Fashion Tech: How Retailers are Accelerating the App Phenomenon

The fashion and tech industries are two of the most lucrative fields in the world. Millions of dollars are poured into fashion designers and models showing off their chicest trends, as well as tech companies and computer scientists showing off their newest apps.

With such profitable lines of work, it’s no wonder that almost every fashion retailer has its own mobile app. Nordstrom, Chanel and Bloomingdales are just a few retailers with their own apps for shoppers on the go.

However, the list isn’t limited to high-end shopping. Forever 21, Macy’s and American Eagle all offer their shoppers similar experiences. Customers can keep track of their online purchases, count their points if they have a rewards membership and even get access to exclusive online discounts and sales.

According to VisionMobile, mobile apps will have a huge impact on the fashion industry over the next few years. A survey conducted by the Luxury Institute in 2012 confirmed that 80% of wealthy smartphone users had downloaded a fashion app, and two-thirds had shopped on their smartphone.

Some retailers are even starting out online or in apps as well, eliminating the entire in-person shopping experience all together. Tobi and ModCloth are two retailers that have embraced this method of retail, with some of the features being exclusively available on their apps.

ModCloth has a feature called Fit For Me, which allows users to input their measurements and read reviews of clothing that other people with the same or similar measurements have bought. Fit For Me, however, can only be used on ModCloth’s mobile app.

And the apps aren’t even limited to retailers at all. The fashion industry has expanded to include beauty companies such as Glamsquad, an in-home pampering service users could initially order on the Web.

But now, users can order their nail, makeup and hair treatments from the comfort of their iPhone (unfortunately right now that’s the only smartphone Glamsquad operates on) with the site’s app. #BirthdayPartyIdeas, am I right?

In a nutshell, the world of mobile apps has taken the fashion world by storm. We can only hope the future of mobile apps will have an even bigger impact on the fashion world — and vice versa. Cha-ching!

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Image Credit: My Emma