This past Friday saw the launch of TCI Apparel's design centre, created with idea of sustainability at its core. Apart from its aesthetic appeal, the building boasts a low carbon footprint, solar power, living walls and a veggie garden that's used to feed those working there. Inspiring stuff!

Moving into the realm of digital, 'Styled by Marie Claire' is a new online platform launched by the women's magazine in partnership with accessories brand Mimco that offers curated looks and collections which are immediately available to shop online.

Meanwhile, born-digital brand Spree announced a new artificially intelligent feature on its app that identifies clothing or footwear seen in images and finds users something similar in the app. Shoppers can now take a live photo or upload an image from the smartphone photo library, and the app will return visually similar items in seconds.

For those intrigued by the concept of pop-up retail, be sure to read my interview with Janine Johnston, co-founder of the PopUp Shop Shop, a local service provider that acts as a one-stop shop for pop-ups. Johnston provides a handly checklist to ensure you pop up effectively and explains the broad business potential of pop-up shops.

Lauren Hartzenberg
Retail Editor: Bizcommunity.com


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