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Fashion-Led Digital Innovation - Cult LDN Trend Report

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FASHION-LED DIGITAL INNOVATION

It’s no surprise that fashion leads the way in every sense of the word, but in no area is it more progressive than the use, integration and development of technology

Each season we look to The Fashion Weeks to set the benchmark for the coming season and over the past few years, we’ve seen technology become an increasingly more important aspect

of ‘The Show’

Setting trends and trailblazing technologies is positioning fashion brands apart and offering increasingly more opportunities to connect audiences - giving access to fans all over the world

From live-streaming to buying direct from the catwalk, from wearable tech to VR experiences of the FROW, Fashion Week is setting the standard for connecting consumers & brands

Within this latest Cult LDN trend report we look at the key ways that The Fashion Weeks impact long-term digital strategy

“THERE WAS A TIME – NOT TOO LONG AGO! – WHEN FASHION SHOWS WERE HELD BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

AND TOOK SIX MONTHS TO REACH THE CONSUMER.

OUR DIGITAL INITIATIVES UNDERSCORE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HOW WE USED TO DO RUNWAY

SHOWS AND HOW THEY ARE DONE TODAY.”- Tommy Hilfiger

FASHION WEEK SETS THE STANDARD how fashion week has historically impacted digital strategy

IN MARCH 2014, THE BRITISH FASHION COUNCIL ADDED 'INNOVATION AND DIGITAL' TO ITS FIVE FASHION

STRATEGY PILLARS, STATING:

“WE WANT BRITISH BUSINESSES TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ITS BRANDS AND LEAD IN INNOVATION

AND DIGITAL”

STREAMLINED CONTENTInsightshow fashion week has historically impacted digital strategy

SETTING THE STANDARD

REWIND Without a doubt, the best place to launch a technology is during Fashion Week, when high-net-worth individuals are turning their eyes to the catwalk and as each season comes there is an increasing need to innovate

• Launched in 2012, Digital Fashion Week streams its shows via Google+ across the world, showcasing emerging and established fashion brands side by side and enabling purchase direct from the catwalk. Opening with Naomi Campbell in 2013 and partnering with The British Council in 2014, it is the only fashion event that promotes the best young fashion designers through events and digital platforms in Asia enabling this through digital

• SS13 saw models walk down the runway at Diane von Furstenberg’s show wearing Google Glass, capturing key moments for ‘DVF through Glass’

• Tommy Hilfiger’s SS14 NYFW show debuted a ‘Social Concierge’ to cater to real-time asset requests made by media and influencers at the show. The concierge team delivered bespoke imagery, ranging from detail shots of a favourite accessory to personal handwritten messages from models

• Giles Deacon’s AW14 show at LFW saw Cara Delevingne record her full walk on her smartphone in a world-first selfie from the runway

• AW14 also saw Marc Jacobs attract 10,000 visitors to his Tweet Shop, where Tweets were exchanged for treats in an industry-first social currency concept during NYFW

STREAMLINED CONTENTInsightstopshop

SETTING THE STANDARD

BRAND CASE STUDY: TOPSHOP x FAN FIRST GLIMPSE • Topshop always aim to give their global audience access to Fashion Week with numerous ways of showcasing BTS and firsts on social

• For the SS15 Unique collection, Topshop prioritised its social fans over the FROW by debuting the collection on Facebook

• The #TOPSHOPWINDOW in the flagship Oxford Street store gave control and accessibility back to consumers

• The interactive mosaic provided live-stream from the catwalk along with BTS shot by influential Instagramers

• Shoppers could then enlarge tiles and print favourite images in store

STREAMLINED CONTENTInsightsburberry

BRAND CASE STUDY: BURBERRY x TWITTER BUY NOW • Burberry has always led the way in live-streaming shows, with customers ordering garments straight from the catwalk

• To coincide with the Prosum SS15 show at LFW, Burberry trialled the Buy Now button on Twitter

• This allowed customers in the US to instantly buy a selection of the nail colours worn by the models directly from a Tweet in “just a few taps”

• Twitter Buy Now will allow brands the opportunity to target sales to key demographics whilst achieving easy, measurable ROI via Twitter’s analytics

