Made-to-fit clothes are on the way.

• Position: Your Life - Brief Article

Consumers longing for a good-fitting pair of blue jeans will get their wish in the near future, predicts Brecca Farr, assistant professor of clothing, textiles, and design, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. She says we should expect to see, and be able to afford, clothing that is literally made just for us, since mass customization is well on its way out of the research and design phase and into people's closets.

Mass customization focuses on providing consumers with a "common" product when, where, and how they want it. For clothing, it usually means customized fit or creating your own garment--sometimes even designing your own fabric. Using the latest manufacturing technology enables the production of such a pair of jeans either by selecting individual design preferences and providing critical measurements or by sending in a pair of your favorite jeans and having a copy made.

"Two factors are driving our society--individuality and convenience," Farr explains. "Technology allows us to have more of our lives tailored to our own preferences. Look at beauty products, satellite television, or Internet ads. We also seek convenience. It is incredible the number of people who do not try on clothing because they won't take the time to go to the changing room, or they simply find it too much of a hassle to do so. The apparel industry has recognized that there...