Blurring The Lines Between Reality and the Digital World with Augmented Reality

Augmented reality in fashion industry is going to change the way you shop.

Imagine: You’re at the mall, and you’ve been eyeing a pair of boots all day. Before, you’d have to find something similar in your size, go back to the store, and hope they had them on sale. Now, thanks to AR technology, you just pull up an app that matches your shoe size and shows you what it looks like on your foot. Then you can try it on over and over again—and if it’s not quite right, the app will show you what other shoes you can choose from!

In our world—the future—shopping will be so much simpler.

Augmented reality, or AR for short, is a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world, thus providing an augmented version of reality. The most common use of the technology is through smartphones and tablets, but it can also be used with smart glasses and virtual reality headsets.

Difference between AR & VR

Augmented Reality is the process of adding a layer of virtual elements to our real world and tracking their positions, while Virtual Reality creates an artificial environment that completely immerses us within it. Both technologies provide rich and compelling visual experiences with 3D high-definition video and audio. The most significant difference between the two is that VR is completely immersive while AR is partly immersive.

Pokemon Go – Merger of AR & VR

It’s an exciting concept, and we’ve already seen immersive experiences come from the combination of VR and AR. Pokémon Go is one prominent example of this merging of VR with AR where users can walk around their neighborhoods catching Pokémon characters on their mobile devices.

Augmented Reality in the Fashion Industry

More importantly, augmented reality technology has already gained popularity among big players in the fashion industry. Both Versace and Nina Ricci have already hosted presentations presenting their AR mobile apps. In addition, the latter presented its collaboration with Apple on its new app that can be used to virtually “try-out” clothes using a digital dress created based on one’s own body shape and preferences.

Benefits of Using Augmented Reality in Fashion

The fashion industry has long relied on digital technology to improve business operations and boost sales. Social media platforms like Facebook have made it easy to share new trends, from avant-garde outfits to daring hairstyles. Most recently, the fashion industry has been exploring a number of other digital technologies that will further change how clothes are designed, produced, and delivered to consumers.

While some fashion brands have already achieved great successes with marketing campaigns based on augmented reality (AR) tools, others are still watching and learning how this technology can generate numerous benefits in the fashion industry.

  • Promote Consumer Products

Augmented reality is no longer just a buzzword. Fashion brands are finding more and more reasons to use it to promote their businesses and consumer products. The possibilities are endless as the potential wearers will be able to see what the clothes would look like on themselves and decide if the outfit looks good on them or not. This gives the consumer the power to make decisions instead of having the brand dictate how one should dress and what color goes with which type of complexion.

  • Influence Buying Behavior

With AR there is no perceived product substitute which eliminates pricing as a factor for consideration when making a purchase decision. When customers believe there is no substitute, they are more likely to keep your brand at the top of their minds when making purchasing decisions.

It has been determined by Nielsen Research that “More than half of people frequently triggered by coupons (55 percent) believe they should get discounts on things they see in the real world using their mobile devices…” It can be reasonably assumed that those who seek discounts through the use of their mobile device are the same customers who may purchase goods or services that include an element of AR technology integrated into them as part of their overall user experience. For example: via an app, or a promo that flashes on your computer screen while online shopping or just walking.

  • Increased Revenue

The tech industry has seen the promise and future of AR for several years. However, over the past year or so, we have seen several companies begin to roll out new applications for their software and hardware that take advantage of AR technology.

By harnessing AR technologies for brands and fashion retailers in innovative ways, companies of all shapes and sizes hope to increase revenue and drive attention back towards their brand. This includes clothing retailers like Diesel, who wants you to try on a pair of boots and shoes in an augmented reality dressing room experience, or Fendi who wants you to try on a virtual fur coat and see how much it would look like on you even before you make your purchase.

  • Customer Satisfaction

Stock photos don’t always cut it — neither does a product description. People are used to seeing stock photos, which is why they don’t accurately depict the product. Customers love transparency. The only way to help the customer understand how an item will look in the real world is to allow them to experience it holistically.

If you want your customers to buy what you sell, you’ll need more than just product descriptions to get across. You can use augmented reality, a technology that inserts products into the real world via mobile applications, to highlight certain features and show them how a product will look in their home.

Customers can then share their findings or post a review on social media with video evidence of their purchase. Research has shown that AR significantly increases customer satisfaction, up to 89 percent in many cases.

