AR Fashion

Could AR Mirrors Replace Brick-And-Mortar Stores?

June 22, 2023 From vrscout

The virtual fitting room market has the potential to explode over the next few years.

According to a recent report by SourceJournal, Zero10, an augmented reality (AR) fashion platform and the official AR partner of Coach, is developing technology that could revolutionize the in-person shopping experience.

Last week at Viva Technology Paris, Zero10, an augmented reality (AR) fashion platform and the official AR partner of Coach, revealed its AR Store prototype. Composed of a Zero10 AR Mirror, iPad stand, and statistics screen, this standalone experience allows customers to try on and purchase virtual garments without the hassle of having to physically remove their existing clothes.

Zero10’s AR Mirror / Credit: Zero10

According to Zero10, AR Store takes up roughly 3 square meters and features the same functionality as a traditional 100-square-meter brick-and-mortar store. Whereas the company’s previous AR Mirrors were designed to work with existing locations, AR Store is designed to operate independently as an “autonomous retail agent.”

“By embracing this innovative technology, brands can transcend the constraints of traditional brick-and-mortar stores, reducing rental and storage expenses while combating overproduction,” said Zero10 founder George Yashin during an interview with SourcingJournal. “Moreover, the AR Store empowers brands to expand their reach offline, enabling online-only businesses to embrace the physical realm at a fraction of the cost.”

**Snap Inc.’s AR Mirror / Credit: Snap, Inc.**

“The AR Store offers a cutting-edge and convenient solution for customers to virtually try on garments, eliminating the need for changing rooms or purchasing previously worn or returned items,” added Yashin. “The era of immersive and sustainable fashion is upon us.”

According to a study by Grand View Research, Inc, the virtual fitting room market could potentially grow to $20.63 billion by the year 2030. We’ve already seen a number of other companies begin to experiment with virtual try-on technology, such as Snap Inc.’s AR Mirrors, which will be available to try at popular music festivals later this summer.

For more information on Zero10’s new AR Store, check out SourceJournal’s full report here.

Feature Image Credit: Zero10

Try On Nail Polish In AR With Snapchat’s New Lens

May 27, 2023 From vrscout

You can also sample a range of new lip colors from Supergoop!.

Social media giant Snapchat is back with even more fashion-forward Lenses powered by augmented reality (AR) technology. These latest filters allow you to virtually sample a new range of new beauty products available now in stores.

The first is an AR Try-On Lens developed in collaboration with Supergoop! that allows you to try on (get it?) four different colors of Lipshade, a new product from the popular skincare brand. Snap also partnered with American nail polish manufacturer OPI to launch the Nail Lacquer Lens featuring 8 different nail polish shades brought to life on your hands in AR.

Credit: Snap Inc.

The Nail Lacquer Lens makes use of Snap’s Nails Segmentation technology, which allows you to easily swipe between different colors on your hands in real-time.

“With the Snap Camera, every product is personalized to the shopper, allowing you to try on items in your own space, to make more informed decisions,” said Snap in an official release. “We can’t wait to see how Snapchatters use, share, and shop these new Lenses from Supergoop! and OPI.”

You can check out the new Supergoop! AR try-on Lens here. Those interested in trying out Snap’s Nail Segmentation technology can sample the Nail Lacquer Lens here. For more information about both Lenses check out Snap’s official blog update.

Feature Image Credit: Snap Inc.

Snap’s Partner Summit Was Basically An AR Playground

April 27, 2023 From vrscout

This year’s festivities included augmented reality fashion, star-studded panels, and more.

Best known for its popular messaging app Snapchat, Snap Inc. has made incredible strides in the realm of immersive technology.

Last week, the company held its 2023 Partner Summit in Santa Monica, California, inviting everyone from famous influencers to major corporations to try the latest iterations of its next-gen augmented reality (AR) technology. We were lucky enough to attend Snap’s in-person festivities and sufficeth to say the company has something special on its hands.

Upon entering the historic Barker Hangar, I found myself surrounded by a plethora of activations, including food, entertainment, and, of course, a copious amount of interactive experiences. Some guests were even provided with a 3D-printed model of their personal Bitmoji; a nice touch to an already fantastic event.

