Fashion Business and Digital Transformation

Book excerpt: Fashion Business and Digital Transformation provides a practical and holistic overview of the fashion industry and the key technologies impacting the fashion supply chain. It covers product design and development, production, sales and customer experiences in physical, online and virtual environments. The key technologies impacting the ecosystem are explored, including artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, digital fashion design, NFTs, 3D textiles, and blockchain. Strategic concepts such as ‘retail-tainment’, ‘phygital’, gamification and e-commerce, are analysed, alongside the effect of these key strategies for both the retailer and the customer. Theoretical foundations are supported by extensive use of examples, interviews and case studies drawn from a wide range of global fashion disrupters and cutting-edge brands. Engaging activities, exercises, and technical step-by-step guides are incorporated throughout, which will both consolidate how technology is driving change in the industry, but also equip the reader with the key skills and digital literacy capabilities required by future practitioners. Online resources include chapter-by-chapter PowerPoint slides, a test bank and links to further resources. This examination of the digital transformation of the fashion industry will be essential reading for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students of Fashion Management, Fashion Business and Fashion Technology.