Question

Why do some clothes fit us and some don’t? It became clear to Louise Wannier in a fashion design class.” We were learning to draw body proportions (比例) just from one model,” Wannier, 53, says. “Since women come in all sizes and shapes, I asked the teacher when we would learn about other body proportions. And she said, ‘We don’t. There are 5,000 designers, and each one designs only for his own model.’”

Suddenly, Wannier understood why fitting rooms(试衣间) everywhere are full of frustrated women. “I knew right then that there was a business in helping women quickly find clothes for their shape and that it needed to be online.”

Wannier, who had already started two successful technology companies, rushed home to begin working on the idea. Two years later, in October 2006, she set up myshape.com. Customers go online to enter their measurements and are given one of seven body types based on their body proportions.

Seeing models of various shapes and sizes, many businessmen were impressed with Wannier’s idea and put up $32 million, helping her develop the business plan.

Once Wannier set up an online survey for potential customers. Within 24 hours, she got over 700 responses (响应) and a third of them signed up. “We were astonished," recalls Wannier. "It made us believe there was really a demand.”

Today, with 700,000 customers and 300 designers, the site has proved its usefulness. "For some weeks," says Wannier, "we get 100-percent customer satisfaction. And designers are very happy: they get a new channel to sell their products and more customers."

While My Shape continues to sign up customers and designers, the company isn’t yet profitable (盈利的). “We just get one percent of the price of the clothes," says Wannier. "In order to make money, we have to attract more customers that will come back again and again.”

1.How do designers usually design clothes?

A. They design according to fixed body proportions.

B. They design only with their own models.

C. They draw sketches of all shapes and sizes.

D. They design based on proportions given online.

2.Most women are frustrated in fitting rooms because ______.

A. they don’t know their body proportions

B. clothes in the shop are too expensive

C. they can’t find clothes for their shape

D. clothes in the shop are very small

3.Which is the correct order for the following events about Wannier?

A. She attended a fashion design class.

B. She started a technology company.

C. She got $32 million to support her business plan.

D. She launched myshape.com.

4.The text is mainly about ______.

A. Wannier and her myshape.com

B. how to design clothes

C. how to be a good designer

D. Wannier’s fashion design class

Answer 1