Unveiling consumer priorities & fashion tech innovations

Welcome to the latest edition of Fashion 4.X! Now that we've all recovered from the eclipse, we're excited to ride the bleeding edge fashion and technology. This week we're exploring:

?? consumer priorities shaping the fashion (and tech) landscape,

?? shoes that grow with your kids,

?? and a new recycling solution aiming to put an end to fashion waste.

MMGNET Group 's latest trend report, the 2024 US Fashion Consumer Outlook, offers invaluable insights into evolving consumer spending habits across diverse market segments. Drawing from a nationally representative survey, this report equips fashion professionals with essential knowledge to understand and engage with the dynamic preferences shaping the industry landscape.

One standout finding is that 63% of US consumers prioritize size and fit above all other factors when making purchasing decisions. This underscores the significance of technology geared towards addressing size, fit, and personalization preferences. Particularly compelling are the top tech investments identified by consumers, with customized size and fit solutions ranking highest at 23%, followed by personalized design features at 18%, and virtual fitting rooms in-store at 15%.

?? Can robotics really be used for making clothing? ARM Institute thinks so, and is investing in automation for reshoring apparel to North America.

?? Samsara Eco 's partnership with lululemon introduces enzymatically recycled clothing, offering a sustainable solution to fashion's waste problem.

?? This 3D-Printed sneaker concept offers a customizable and eco-friendly solution for growing kids' shoe needs, potentially lasting up to five years.

?????? The New York Fashion Tech Lab reveals its 2024 Cohort of women-led startups to watch in Retail Tech. We want to see more of this!

?? Can fashion save the NFT market? Interest in NFTs, led by virtual fashion, has surged, doubling since 2022, suggesting growth potential for NFT investments.

?? Metaverse fashion darling ALTAVA will now integrate their styles into the TOZ Universe metaverse, so your avatar doesn't have to play naked.

?? Prada is integrating AI assistants and metaverse-related innovations to enhance the shopping experience and align its brand with innovation.

?? Moss is trialing an AI-powered virtual try-on tool called Zyler which requires only product images and a simple customer avatar to simplify adoption.

?? WeShop AI by 蘑菇街 is revolutionizing e-commerce imagery with AI-driven technology that they claim will replace human models.

Follow these folks to see their POV and happenings in their corner of the fashion world:

Teodora Nicolae , Vice President - Marketing at MMGNET Group

Andy Ku , Founder / CEO ALTAVA GROUP

Cristiano Agostini , Head of Technology at Prada

Jill Manoff , Editor in Chief, Glossy; Global Editorial Director, Glossy Brands

Danny Parisi , Senior Fashion Reporter at Glossy

Michele Di Carlo , Product Designer

Carlota Rodben , Author, Podcast Host of Beyond Luxury Group

About Balodana: we are "fashtechies" who are passionate about revolutionizing the fashion industry's impact on the environment. Talk with us about our new Custom Fashion Lab on-demand manufacturing and personalized supply chain solutions, to reshape sustainability and sizing inclusion in fashion.

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