A self-described “serial entrepreneur” and “recovering venture capitalist,” Camilla Olson is clearly undeterred by the path less traveled. Her journey through the world of corporations and startups has resulted in the launch of two successful data predictive modeling companies and her ownership of two U.S. patents. Little did anyone predict that a tour of Academy of Art University would pave the way for Camilla’s latest project Savitude, a startup that delivers clothing recommendations based on the shape and proportion of the individual shopper to give a personalized shopping experience.

“I took my daughter to an Open House at Academy of Art because she was interested in fashion at the time, and I went on a tour, and I just fell in love, and I knew I needed to be there,” she said in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle.

Creating a Solution

Camilla decided to enroll in the School of Fashion, where she met soon-to-be Savitude co-founder Jungah Lee. Studying her M.F.A. in Fashion Design, Camilla exhibited her collection in the Spring 2011 graduate showcase at New York Fashion Week and later started her own clothing line.

As her career continued to advance, she noticed a $30 billion problem plaguing the online retail industry: high rates of return for clothes that don’t fit. Combining the insight of a designer with the critical thinking of an entrepreneur, Camilla founded Savitude as a solution.

“The problem with returns is more than just a size or measurement issue,” she said at TechCrunch Disrupt NY Battlefield. “The solution must include shape.”

A Personalized Approach

Acknowledging the diversity of the human form, Savitude uses advanced shape-filter technology to separate body shapes into nine different categories. Customers are invited to select which shape best describes them, and Savitude analyzes and filters store inventories to recommend clothing ideal for each shopper’s silhouette. The design and functionality of Savitude aims to reduce the amount of time, money, and energy that often contribute to high return rates.

Although the app currently caters exclusively to women, Camilla expanding “into all accessories and the apparel marketplace,” making shopping worth everyone’s while.

Academy of Art University has a program and a place for everyone. Discover how you can be inspired like Camilla and schedule a visit to an upcoming Open House in a city near you today!