Design for every body

Finding the right fit is often the most frustrating part of shopping for clothes. For decades, the fashion industry has relied on "standard sizing" – a system built on a handful of static reference bodies that fails to reflect the reality of billions of unique shapes. At Zalando, we believe that everyone deserves to feel confident in what they wear – regardless of their size. That is why the fifth edition of the Zalando Design Academy, co-hosted by Zalando and VORN – The Berlin Fashion Hub, focuses on a critical, yet often overlooked, pillar of fashion: size and fit and digital grading as the technical solution behind it. Since its launch in 2022, the program has pursued an ambitious goal: to drive positive change in the fashion industry through education, collaboration, and innovation. Over the course of 16 weeks, the Academy connects emerging designers and young brands with industry experts, providing the essential tools and networks needed to develop forward-looking solutions.

What is grading anyway? Traditionally, a designer creates a garment in a base size, usually medium. Grading is the technical process of scaling a single design into a full range, from XS to 3XL and beyond. It is not just about making a pattern bigger or smaller, which can ruin a silhouette. Instead, grading uses precise mathematics to adjust proportions so the garment fits a real human body.

Mastering the virtual fit 

To bridge the gap between a beautiful sketch and a garment that actually fits a diverse customer base and to make this standard practice, we are training our latest cohort of designers to use a 3D garment design software, developed by CLO. To ensure every designer can succeed, the Academy, which is completely free of charge, provides:

• Basic Training & Deep Dives: Comprehensive sessions covering everything from the fundamentals of 3D design to advanced deep dives into digital grading.
• Software Access: All participants will receive access to CLO’s 3D software throughout the duration of the Design Academy.

How does it work in the Academy? Designers visualise their garments on digital avatars representing diverse body types. Rather than sewing multiple physical prototypes, they apply grading rules digitally. They can instantly see how a jacket drapes on a size 34 compared to a size 52. The technology highlights tension zones – showing exactly where fabric might pinch or pull – so designers can fix fit issues before cutting a single piece of fabric.

As we welcome our latest cohort of visionary designers, we are challenging them to look beyond the "standard sample" and master the technology that makes fashion truly inclusive.

Inclusive by design

Why is this important? Mastering digital grading goes beyond technical skills. It is a step towards a more inclusive and sustainable fashion industry – one that moves beyond a “one size fits most” mindset and considers diverse body shapes earlier in the design process, rather than treating them as an afterthought. Perfecting the fit virtually also reduces the need for physical samples and helps lower returns caused by sizing issues.

"With Design Academy five, we are moving the conversation from 'Does this look good?' to 'Does this work for everyone?'" says Lara Gesche, Social Impact Specialist at Zalando. "Digital grading unlocks that potential. We are teaching designers to build fashion that respects the reality of every single customer.”

How to join

The search is on for passionate designers ready to shape a more inclusive, zero-waste fashion ecosystem. Applications for the 100 available spots run from 13 April to 20 May. Designers looking to combine creative vision with technical precision can submit their applications via the VORN website or through this form. 

About Zalando

Founded in Berlin in 2008, Zalando is the leading European technology platform for fashion and lifestyle. Connecting 62 million active customers with more than 7,000 brands across 29 markets, our operations are built on a unique AI-powered data and infrastructure platform. For our customers, our multi-app approach - comprising Zalando, ABOUT YOU, and Lounge by Zalando - delivers an inspiring, highly personalised shopping experience, serving different customers with different needs. For our partners, we are building the operating system for e-commerce. Through ZEOS, Tradebyte, and SCAYLE, we open our logistics, software, and service capabilities to brands and retailers, enabling them to seamlessly scale their businesses across borders.

For further information, please visit: corporate.zalando.com/en