What Hemster does

Hemster is a technology-enabled tailoring platform founded in 2019 and headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. The company operates a B2B2C model in which retail brand partners offer free alterations to their end customers as a value-add at checkout; customer measurements are captured through a ruler-sticker-based at-home fitting (FitKit) and saved as a personal Fit Profile via a proprietary algorithm. Once a pattern is saved, it can be matched to any garment — new or existing — and garments are shipped to Hemster's centralized warehouse where proprietary 5-station software decomposes traditional tailoring into standardized steps, achieving a reported 99.4% alteration accuracy and 48-hour turnaround.

The product portfolio includes the core Hemster platform, a self-serve consumer portal at my.hemster.co, the FitKit measurement system, and the (re)vive sub-brand launched in 2023 to help retailers convert returns and deadstock into revenue through alteration services. Hemster also offers an in-store fitting room activation capability that converts physical retail changing rooms into on-demand tailoring touchpoints via a single scan. The underlying technology stack combines the Fit Profile algorithm, warehouse workflow software, and Self Fit measurement technology, with Stripe handling payments and Google Analytics tracking site usage.

Hemster generates revenue primarily through transaction-fee arrangements with retail brand partners, who pay for alteration services as a customer acquisition and retention tool; the company claims these partnerships reduce online returns by 18%, increase conversion by 16%, and generate 40% more repeat customers. The company is venture-backed, having raised a $4M seed round in October 2019 led by Bullpen Capital, and currently serves customers in the United States and Canada.

Name

Hemster

Legal name

Hemster, Inc.

Website

https://hemster.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Hemster is a Brooklyn-based tailoring platform that partners with retail brands to offer custom alterations and fit-pattern services to online shoppers across the US and Canada. Its proprietary Fit Profile algorithm and centralized warehouse technology deliver tailored garments with a 48-hour turnaround and 99.4% accuracy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Tailoring Services

NAICS

Drycleaning and Laundry Services (8123)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)

akta.pro primary industry

App-Based Laundry Marketplace / Aggregator Platforms (HSAJACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hemming & Length Adjustments (HSAJAFAA), Denim & Jeans Alterations (Hem, Waist, Repair) (HSAJAFAK)

Keywords

• Custom tailoring services
• Virtual fitting platform
• Garment alteration technology
• Fit profile software
• Retail brand alterations

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. B2B Brand Partnership Revenue: Hemster partners with retail brands to offer free tailoring to their customers. Brands pay Hemster for the alteration services, using free alterations as a customer acquisition and retention tool. This model decreases return rates by 18%, increases conversion by 16%, and generates 40% more repeat customers for partner brands.
2. Direct-to-Consumer Alterations: Individual customers can access tailoring services, potentially with complimentary alterations through brand partners or paid services. Payments include initial payments at order placement and second payments upon arrival at HQ for additional fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hemster is a technology-enabled tailoring platform that captures customer fit data through virtual at-home fittings using ruler stickers, then alters garments at a centralized Brooklyn warehouse using proprietary 5-station software. Customers shop from partner retail brands, receive garments, ship them to Hemster, and receive perfectly fitted items back, while saved fit patterns can be applied to future purchases across any brand.

Product overview

Hemster is a technology-enabled tailoring platform that modernizes the forgotten art of tailoring. The core platform (Hemster) enables customers to create personalized fit patterns via virtual fittings and have garments tailored for a perfect fit. The portfolio includes: the core Hemster platform for direct-to-consumer tailoring services, Self Fit Technology for at-home measurements, Warehouse Technology with 5-station software for efficient processing, and Fit Data & Pattern Technology that applies fit algorithms across any brand. A separate sub-brand called (re)vive extends these services to retail brand partners, allowing them to offer free tailoring as an alternative to returns and increase customer retention. Services include basic hems and repairs on bottoms, tops, dresses, jumpsuits, and sleeves, with complimentary alterations and free shipping through partner retailers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hemster Core Tailoring Platform A technology-enabled tailoring platform that enables individual customers to create personalized fit patterns via virtual fittings and have garments altered for a perfect fit, with saved patterns reusable across brands.
• (Re)vive A separate brand and platform that helps retail brand partners turn returns and deadstock into revenue by offering alteration services as an alternative to returns.
• Virtual Fitting Service Step-by-step at-home fitting process using ruler stickers (FitKit) that enables customers to capture their measurements and create personalized fit patterns.
• FitKit Physical or printable measurement kit with ruler stickers used for at-home fittings; can be added to orders from brand partners or requested via account.
• Brand Partner Services Omni-channel fit freedom platform for retail brand partners that decreases online returns by 18%, increases conversion by 16%, and gains 40% more repeat customers through in-store and online tailoring integration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Decrease online returns by 18%
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stitch Fix: Stitch Fix uses data science and personal styling to deliver clothing that fits customers' preferences and bodies. Comparable in the personalization/fit-data thesis but competes at the merchandising layer rather than alterations infrastructure.
• Indochino: Indochino is a made-to-measure menswear brand that captures customer measurements and produces custom garments. Comparable as a tech-enabled personalization/fit solution in apparel, though operating as a brand rather than a service platform for retailers.

Others

• Optoro: Optoro is a returns management and reverse-logistics platform helping retailers turn returns and overstock into revenue. Directly comparable to Hemster's (re)vive sub-brand, which addresses the same retailer pain point of monetizing returns and deadstock.
• Rinse: Rinse is a pickup-and-delivery laundry and dry cleaning service operating a centralized-warehouse logistics model similar to Hemster's. Comparable as a tech-enabled garment-care platform with similar logistics infrastructure, though focused on cleaning rather than alterations.
• CaaStle: CaaStle powers apparel-as-a-service and rental programs for retailers, addressing fit and wardrobe flexibility without ownership. Comparable as a technology platform tackling fit-related retail frictions, though through rental rather than alterations.
• Cleanly: Cleanly is an on-demand laundry and dry cleaning pickup/delivery service. Comparable as a centralized-warehouse, tech-enabled garment care platform with similar operational structure to Hemster's Brooklyn HQ model.

Emerging players

• 3DLOOK: 3DLOOK provides AI body scanning and measurement technology for apparel fit and sizing. Comparable as a fit-data technology vendor with overlapping value proposition to Hemster's Fit Profile algorithm, though focused on scanning capture rather than alteration fulfillment.
• Alton Lane: Alton Lane is a custom menswear brand that uses customer measurements to deliver made-to-measure garments. Comparable in the personalization and fit-capture thesis, though narrower in scope (menswear only) and operating as a brand rather than a service platform.

Direct peers

• True Fit: True Fit is a fit-recommendation and personalization platform embedded in retailer websites and apps, serving a similar B2B retailer use case (reducing returns, increasing conversion) via fit data rather than physical alterations. Highly comparable as a tech-enabled fit solution competing for the same brand-partner budget.
• Bold Metrics: Bold Metrics provides AI-driven body measurement and fit recommendation technology to apparel brands and retailers. Directly comparable as a software-only fit platform pursuing the same retailer pain points Hemster addresses, though without the physical alteration fulfillment layer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HemsterStation
• Instagraminstagram.com/hemsterco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hemster