Be it a washing machine, laptop, or dress; the display is essential as it influences a potential customer’s decision. For example, when one visits a shopping mall or a boutique, a tall slim plastic figure is seen wearing the dresses sold in the store. These types of plastic figures are called mannequins. These are also known as manikin, dummy, or lay figures.
They display an accurate image of how a dress would look on the body. Based on the display, one can assume if the outfit would suit them or not. This saves time and effort as it does not require a trial. These dummies have many advantages in every field they are used. For instance, they attract customers in a clothing store while they are used to explaining human anatomy in medical colleges.
Advantages of Mannequins:
i) Saves time and effort- A mannequin gives the person an idea about what type of clothing is being sold in a particular store. This eliminates the need to walk in and enquire about the kind of dresses being sold. It also saves a lot of effort to wear the clothing and check its fundamental outlook. The dress displayed on the plastic figure gives almost 80% of the details relating to length, material, and colour scheme. Based on this, an estimate can be made by the customer if the dress is with a trial.
ii) Attracts customers- Many customers walk into different stores based on the dresses portrayed on plastic figures. They give the customer an idea of the type of clothes sold in the store. This is especially advantageous in malls and speciality stores where a distinction can be created between different shops based on the figures displayed.
The origin of mannequins dates back to the 15th Century, when artists used to portray themselves wearing clothes as a demo. However, the actual mannequin concept was introduced in the 18th Century in Paris.
Recently plus size mannequins are becoming popular with changes in trends and mindsets. Prominent plastic body figures are displayed wearing different outfits, from traditional to fancy to activewear, to encourage and accommodate plus-size people and clothing. This is done to give an idea about the fit of plus-sized people. It displays a company’s concern toward plus-size people. It raises the company’s name in society’s eyes.
Other Uses:
i) Medical centres- Many medical colleges and hospitals use dummies to explain the subject practically. Demo operations and surgeries can be performed on them as they resemble a human body. Medical anatomy, childbirth, and pregnancy-related cases can be better explained and solved using these plastic figures. These are also used to describe hypothetical first aid cases. The body of such plastic figures can be opened to demonstrate various human body organs. This gives an excellent practical understanding for a medical student. Doctors often explain a patient’s problem using such figures to understand better how and where the problem lies.
ii) Pop culture- Mannequins are widely used in drama and theatre applications. They are essential to horror and thriller equipment for movies and shoots. Many stand-up comedians use dummies to give the audience a live feel and bring in more humour.
iii) Military purposes- The use of such figures was quite popular in Chinese culture, where army personnel were given intense training by demonstrating the various attack, defence, and escape plans. The positions, the ways to defend an enemy’s arrow, sword, and the human body’s weak points were explained practically using them. They were referred to as dummies. It helped the army and military personnel treat themselves for emergency wounds and injuries.