  • Cement Customer Loyalty

Buyers want to be confident in their purchasing decisions, and access to more information gives them peace of mind. It has been shown that 47 percent of consumers are willing to pay extra for a product if they could customize or personalize the immersive experience. What better way to do this than through augmented reality (AR)? AR empowers customers by giving them the ability to experience a product before they buy it. Not only does this build their confidence by seeing how the product will look, but it also helps eliminate potential buyer’s remorse after they have made their purchase.

In order for AR to become a successful marketing tool for fashion companies, it must be used for more than just an interactive window display; rather it should be used to add value to the product itself. By doing this, customers will associate the app with a successful experience and in turn become loyal consumers of that brand.

  • Identify Purchasing Trends

Augmented reality can be used by marketers to conduct research into customers’ shopping habits. With this technology, consumers remain engaged with the product while they are shopping. This allows retailers to gather valuable information about customers’ preferences and behavior.

For example, a retailer could use AR to display product information on a smartphone screen while consumers are trying out a product. The retailer could study how long it takes for the consumer to make a decision and which product features are most important to them.

This information is valuable to retailers because they can use it to improve their marketing strategies and better understand their customer base. Companies can learn more about their target audience, which will allow them to create more effective advertisements that resonate better with targeted audiences.

For example, if customers from one demographic have trouble making payments on time, companies can offer them payment plans as incentives for future purchases.

  • Social Media Filters

Augmented reality is not a new concept, but it has gained prominence with the advent of smartphones and mobile applications. The technology is widely used in mobile gaming and to provide an interactive experience to users. However, social media has taken it to a whole new level, where users are able to add AR effects on top of their faces or other objects.

Augmented reality filters work with your camera to generate special effects for images. The filter superimposes these effects on top of faces. Social media users are excited about filters, as they provide a novel way to express themselves and communicate with other users and brands.

  • Brand Recognition

When you’re using AR, you want to create an experience that works for your brand. For example, a clothing retailer can add clothing to a user’s selfie or a home improvement store can add furniture to someone’s living room. Customers will share these images on social media, and in turn, gain exposure for your brand. The result is instant brand recognition without having to spend thousands on advertising campaigns.

How Do you Use Augmented Reality in Everyday Life?

When you open an app that supports augmented reality, point your camera at a subject and wait for the app to recognize the object in the picture. It will then display various filters that can be applied on top of that subject. You can apply more than one filter on a single image. The image will then be saved in your camera roll along with all the other images you have captured.

The way that most people use AR is through Snapchat or Instagram filters. These filters allow users to add special effects to their photos and videos. Some of the filters are silly, while others are more practical — like adding sunglasses or balloons to an image. The point is to make the photo more interesting and fun.

Virtual Fitting Room technology – Offering Convenience for Everyone

Companies are tapping into virtual fitting room technology to boost sales. Although this technology is still in its early stages, it can be a powerful tool for e-commerce retailers.

The virtual fitting room market is projected to grow from $3.50 billion in 2021 to $12.97 billion by 2028. Because it’s an innovative way to try on clothes, virtual fitting rooms appeal to younger generations who are accustomed to shopping online. As the technology becomes more commonplace, it’s likely that the number of customers using these rooms will increase.

In fact, a recent study found that 34 percent of shoppers think virtual fitting rooms make online shopping more fun. The report also found that 97 percent of consumers have abandoned a shopping purchase because it wasn’t convenient enough. Virtual fitting rooms offer a more convenient way for customers to try on products and access brands they couldn’t find in stores or online.

Wrap Up

The fashion industry is one of the most dynamic industries in the world. It undergoes constant change, whether it be in styles, fabrics or designs; it is this continuous evolution that allows fashion to thrive as a trade.

However, with the growing popularity of social media platforms, celebrities and bloggers to share their styles, this has become an increasingly difficult industry to enter. But through Augmented Reality (AR) apps, brands can create spaces within the app that allow their users to engage with the brand uniquely.

If you really want to get ahead, get ahead of the bandwagon. Businesses are quickly adopting AR tech and embracing it into their daily workflow. An AR app allows businesses to incorporate new features into existing products without disrupting the status quo or high risk of losing revenue.

In a world where attention spans are shorter than ever and technology is always changing, why not turn your business around with an augmented reality clothing app by getting ahead of the technology curve?