AI news and archive

What AI experts and enthusiasts expect for fashion and retail in 2026

2026 is approaching fast. FashionUnited asks six AI experts what they expect from artificial intelligence in fashion and retail: 2026 AI Predictions for Fashion and Retail: FashionUnited’s Expert Outlook 1. Carmen Martínez Ferrer, senior data analyst at Farfetch and founder of @thedatafashionbrief As Senior Data Analyst at luxury webshop...

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Business|Interview

AI in Fashion: How Hunkemöller uses AI for customer insight, price optimisation and store clustering

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the fashion industry. While some companies are waiting, others are taking bold steps forward. In this edition of the AI in Fashion series, FashionUnited speaks with Gordon Smit, the technology director of Dutch lingerie company Hunkemöller. 1. How do you view AI and what does Hunkemöller use it...

Fashion

Google launches virtual apparel try-on tool in the UK and India

Technology giant Google has rolled out its virtual try-on tool for apparel in the UK and India, ahead of the festive season, which allows online shoppers to see how clothing would look on them by simply uploading a photo. The tool, which is already available in the US, allows users to try on tops, bottoms, dresses, jackets and even shoes across...

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Business

Chinese smart glasses firms eye overseas conquest

In China, AI glasses let the wearer pay in shops with just a glance at a QR code and a voice command, as a growing number of companies look to conquer both growing domestic and overseas markets. Interest in smart eyewear is soaring worldwide after more than a decade of stalled promise, with advances in artificial intelligence sparking a fresh...

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Business

AI, AI, who is the most stylish in the land?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a technical tool. It is becoming a constant companion in the daily lives of many consumers, fundamentally changing the relationship between people and brands. According to the latest Accenture study, “Consumer Pulse 2025”, around 30 percent of active users already trust AI tools for shopping and...

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Fashion

Topshop to headline world’s first AI-driven catwalk showcase

British fashion brand Topshop is continuing its revival by headlining the world’s first AI-driven, immersive, shoppable catwalk experience by THG Studios, the creative marketing agency from e-commerce solutions provider THG Ingenuity. The fashion event will take place on February 26, 2026, in collaboration with headline sponsor, PayPal and...

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Retail

Tech for Retail Awards 2025: Innovations revolutionising the shopping experience

At the 'Tech for Retail 2025' trade fair in Paris, Albatross, Neuralk, POWER.xyz, and Dealt were recognised for their technological innovations. The start-ups impressed with real-time AI, predictive analytics, generative 3D content and home-related services. These solutions are designed to make retail more efficient, personalised, and...

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Business

How resilient supply chains will define fashion’s winners in 2026

For years, fashion and apparel brands have measured supply-chain performance by two metrics: speed and cost. But as we head into 2026, the brands that outperform won’t be the fastest or the cheapest. They’ll be the ones built to absorb whatever comes next. As one of my favorite quotes from Rocky Balboa puts it: “It’s not about how hard you hit....

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Business

Kantar report: AI, retail media and 'treatonomics' to reshape fashion in 2026

As 2026 approaches, fashion is entering a new strategic cycle. The Kantar Marketing Trends 2026 report outlines its key features: the rise of AI agents; the structural transformation of retail; a revolution in creativity; cultural fragmentation; and the emergence of micro-communities. These forces are profoundly transforming how brands emerge,...

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Business

EU Commission plans to reduce internet cookie clicks

Internet users should have to make fewer clicks for cookie settings in the future, according to the European Commission. Despite massive criticism from data protection advocates, the authority intends to address further digital regulations. It plans to weaken the European AI Act, as announced in Brussels. The comprehensive package aims to...

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Fashion |Interview

Decoding AW26 trends and shifting consumer patterns: Heuritech's AI-driven forecasts

Since its launch in 2013, Paris-based trend forecasting platform Heuritech has relied on artificial intelligence (AI) to formulate its own forecasts for each season. Its technology scans millions of social media images monthly, receiving data points on what consumers are wearing and identifying over 20,000 trends spanning material and...

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Business

Levi’s Strauss doubles down on AI, introduces services for employees, customers and retail

Denim specialist Levi’s Strauss & Co. has revealed it is developing an artificial intelligence (AI) “orchestration platform” intended to automate and simplify workflows throughout the business. The platform, made in partnership with Microsoft, revolves around a “super-agent” that integrates several AI-powered sub-agents deployed across IT, human...