A hotbed of innovation merging fashion, retail and technology, Decoded Fashion’s London Summit welcomed a vast number of start-ups, all stating their cause. We spotlight our top four. 

Responding to a generation of consumers oversaturated with ‘stuff’, shrewd brands are tapping into the global growing desire for sustainable business practices and an upheaval of throwaway culture – with ‘loop-closing’ retail concepts anchored in repair, recycling and recommerce. 

The evolution of IoT technology, where devices and digitised products can communicate with one another, is creating a rich new world of brand engagement opportunities. Smart products are linking to reviews, content, rewards and provenance traceability – extending brand reach far beyond purchase. 

Tokyo-based multi-brand sportswear manufacturer and retailer Goldwin has opened a hybrid ‘remedy hub’/concept store in which all retail and gym elements are anchored in the benefits of achieving a neutral body-mind state. The premise, according to the brand, is that neutrality is the key to unlocking inner power.

On March 9 – the day after International Women’s Day – Puma will host a one-day workout and athleisure experience in London billed as a platform for female empowerment. The move taps into the appetite for brand experiences that celebrate and support women.

Gap has piloted a soon-to-be-rolled-out, fully shoppable augmented reality (AR) app that lets shoppers try on clothes remotely, showing them in context and adjusting to the consumer’s size.

US athleisure e-tailer Fabletics has introduced an experiential component to the upper level of its two-tier subscription model – giving ‘VIPs’ exclusive access to shoppable fitness videos and discounts on wellness retreats and products.

Boosting conversion rates and keeping even the most budget-conscious shoppers on board, US multi-brand watch e-tailer Savvy Watch has introduced PriceWaiter – an e-commerce price negotiation technology.

With consumer appetite for wellness still booming and global athleisure sales predicted to rise by 30%+ to $350bn in 2020 (Morgan Stanley, 2015), it’s little surprise that most US and UK department stores’ new year-based initiatives focused overwhelmingly on fitness and health. But there was also an interesting eco-ethical nod, trading on a resolve to consume more ‘consciously’.

Capitalising on the two-pronged allure of customisation plus transparency, Korean eyewear brand Yun’s new Berlin flagship features a state-of-the-art robotic machine that finishes lenses while customers watch. Forming part of a fully visible manufacturing lab located on the shop floor, the machine manufactures both spectacles and sunglasses made to fit precise prescriptions in just 20 minutes.