SETTING THE STANDARD

THE DEMOCRATISATION OF FASHION WEEK all access, all the time

“THIS LONDON FASHION WEEK MAY BE THE MOST DEMOCRATIC YET, WITH BURBERRY LEADING THE WAY IN TERMS OF BRINGING THE RUNWAY TO A

WIDER GLOBAL AUDIENCE”

- Marketing Magazine

THE TWEET SHOPDaisy Marc Jacobs

DEMOCRATISATION OF FASHION WEEK all access, all the time

CONNECTING AUDIENCES • The democratisation of fashion and of Fashion Weeks in particular has been a rapid trend over the past years, and unlike other industries that have been slow

to adapt to disruptive technology, Fashion Week has embraced it as designers clamour to have the best and most innovative digital presence each season

• What was once an exclusive event for the fashion elite, has become the Super Bowl for fashion lovers, with live-streaming of shows, Tweeting of BTS and up to the minute commentary from press, bloggers and even fashion houses

• WWD has called Fashion Week a "digital spectator sport,” but one of the effects of the digital fashion age, is how designers balance creative integrity with the mass distribution of ‘The Show’

• Connecting consumers to fashion only lends to multiply coverage, excitement and interest over the product - dictating trends and impacting demand immediately

THE TWEET SHOPDaisy Marc Jacobs

DEMOCRATISATION OF FASHION WEEK tommy hilfiger

BRAND CASE STUDY: TOMMY HILFIGER x INSTAMEET • AW14’s NYFW marked the first time everyday Instagram users were treated like industry insiders at a major designer’s runway show: Tommy Hilfiger

• The NYFW InstaMeet was hosted by influential NYC-based Instagramers, who were hired by Tommy Hilfiger to organise the event and recruit 20 “average” Instagram users

• Tommy Hilfiger was very particular about “democratising the runway experience” by selecting a group of Instagramers with as few as 500-a few thousand followers each

• Each were given BTS access, seats at the show and the opportunity to meet the designer himself

BRAND CASE STUDY: TOPSHOP x VR • For AW15 Topshop live-streamed from The Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall whilst providing a world first ‘telepresence’ show for customers in-store

• The Oxford Street flagship provided custom headsets to customers allowing them to view the show live, virtually

• With 360 degree views of VIP arrivals to the show, BTS and of course the catwalk

• “This season’s live stream in virtual reality […] takes the idea of the traditional fashion show to a new dimension, as we continually look for new ways to engage, excite and involve our customers” - Sir Philip Green, owner Arcadia Group

DEMOCRATISATION OF FASHION WEEK topshop

THE TWEET SHOPDaisy Marc Jacobs

DEMOCRATISATION OF FASHION WEEK balenciaga

BRAND CASE STUDY: BALENCIAGA x GAGA • This year’s AW15 PFW saw Lady Gaga document the show from backstage before strutting down the catwalk herself to an awaiting paparazzi

• The exhibition was more a commentary on the connection between celebrity and fashion but allowed her fans a rare view BTS of the French fashion house

• Her mass audience received immediate access to the the French fashion house, allowing them rare views of the fashion process

FIRSTS IN FASHION, FIRSTS IN TECH why fashion is pioneering technology

“WE CAN ALLOW OUR GLOBAL CONSUMER TO SHOP THE TRENDS WHEN THEY HAPPEN, AND GIVE THEM INSIGHT AND ACCESS INTO

RUNWAY SHOWS”

- Sheena Sauvaire, Global Marketing and Communications Director - Topshop

STREAMLINED CONTENTInsights

FIRSTS IN FASHION, FIRSTS IN TECHwhy fashion is pioneering technology

INSTANT GRATIFICATION • Accessibility to shows at Fashion Week is allowing for brands to directly market to consumers whilst also pushing the boundaries of technology

• By extending the life-cycle of the collection outside of the physical space, there have emerged new opportunities to demonstrate innovation and as fashion brands this becomes increasingly necessary to delight mass audiences

• Consumers are demanding instant gratification through purchase, meaning that there are fiscal reasons to push the tech boundaries - excite your consumer and your consumer will purchase

• "As we know, everyone spends all their waking moments on all these new platforms, gadgets, Instagram and Twitter. The speed of things reaching people is key to our business. You guys see it, wear it, buy it - that's what it's all about ... it’s sort of us being there, being first to market - that’s our job.” - Sir Philip Green, owner Arcadia Group

