The recent Studio64 fashion and tech mixer by SF Fashion + Tech brought together a slew of established companies and startups in the fashion tech arena and hinted at what we can look forward to in the domain of fashion tech for 2013.
While there were many tables filled with enthusiastic founders and curious visitors, a few stood out:
Twice: An online store that buys secondhand apparel and sells it at a discount, the company functions like an e-version of a buy-sell-trade shop like Crossroads or Buffalo Exchange, only minus the judgmental, anxious feelings that often come from retail buyers scrutinizing your merch. With its clear (not to mention proven) business model and eye for choosing stylish finds, this San Francisco startup impressed.
Boutiika on display at Studio 64
Boutiika.com: Have you ever visited a new city and hoped to find the sort of one-of-kind niche fashion boutiques frequented by stylish locals? This site offers a social commerce platform focused specifically on independent fashion boutiques. Independent shops can to upload their products to the site, and shoppers can reserve items they’d like to try or buy before they visit.
CoffeeTable: This iPad app for browsing retail catalogs lets you flip pages while online or offline and buy directly from its pretty pages. Included are the latest catalogs from major brands such as Macy’s and Coldwater Creek, as well as niche names like Scrubs and Beyond. We liked the good good mix of home and fashion brands and the functionality: the shopper can buy a desired item, create a wish list or share the product info with a friend.
Erogear: Yes, they’re delectably nerdy, but there was undeniable fun – not to mention lots of possibilities in the right designer’s hands – for this company’s wearable gear mounted with moving light displays. These programmable LED t-shirts not only let the wearer communicate with the world using dancing lights, they also have a practical streak: the latest evolution in the LED display clothing landscape is wearable and washable. Even better: they’re becoming increasing affordable. While one of these dynamic garments would have cost a couple of grand in the past, the team at Erogear says it’s working to lower the price to one average folks (okay, average tech fashion enthusiast type folks) can bear.
Dancing lights tee by Erogear
More fashion and tech events…