Where fashion and technology meet is such an exciting intersection – and there has been so much to discuss in this space in 2024.
Having already used these pages to provide the lowdown on the major trends from this year’s Retail Technology Show in the UK, we felt it was the perfect time to highlight some of the latest examples of where fashion and tech are colliding to great effect. We’ve picked out five news stories from May and June that we think highlight forward thinking in the industry.
And of course, before we start, it would be remiss of us not to remind any fashion retailers reading that if they’re looking to boost inventory visibility and optimise product allocation, the BlueCherry ERP is built specifically for them and speaks their language.
But let’s get to the latest innovations we’ve spotted in fashion retail tech…
Retail tech innovation 1 – Wearable technology at Nike
Nike collaborates with Hyperice to create wearable technology designed for athletes to use in their warm-ups and recoveries
New innovations integrated into boots and vests assist in controlling heating and cooling
Hyperice founder Anthony Katz states it’s “just the start” of what could be a fruitful and ongoing relationship with one of the world’s most renowned sports brands.
Nike and health tech company Hyperice have joined forces to develop a boot and a vest they claim can support high-performance warm-up and recovery for athletes.
The new boot – a high-top shoe – offers heat and dynamic air-compression massage on demand for wearers’ feet and ankles. The wearable tech is designed to drive heat deep into the muscle and tissue of the feet and ankles, enabling faster recovery from exercise than would otherwise be possible.
In their joint statement announcing the partnership, the companies suggested that those wearing the boot and utilising its new capabilities felt as if they had “already completed their warm-up before actually starting their usual routine”.
As for the vest, it employs thermoelectric coolers that provide instant heating and cooling without the need for ice or liquid, which Nike stated helps athletes “adjust their body temperatures to their exact specifications during warm-ups and cool-downs”. The vest contains thermal modules with sensors that monitor and maintain body temperature.
We believe it could be an exciting new frontier in tech-enabled fashion.
Retail tech innovation 2 – H&M explores decarbonisation of textile supply chain
BlueCherry can already assist fashion retailers on their sustainability journeys. As our managing director Tony Mather mentioned in a recent podcast with the British Footwear Association, a sustainability strategy requires a system such as a PLM – especially as retailers and brands are increasingly required to navigate using raw materials that comply with environmental standards.
It’s encouraging to see H&M exploring ways to decarbonise the textile supply chain.
It has partnered with Rondo Energy, a zero-carbon industrial heat and power provider, to explore the use of heat storage technologies in its supply chain. H&M, which is also investing in Rondo and joining its strategic investor advisory board, will seek to replace fossil fuels with Rondo’s batteries in factories throughout its supply chain.
Coal currently provides most of the heat and contributes significantly to carbon pollution when producing fabrics, but Rondo aims to harness renewable energy instead and change the status quo. H&M has a vast global presence, so this particular tech-fashion partnership could have widespread benefits in the future if it succeeds.
Let’s keep an eye on where this can take the sector.
Retail tech innovation 3 – Moschino enhances employee experience
Moschino’s new partnership with Yoobic is noteworthy because it demonstrates the luxury brand is caring for its front-line staff – something that all businesses in fashion need to prioritise as good customer experience is crucial to their success.
A motivated workforce is an effective workforce, we say.
The collaboration is central to a new learning and development programme from the luxury brand, and Yoobic’s digital workplace tool aids in supporting staff training and communications across Moschino's 150+ retail locations worldwide. There is no longer a need for staff to sit at computers and use digital workbooks and exercises; this new technology provides bespoke, bite-sized mobile training on the go via an app on a handheld device.
At BlueCherry, we are strong advocates for fashion brands using technology that better connects the workforce.
Retail tech innovation 4 – New Look’s new stores
We were thrilled to hear about BlueCherry PLM customer New Look’s plans for store refreshes, announced at the end of May.
Some £3.3 million is being invested in upgrading its Greater Manchester store estate with new designs and layouts, involving a significant amount of fresh technology implementation aimed at better supporting its click & collect service and store staff operations.
New Look has allocated time and resources to ensure its colleagues are trained on the new systems so they can continue to provide the excellent service they already deliver day in, day out – but with even more technology to support them.
We look forward to seeing the results of the refresh in 20 stores. And then, who knows? The new formats might be rolled out even more widely.
Retail tech innovation 5 – CGS and FirstShift AI
And finally, not to be overlooked – we have an innovative retail tech story of our own to highlight.
We have partnered with FirstShift AI, forming a strategic alliance to provide a planning and insights suite for the fashion and retail industries.
FirstShift AI is a specialist in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven demand and supply chain planning, and by collaborating with them we can help provide companies with better insights through advanced AI-powered planning, analytics, and intelligence. All of this can assist in improving an organisation’s critical business decision-making.
We believe this technology can help our customers better meet today’s diverse supply chain challenges while also enabling them to anticipate future challenges, giving them a significant advantage in staying ahead of the competition.
Read more about the CGS-FirstShift AI partnership here.
And connect with a member of the BlueCherry team today to learn how PLM and ERP might be the retail technology innovation you need to drive positive change in your business.