STREAMLINED CONTENTInsightstopshop

FIRSTS IN FASHION, FIRSTS IN TECH

BRAND CASE STUDY: TOPSHOP x DIGITAL ADS • Topshop’s AW15 strategy saw them teaming up with Ocean Outdoor, Twitter and social marketing platform Stackla

• Topshop identified key trends from Fashion Week through real-time twitter tags, related products were then showcased on digital billboards across the country

• This marked one of the first cases that a brand has used real-time big data from a Fashion Week show to curate a customer's shopping journey

STREAMLINED CONTENTInsightsadidas originals

FIRSTS IN FASHION, FIRSTS IN TECH

BRAND CASE STUDY: ADIDAS x KANYE • During the recent AW15 NYFW, Kanye West debuted his collaboration with adidas Originals Debut via Simulcast in cinemas across the globe enabling live

viewing of the Yeezy Boost launch

• Adidas launched a Sneaker Reservation App allowing for this and other footwear to be reserved with ease following the reveal

• This saw unprecedented pre-orders of product from the sportswear brand with reservations for the Yeezy Boost filling up in a few hours

FASHION-LED INNOVATION no more tech for tech’s sake

“IT'S EXCITING TO SEE EVERYBODY LOOKING FOR THE NEXT BEST THING, BUT IT'S UNFEASIBLE TO THINK THAT

EVERY SEASON THERE WILL BE SOMETHING GROUNDBREAKING THAT IS APPLICABLE TO YOUR

BRAND”

David Lauren, executive vice president of global advertising, marketing and communications at Ralph Lauren

STREAMLINED CONTENTInsights

FASHION-LED INNOVATIONno more tech for tech’s sake

THE ‘NEW’ NEW • With so many advancements in technology over the past 10 years we’ve been able to constantly innovate in fashion at a rapid rate, but the desire to

embrace the ‘new’ new cannot always be met by the tech

• As AR will allow us to try on, VR will allow us to experience, 3D printing will create products for us that are unique to each individual, there is something very luxurious about this notion - the personalised runway will be a reality with made-to-measure garments developed on a mass-scale

• The Fashion Show has now become a 360 degree experience with social and technology enhancing access and revolutionising the way we see the show

• While the fashion world will always be innovating, technology is somewhat slower to evolve and once one brand has utilised a new product or platform, a new story is needed - therefore Fashion brands need to retain that innovative mentality in order to gain cut through with digital innovation

BRAND CASE STUDY: MICHAEL KORS x SNAPCHAT • This AW15, Michael Kors partnered with Snapchat for NYFW, giving younger fans access to behind-the-scenes moments at shows

• The luxury brand shared snaps of the designers and "candid" FROW shots and Michael Kors content on the 'Our Stories' feature was only live for 24 hours

• Lisa Pomerantz, senior vice-president of marketing at Michael Kors, said: "Snapchat provided a unique opportunity to take our 'All Access Kors' strategy a step further – allowing us to share intimate, behind-the-scenes moments from our runway show with fans around the world."

FASHION-LED INNOVATIONmichael kors

BRAND CASE STUDY: BURBERRY x PERSONALISATION • This AW15, Burberry again partnered with Twitter to offer users the chance to capture pictures of its LFW womenswear show live from the runway

• By tweeting #Tweetcam to the @Burberry Twitter account, users triggered a camera to take a photograph from the best vantage point within the show space as the models walked down the runway

• Each picture was then personalised with the user’s Twitter handle, a time stamp of the moment the image was taken and tweeted back to them - simple, effective live personalisation that gained the brand headlines even before the show begun

FASHION-LED INNOVATIONburberry

TAKEAWAYS

Digital innovation during The Fashion Weeks will continue to set trends for cross-industry marketing and use of technology in the real world

In order to retain traction, strategies will need to make sense to both the consumer and the brand, with tech for tech’s sake seeing peer-wide rejection

In order to remain competitive, use of technology must connect consumers, delight with access, personalisation and instant gratification

Be surprising, the most stand-out tactics have come from unexpected sources and it is these that ride the news-cycle wave that comes with the coupling of

successful fashion and tech strategies