell them directly through e-commerce.

Streamlining the Measurement Process from Start to Finish

Previously, the AI would automatically detect the outlines and parts of garments in images, quickly extract shape data, and then automatically position the optimal measurement points based on the design. In the new version, the larger work surface allows for the measurement of long-sleeved and plus-size items, and it can now measure weight in 1-gram increments simultaneously with the measurements.

In addition, since the operating system has been migrated to a web-based platform, it can now be accessed from anywhere, enabling users to obtain more accurate measurement results in less time than with traditional manual methods. This makes it possible to digitize both size and weight data simultaneously in a single batch.

This enables centralized data management across organizations.

You can share accurate measurements taken overseas

Measurements are taken in a variety of settings—at factories, inspection stations, by designers prior to delivery, and at the delivery destination. However, in the past, results tended to be inconsistent depending on the skill level of the person taking the measurements. By using this technology, even when measurements are taken overseas, the results are not dependent on the skills of the local staff, ensuring that accurate measurement data is always obtained.

Reducing Work Time to Create More Free Time

Since product photos can be taken at the same time as measurements are taken, tasks that previously had to be performed separately—such as taking measurements, photographing products, and linking the data—can now be completed in a single, streamlined process. As a result, this significantly reduces the enormous amount of time required for these tasks and substantially lightens the workload for everyone involved.

Through my experience at the trade show, I realized that a major innovation is on the horizon for the seemingly routine task of taking measurements. This innovation holds the potential not only to improve efficiency but also to reduce the workload of those working on the front lines and to promote new ways of working. I am increasingly excited about what the future holds.