Tech Tactics: How Carve Designs’ AI Quiz Simplifies Swimsuit Sizing

Tech Tactics is Sourcing Journal’s series with brands and technology companies to discuss their latest innovations.

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The fashion industry is currently grappling with soaring e-commerce return rates, posing costly and complex challenges for retailers.

In fact, 24.4 percent of all online apparel purchases are returned in the U.S., topping the national average for all online purchases by 8 percentage points, according to a report by retail data research firm Coresight.

One of the primary causes for the influx of apparel returns is size and fit, which accounts for 53 percent of fashion sent back, the report stated.

To address this issue and create a better online experience for customers, women’s swimwear and clothing brand Carve Designs launched its new AI -powered Swim Quiz that helps customers find swimwear pieces better aligned with their style, size and coverage level.

“We know from experience that shopping for swimsuits can be challenging. Finding the perfect style that flatters your body can [also] feel overwhelming, which is why we’re all about making [customers] feel confident and at ease every step of the way,” Jennifer Hinton, co-founder of Carve Designs, told Sourcing Journal. “With the Swim Quiz, we’re ensuring [their] shopping experience is not only simple, but uplifting.”

The Swim Quiz, powered by Octane AI, prompts users to answer six questions about style preference, body type, fit and lifestyle. Based on the responses, Carve Designs recommends products tailored to the consumer’s preferences.

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“We founded Carve Designs to provide women with swimsuits and clothing that fit athletic bodies,” Thayer Sylvester, co-founder of Carve Designs, told Sourcing Journal. “Our initial goal was to fit and flatter women, so the Swim Quiz represents a significant milestone for us.”

Since its launch, the quiz has achieved an 81.57 percent completion rate and an 8.82 percent conversion rate, generating over $600,000 in revenue over the last 90 days.

“Our main goal with the Swim Quiz is to create a better, more enjoyable shopping experience for customers,” Hinton said. “We also hope that the new quiz will help reduce returns by recommending the best products for each individual’s body and personal style.”

In addition to Carve Designs’ new Swim Quiz, the Mill Valley, Calif.-based brand is integrating technology across other sections of its website. To enrich customers’ overall web experience, all product pages on Carve Designs’ website feature Wair ’s fit-predictor technology, which identifies size and fit variations at a product level. It assists shoppers in selecting the best-fitting product, even if its fit differs from other items carried by Carve Designs.

The technology “streamlines the process” for customers to select the correct size when choosing swimsuits or clothing, Sylvester noted.

“As women, we often face vulnerability and societal pressures regarding body image. We believe our styles not only offer comfort but also foster confidence and a sense of empowerment. When women feel good, they can achieve anything,” she added. “There’s an overwhelming amount of information online. Our personalized style and size recommendations aim to simplify the shopping experience and enhance confidence in our brand.”

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