10 Fashion Technologies for Fashion Retailers

If you need to stay ahead of the curve in today’s fast-paced retail environment as a clothing brand or fashion retailer, there is one effective answer: embracing technologies. Fashion technology can do more than just digitize the fashion industry. It can provide a way for modern customers and fashion retailers to meet in the middle. Whether you're a boutique owner or part of a major retail chain, these technologies can help you move forward in the industry.

Fashion technology is an interdisciplinary field that combines fashion and technological advancements to innovate and enhance various aspects of the fashion industry. This encompasses a wide range of technologies and solutions, from designing, manufacturing, and selling clothing and other fashion articles.

Fashion technology is pushing the boundaries of the fashion industry. In The State of Fashion Technology 2022 report by McKinsey, it has been mentioned that customers who engage with technology in stores spend up to four times longer shopping than those who do not. Forbes also reports that Gen Z are actually tech-driven consumers, looking for immersive experiences. This shows that fashion technology allows fashion retailers to compete with online retailers and keep up with the rise of modernization.

Fashion retail technology also contributes to the overall experience inside the store. As modern customers mostly look for memorable experiences, and Gen Z consumers are more likely to shop online as a form of entertainment, these are more reasons for retailers to create technology-driven retail in-store experiences. To ignore this kind of development is to hinder success and fail to gain the trust of the audience and potential customers.

Starting and operating a successful fashion retail store requires a variety of technologies to streamline operations, enhance the customer experience, and stay competitive. Of course, some of the common and standard types of fashion technology include point-of-sale (POS) systems, lightings, signages, secure payment systems, as well as other security measures. However, there are new, innovative technologies that are reshaping fashion retail stores. Take a look at ten of them:

AI and AR/VR Visual Merchandising

Artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive reality (augmented reality and virtual reality) experiences are a hot topic among fashion retail businesses. AI algorithms can analyze customer behavior and preferences to offer personalized product recommendations. Virtual shopping assistants can also provide personalized assistance, answer questions, and help find products for customers who are in a hurry or confused.

Meanwhile, fashion and retail AR apps enable a virtual try-on experience, where customers can see how clothes and accessories will look on them without physically trying them on. In-store AR mirrors create virtual fitting rooms that overlay garments onto customers' reflections, providing a seamless try-on experience. VR store tour experiences that let customers explore and shop in virtual versions of physical stores.

E-commerce and Digital Platforms

Content management platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or Magento can help create and manage your online store. Other than that, ensuring the website is mobile-friendly to cater to customers using smartphones and tablets is necessary nowadays. SEO tools like Google Analytics and SEMrush can also optimize search engine rankings and drive organic traffic.

AI Chatbots and Customer Support

Implementing AI chatbots for 24/7 customer support and handling common queries can improve retail operations in a significant way., especially since fashion retailers will need to accommodate customers asking about clothing sizes, color variations, new stocks, special designs, and more. Helpdesk software like Zendesk or Freshdesk to manage customer service tickets and support interactions.

Contactless and Safety-first Transactions

Contactless transactions are also one of the newest technologies slowly being implemented across retail stores. This includes self-service kiosks, which can be used for checking prices, locating products, and completing purchases. In-store sanitization stations with UV light sanitizers can also help customers when it comes to disinfecting shopping carts, baskets, and handheld devices.

Mobile Apps

Fashion retailers offering a mobile app for customers is also a big development. In fact, according to Statista, more than 35 million users in the United States use fashion and beauty apps, with Shein being the most downloaded app in the field. Fashion mobile apps can cater to shopping transactions, provide personalized recommendations, and deliver push notifications to customers.

Sustainable and Eco-friendly Technologies

Sustainability is also being integrated into different kinds of technology in fashion. Innovations in fabric technology lead to biodegradable fabrics and materials from organic and biodegradable sources. 3D knitting and printing also produce clothing with minimal waste and allow for on-demand manufacturing. These sustainable technologies in fashion can reduce overproduction among manufacturers and retailers.

IoT Retail

IoT, or the Internet of Things, is also a great addition to fashion technology. This includes smart shelves that are usually equipped with sensors to monitor inventory levels in real time and alert staff when restocking is needed. Connected fitting rooms are also an example of IoT in fashion retail. These fitting rooms may have interactive mirrors that provide product information and styling suggestions, and allow customers to request different sizes or colors without leaving the room.

Robotics

Robotics and drones are also being used as fashion technology. These can be used for efficient inventory management and faster order fulfillment in warehouses. Autonomous delivery vehicles, on the other hand, can be used for last-mile delivery. This speeds up the shipping process for the customers and reduces costs for the retailers.

Social Commerce and Live Streaming

Innovative marketing and engagement tools are also leveling up fashion retail. This includes social commerce and live streaming content. Integrating shopping capabilities directly into social media posts allows users to purchase products without leaving the platform. Stores can also leverage AI to identify the best influencers for brand collaborations based on audience and engagement metrics.

