So, how can technology change the fashion industry when it comes to sustainable fashion? <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In this article, we\u2019ll take a look at the importance of sustainability in fashion, and how shopping experiences can be improved with technological advancements. There\u2019s so much technology at our fingertips\u2014let\u2019s find out how the fashion industry can use it to operate more ethically and sustainably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fashion production makes up 10% of humanity\u2019s carbon emissions<\/a> according to UNECE. That fact alone should be enough to highlight the importance of making fashion more sustainable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re still not convinced why sustainability in fashion is essential, consider that:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n These statistics highlight the need to make a change in the fashion industry to protect our planet. However, it doesn\u2019t stop there, consumers are demanding change too:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have<\/em>, it\u2019s a must-have<\/em>\u2014and consumers in the fashion industry are keen to make the switch to a trend that\u2019s here to stay.<\/p>\n\n\n Source<\/em><\/a>: McKinsey Survey – Consumer sentiment on sustainability in fashion<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, with 42% of consumers reporting they\u2019re \u2018confused\u2019 <\/em>about what makes clothing sustainable<\/a>, the road to an environmentally friendly fashion industry is far from clear. So, let\u2019s take a look at the role technology can play in creating sustainability in fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re not already aware of the importance of the shopping experience, then you certainly want to brush up on your knowledge. User experience is more important than ever, particularly when it comes to shopping online and exploring every available product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did you know that businesses that deliver better customer experiences will gain revenues between 4-8%<\/a> above their market competitors? <\/p>\n\n\n\n It pays to be attentive to your consumers and their needs\u2014not only to encourage an initial purchase but to win a return, again and again. As the stats show, part of the consumer experience now includes improving sustainability<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One way organizations can use technology to decrease their carbon footprint is with artificial intelligence. AI has impacted a wide variety of industries\u2014and fashion is no exception. Product discoverability is a key part of the customer experience\u2014you want to ensure customers can find the products they\u2019re looking for, with ease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n AI-powered product catalog enrichment<\/a> and smart search<\/a> are two solutions that enable organizations to do just that\u2014find and present the right products to the right customers. This enables organizations to provide search results with 98-99% accuracy\u2014meaning they\u2019re more likely to meet consumers’ needs.<\/p>\n\n\n Meeting customers\u2019 needs the first time around makes them less likely to return products they\u2019ve purchased from you. This improves sustainability in fashion, as customers aren\u2019t returning items, and you\u2019re not processing and possibly disposing of perfectly good stock\u2014a win-win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another way to help with reducing returned items is by offering virtual try-on. This is a technology that\u2019s rapidly being incorporated into online shopping with the use of VR. Virtual reality can provide online shoppers with an almost real-life experience of shopping in the flesh, from the comfort of their homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Data is a powerful thing to have as a business, and <\/strong>can certainly be helpful when understanding the customer\u2019s behavior, wants, and needs. A great way to utilize this data and technology within fashion is with personalization tactics. Personalization is another way of ensuring you meet customer needs from the get-go\u2014limiting the number of returns and potential waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Personalizing the experience with the use of smart recommendations<\/a> can help display products that the data-informed AI algorithm predicts are likely to be highly relevant to the customer. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These personalizations can be added across various customer touchpoints including the product display pages, collection pages, and the checkout page itself\u2014and they can have a huge<\/em> impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n EyeBuyDirect<\/a> implemented ViSenze\u2019s product recommendations solutions and saw a 20% increase in click-through rate and a 29x return on investment.<\/strong> This is projected to have contributed to a $1.15 million increase<\/strong> on mobile alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only is this a win for your business because you\u2019re maximizing your sales, but you\u2019re also benefiting the environment by reducing the carbon emissions made through returns. You\u2019re more likely to gain a dedicated customer base through a personalized shopping experience, than leaving customers to venture alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When brands are unable to sell all of their stock, they\u2019re left with a tricky question to answer\u2014what now? <\/em>They can\u2019t hold onto the stock as it takes up too much storage space but they’re also unable to sell it due to a lack of demand. Brands have to get rid of unsold inventory in one way or another\u2014and the process is often environmentally unfriendly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to limit this issue, brands can use technology in two ways to better predict demand and to get the right product to the right customers\u2014while it\u2019s still in trend. This limits the chances of unsold inventory and gives brands more control over their stock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to predict demand and manufacture accordingly, fashion companies need information on what to expect from customers. ViSenze\u2019s smart data<\/a> solution can help companies make more informed decisions by giving insights on product data, user activity data, sales data, and more. This enables them to anticipate demand, track emerging trends, and stay competitive.