I understand a hybrid vertex assignment/Physics Texture system may be coming which could provide real-time conforming cloth to a character's body to follow Native Character Soft Cloth Physics but
------------please allow it to work with HIK Characterization as well!---------------- It will allow us to add hair or cloth to HIK Characters within iClone and not have to rely on external programs but additionally it would allow users to make custom clothing for any HIK Character in the market place so other users can swap out.

So the hybrid vertex assignment option could allow for a new unique .HIKcloth format that is intended to work exclusively with the original character identified via detected vertex count. The custom hair/cloth could be saved and created within the vertex assignment area to avoid saving to content manager unless the program realizes the character is using HIK mode and generates the appropriate .HIKcloth format and file that contains the vertex ID/Count.