Host live streams where customers can interact with hosts, ask questions, and make purchases in real-time. Create videos with clickable elements that allow customers to learn more about products and make purchases directly from the video.

Digital Labels

Digital labels are also one of the most simple, yet innovative kinds of fashion technology nowadays. Digital labels have all the right features and capabilities to streamline the operations among fashion retailers. For example, SOLUM ESL is equipped with a breakneck update speed, multi-page information capacity, a 7-color LED indicator, multifunctional and programmable buttons, and near-field communication (NFC) capability. All of these can improve any retail operation, including fashion stores.

Digital labels are becoming increasingly necessary for modern fashion stores due to several key benefits they offer. As an alternative to traditional paper labels and tags, they can enhance customer experience, improve operational efficiency, integrate with other systems, and promote overall sustainability.

Here’s a detailed look at why digital labels are essential:

1. It creates interactive customer experiences - Digital labels can display a wide range of information, including product specifications, care instructions, and available sizes. This information can be updated in real-time, which helps ensure that customers always have the most current details. Interactive elements, such as QR codes or links to augmented reality experiences, can provide additional content. This includes videos on how to style an item, background stories on its production, or even virtual try-ons. When integrated with customer profiles, digital labels can also suggest complementary items, display personalized discounts, or highlight items that match the customer’s past purchases or browsing history.
2. It provides real-time and accurate updates - Digital labels allow for instant and accurate price changes across the store. This is particularly useful for flash sales, promotions, or responding to competitor pricing. Changes can be made centrally and deployed across all labels simultaneously.
3. It improves inventory management - By linking digital labels to inventory management systems, stock levels can be displayed in real-time. This helps staff know when to restock items, and it can help customers see what’s available without asking staff.
4. It reduces costs - Automated updates mean staff spend less time changing labels and more time on customer service and other important tasks.
5. It reduces error - Automation from digital labels also reduces human error, ensuring that prices and information are always correct. This consistency improves customer trust. Of course, it reduces potential losses from pricing mistakes and minimizes manual labor and redundant tasks from the staff.
6. It contributes to sustainability in retail - Digital labels eliminate the need for paper tags and frequent reprinting. This allows fashion retailers to cut down on paper waste and contribute to green retailing. Many digital labels also use e-ink technology, which is highly energy-efficient. E-ink displays only use power when changing content, making them an environmentally friendly option to retailers.
7. It creates promotional flexibility - Fashion retail stores can easily change promotions based on time of day, day of the week, or customer demographics. For example, offering lunchtime discounts or special offers during peak shopping hours. Digital labels can also use dynamic content and QR codes to highlight certain items more effectively than static paper labels. This attracts customer attention to new or promotional products.
8. It integrates with other technologies - Digital labels can be part of a network of connected devices, contributing to the development of smart stores. For example, labels can communicate with smart shelves and automated checkout systems. They can also be integrated with blockchain technology. With this, digital labels can provide detailed information about a product’s journey from manufacture to store, enhancing transparency and customer trust.
9. It creates omnichannel synchronization - Digital labels can also enable omnichannel retailing for fashion stores. Ensuring that pricing, availability, and promotional information is consistent across online and offline channels provides a seamless shopping experience for the audience. This encourages loyal and new customers to shop both in-store and online.
10. It adheres to standards - Digital labels can be quickly updated to comply with new regulations, such as displaying material composition, country of origin, or safety warnings. This ensures that all necessary legal information is provided accurately and promptly.

In fact, SOLUM ESL’s very own Newton X is perfect for apparel stores and other fashion retailers. This is a digital label solution developed with clothing stores, fashion boutiques, and other accessory stores in mind. The Newton X has a compact and lightweight design, with various attachment options to ensure that it can be used for different fashion items. This includes clothing items, eyewears, bags, jewelry, accessories, suits, dresses, and more.

Here are a few Newton X features that make it an ideal fashion technology solution for retailers:

• Fast, digital updates
• 3-page capacity
• 7-color LED indicator
• Compact and lightweight
• Minimalist design
• Special peg hook attachment option
• Three size variations (1”, 1.3”, and 2.2”)
• 5 to 7-year battery life
• IP67 rating
• Multifunctional, programmable button
• Near-field communication (NFC) capability
• ESL management system

In other words, while Newton X might be ultra-compact and lightweight in design, it still has the same powerful capabilities as the rest of SOLUM ESL. The compact design will blend perfectly among clothes and accessories, not obstructing their design or weighing them down. With a digital label solution like this, clothing stores and fashion retailers are cementing themselves as a technology-driven brand.

Talk to SOLUM experts today and find out more about Newton X as a retail fashion technology for your store!