Material girl for the catwalk

Would-be supermodels will soon be able to take advantage of a software package being developed at Bradford University. A virtual "you", complete with vital statistics and an image of your face, can be dressed in various catwalk collections in an experiment designed to help the regional textile industry cut the cost of developing and retailing new fabrics. The system will simulate the shape, drape and hang of different types of materials to help manufacturers avoid costly mistakes on the production line.