Heading deeper into the event space I discovered a range of AR mirrors powered by Snap’s AR Try-On technology. One installation, for instance, allowed me to try on a small catalog of high-end garments from Christian Dior, minus the need for a changing room.

As I stepped in front of the futuristic portal, my real-world outfit was instantly replaced by virtual clothing that moved with my body in real time. I’d be lying if I said the experience didn’t make me feel absolutely fabulous; as did the AR-enabled Coca-Cola machine, which allowed me to compose original music using a series of virtual instruments before rewarding me with a delicious beverage.

After attending a panel featuring Snapchat stars David Dobrik and JoJo Siwa, I had the chance to check out Snap’s Fit Finder, an artificial intelligence (AI) system that offers detailed size recommendations based on a customer’s specific body shape. The process begins by scanning the user, after which they can cycle through a variety of outfits to see how they’d look before purchase.

Trying it out for myself, I was pleasantly surprised by how seamless and engaging the experience felt. After being scanned I was able to “try on” several different sweatshirts before moving to a second station where I entered some simple personal information. The system then detected my ideal size and I was given the physical product, which fits great by the way (thanks Snap).

Before heading to the final keynote featuring Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, I attended an AR-powered art tour led by Sophia Dominguez, director of AR Platform Partnerships at Snap.

As she guided us throughout the event space, we used the Snapchat app to unlock location-based AR activations created by a handful of talented Snap creators. This included a weightlifting jukebox, a colorful icecream cone accompanied by an orbiting sea turtle, and an adorable groundhog-like creature nestled comfortably in a bed of virtual flowers.

“What we realized is where augmented reality really shines is in places where people can come together. And so what Snapchat has been really great at is helping close friends and family connect with one another,” said Sophia while speaking to VRScout.

“And the best way to do that is, usually, in-person doing some sort of activity. So whether that’s going to a concert, shopping together, exploring locations together, going on an art tour together; there’s just something really unique about making augmented reality bring value to people’s lives.”

At the end of the day, Snap Partner Summit 2023 was a big win for the company. In the course of a single afternoon, attendees were exposed to a generous amount of captivating activations that teased the future of consumer shopping and digital fashion.

What started as an anonymous social media app has since expanded into technological empire fueling the next generation of AR technology. The company has even released its own AI chatbot, simply referred to as My AI.

For more information on Snap’s latest happenings, visit snap.com.

Feature Image Credit: VRScout

Try On Halloween Costumes In AR Using Snapchat

October 16, 2022 From vrscout

Once you’ve decided on a costume, you can select ‘Shop Now’ to purchase.

With Halloween just around the corner, many people are in search of the perfect costume to celebrate this year’s festivities. Thankfully, Snapchat has your back.

This year the social media app has partnered with costume design and manufacturing company Disguise Inc. to launch an augmented reality (AR) shopping experience that allows you to try on and purchase virtual Halloween costumes based on hit franchises such as Harry Potter, Minecraft, Cobra Kai, The Office, Ghostbusters, Chucky, Power Rangers, and Transformers just to name a few.

“Imagining what a costume will look like on you is a big part of Halloween shopping. Snapchat’s new AR try-on capabilities take the wonder out of your costume shopping experience,” said Stephen Berman, CEO of JAKKS Pacific, in an official press release.

“Disguise is excited to partner with Snapchat this year to bring these Lenses to life. We have enlisted some of our top licensors to help us create an enjoyable try-on experience for customers and fans. All Lenses will also have a direct line to purchase if you like what you see!”

“These Halloween AR try-on experiences represent what makes shopping on Snapchat so seamless and fun,” added Ben Schwerin, SVP of Content and Partnerships at Snap Inc. “We’re thrilled to partner with Disguise to bring these Lenses to our community, as well as make choosing a Halloween costume that works for you, without ever having to step foot in a store, easier than ever on Snapchat.”

You can try on virtual Halloween costumes now via the Snapchat app, available free on iOS & Android. Just search for ‘Disguise Costumes’ or one of the brand names listed above in the dedicated search bar. There are also individual Snapcodes available for each Lens.

Image Credit: Snap Inc.