UVU Sandbox Program Unveils Fashion Platform: Fitted
FItted is a fashion startup founded by Octavia Desmarais and Kiara Simpson; it is one of two student-led startups in UVU's inaugural Sandbox program.
Ecosystem
Utah Valley University undergraduate students Octavia Desmarais and Kiara Simpson have embarked on a new entrepreneurial journey with their new startup, Fitted. Desmarais (CEO) and Simpson (CTO) have been participating with UVU's Sandbox program to gain expertise, insight and guidance on how to start and run a successful business.
For their chosen startup project, Desmarais and Simpson have set out to change the world of fashion one online purchase at a time. Their startup, Fitted, enables users to measure themselves with only a video or picture. Measurements are then compared with size data from popular online stores to help guarantee that each and every purchase fits the user perfectly. This approach not only improves the shopping experience but also contributes to sustainability by reducing the likelihood of purchasing clothes of the wrong size—hence reducing returns and waste. Fitted aims to build a profitable, market-ready business that changes how people shop online.
"We are creating a tool that helps you pick out your outfits," said Octavia Desmarais. "You take a picture of your entire wardrobe, and from there, our AI calculations will determine your options, ask what style you want, and then choose the perfect outfit for you."
Desmarais and Simpson also want to redefine what it means to be women founders in the tech industry. They are leveraging their perspectives as female entrepreneurs, to push boundaries and set new standards for success in the online retail clothing space. As they embark on the Sandbox journey they will have opportunities to interact with customer prospects, gather feedback, establish a fit in the market with their platform and generate revenue. They receive course credit at UVU while also building their first startup which they intend will flourish.
"Sandbox has truly shaped my mindset as an entrepreneur. It’s been an incredible experience building relationships, developing myself personally, and growing our company," said Kiara Simpson.
Sandbox originated as an experiment at Brigham Young University in 2020. After collaborating with top academic advisors and gaining widespread recognition—particularly for its highly attended Demo Day—Sandbox introduced an innovative model for launching startups. After becoming established at BYU as an effective, highly popular startup incubation platform, Sandbox started to look beyond its borders and engage with other universities in the state.
In April 2024, Sandbox co-founder Chris Crittenden announced at BYU's 2024 Demo Day in Provo the pending expansion of Sandbox to three additional higher education institutions in Utah—Utah State University, Utah Tech University, and Utah Valley University. Desmarais and Simpson co-founded one of the first two Sandbox startups at Utah Valley University. The Sandbox program enables smart and driven students such as Desmarais and Simpson to both receive real-life training as entrepreneurs and obtain credit for courses required for graduation.