<\/p>\n\n\n With an idea of what to expect, companies are better positioned to make the right decisions when it comes to placing supplier orders and manufacturing stock. However, that\u2019s not the only way brands can limit unsold inventory. They can also aim to increase sales by giving customers smart recommendations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Smart recommendations<\/a> can improve sustainability in fashion by showing customers a wider array of products. This helps reduce an organization’s environmental impact in two ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plus, it\u2019s good for business\u2014ViSenze\u2019s smart recommendations can increase revenue per session by 8%<\/strong>. Smart recommendations can then also be combined with a smart tagging<\/a> solution to make your products more searchable for your customers. If customers can\u2019t find your products, they can’t buy them\u2014increasing the likelihood you\u2019ll be left with unsold inventory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Technology can be used effectively when it comes to improving circular economy marketplaces. Creating a circular economy is going to help provide more sustainability in fashion. A circular economy is one that is conscious of waste, making sure to reduce material use, reusing products where possible, and minimizing the waste that\u2019s caused in this industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Improving these marketplaces and their websites is a key part of promoting sustainability in fashion. Customers want easy access to products, and there are plenty of solutions available to do this. Circular economy marketplaces can improve the customer experience through catalog enrichment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using solutions like Smart Recommendations, Search, and Data, you can understand what your customers want,<\/em> what they\u2019re looking for, and how they\u2019re looking to engage with brands on a similar sustainable mission to their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A circular economy can still be a satisfying experience for customers when using this technology, just take Vestiaire Collective<\/a> as an example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Terms that consumers type into the website\u2019s search box can help them easily find the desired pre-owned, luxury products that they\u2019re after. Smart Visual Search helps customers find what they\u2019re looking for without having to trawl through pages of products. This type of technology can pull in a 29x return on its investment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n Fashion can certainly be more sustainable, it just requires a little more effort on the business\u2019s part. Fast fashion is likely to always be part of fashion as we know it, but it can become more sustainably conscious with the help of technology and unity among all players in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sustainable fashion is something that\u2019s being encouraged across the entire fashion industry and it\u2019s being enforced through customers. With 67% of consumers<\/a> considering sustainable materials to be a factor before purchasing a fashion item, it\u2019s in the business\u2019s interest to take sustainability seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ViSenze is a platform that\u2019s highly effective as an AI-powered, smart product discovery tool. Help provide your customers with a personalized and seamless experience while growing your business into a more sustainable organization. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy is Sustainability in Fashion Important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Consumer](\"https:\/\/dgbrew.com\/staging\/visenze\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Sustainable_Fashion_Trends.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nImproving the Shopping Experience Leads to Reduced Returns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Smart](\"https:\/\/dgbrew.com\/staging\/visenze\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Smart-Tagging-and-Search-1.gif\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nIncrease Personalization with Personal Styling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"retail](\"https:\/\/dgbrew.com\/staging\/visenze\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Sustainable-Fashion-1.gif\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nBetter Predictions and Recommendations Lead to Reducing Unsold Inventory <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dgbrew.com\/staging\/visenze\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Breakdown-of-clothing2-2.gif\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nAllow for Better Experience with the Circular Economy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Circular](\"https:\/\/dgbrew.com\/staging\/visenze\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Recommended2-1.gif\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nSustainable Fashion is the Future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n