Francis Scialabba

Hi, hello, and good day. Surprised to see Retail Brew here on a Tuesday? It’s for a special occasion: We’ve teamed up with Emerging Tech Brew for a new guide on all things virtual fitting rooms.

Why? While the death of brick and mortar has been more overhyped than a Supreme drop, our pandemic-mired era has, without a doubt, accelerated the global embrace of online shopping.

But the inability to try things on—to imagine what those ultra-high-waisted skinny jeans will look like—is a pain point. The fitting room of your local department store may be dull and dimly lit, but it exists. And it helps you make a more informed decision.

Enter: Virtual fitting room technology. Since at least 2010, companies have been working on some form of tech that would allow users to “try on” clothing from their homes.

Today, this puzzle is closer to being solved than ever before: Retailers like Walmart and Gap are investing in it, while tech companies (like Pinterest, Instagram, and Snap) and startups (like Unspun and Drapr) are rolling out solutions of their own.

Click here to read the full guide, which explores...

• The history of virtual try-on tech
• The players giving it a go
• Where the tech is at...
• ...and where it’s going

—Glenda Toma