Latest news with #fashiontech
Entrepreneur
3 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
KiranaPro Acquires Likeo to Revolutionise Fashion Commerce with Virtual Try-Ons
With this acquisition, BLACK aims to offer AI-powered virtual try-ons across fashion categories, enabling real-time, personalised digital product trials and transforming the online shopping experience for Gen Z users. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. KiranaPro, a leading ONDC-integrated, AI-powered quick commerce platform, has announced the acquisition of Likeo, a cutting-edge startup specialising in augmented reality (AR)–driven virtual try-on technology. This bold move marks a significant leap in the evolution of KiranaPro's fashion commerce initiative, BLACK — a curated shopping destination designed for Gen Z and tech-native consumers. With this acquisition, BLACK claims to have become the first app in India to offer AI-powered virtual try-ons across apparel, jewellery, and eyewear. Users will now be able to try on products digitally in real time, transforming product discovery into an immersive, highly personalised experience. "This acquisition is a bold step in our vision to reinvent online shopping in India," said Deepak Ravindran, Founder and CEO of KiranaPro. "BLACK is not just an app — it's a cultural movement, and Likeo's tech allows us to give users a mirrorless shopping experience that's deeply personal, fun, and frictionless. With Saurav joining us, we're doubling down on AI and visual intelligence to redefine how Gen Z discovers and shops online." As part of the acquisition, Saurav Kumar, Founder and CEO of Likeo, will join the KiranaPro leadership team to spearhead innovation in AI and visual computing — the foundational engines behind BLACK's next phase. "Joining KiranaPro to build for BLACK is the perfect match of vision and velocity," said Saurav. "We've always believed virtual try-on can remove hesitation and bring confidence to the online purchase journey. With BLACK, we finally have a canvas to scale this to millions — making shopping more playful, expressive, and real." The virtual try-on feature will begin rolling out to BLACK users in the coming weeks, with early access provided to fashion and accessory enthusiasts. This new capability aims to enhance shopping confidence, reduce return rates, and offer a uniquely interactive experience. By acquiring Likeo, KiranaPro is cementing its role as a technology-first retail pioneer — not just empowering kirana stores via ONDC, but also reshaping the future of expressive commerce for the digital generation.
CNET
20-05-2025
- Business
- CNET
Google's New AI Mode Will Let You Try on Clothes While You Shop Online
Google wants its AI tools to be your personal shopper. And maybe it'll tell you if that shirt really does look good on you or if it actually looks ridiculous. The company detailed its new AI Mode for shopping at its annual I/O developers conference Tuesday. That includes an improved conversational shopping experience, a checkout feature that allows you to buy when prices are best and the ability to upload a picture of yourself to "try on" clothes you find online. Read more: Google I/O Live Blog These new features come less than a month after OpenAI introduced shopping features in ChatGPT Search, a move that appeared to show OpenAI trying to compete more directly with Google's search and shopping features. The "try on" feature is available starting immediately in Search Labs in the US. It builds on existing "try on" technology, but instead of using a mock-up body type, you can upload a picture of yourself and see what the clothes would look like on you. The function works with shirts, pants, skirts and dresses. During a live demo, Vidhya Srinivasan, Google's vice president and general manager for ads and commerce, said the company built a custom image generation model specifically for fashion. "To create a try on experience that works at scale, we need a deep understanding of the human body and how clothing works on it," she said. The AI Mode shopping experience, expected to launch in the coming months, is designed to be more conversational. You'll be able to chat with the AI tool to get more inspiration and find the right product from a wide variety of retailers. Google said its Shopping Graph -- its database of products and retailers online -- now has 50 billion product listings, with more than 2 billion being updated every hour. AI Mode will be able to offer you personalized responses to your queries and then allow you to narrow them down based on your more specific requests. A new right-hand panel in the Shopping Graph will update as you narrow your request. A new checkout feature, debuting in the coming months, will let you track the price or allow you to look for a specific product at a certain price. You can get notifications for when prices drop and confirm when you're ready to actually buy the product. Google's AI agent will complete the checkout on your behalf through Google Pay. Google's shopping features will also be able to, for example, track down event tickets across different sites to find the best deal, without you having to search dozens of times for the right site.
Forbes
08-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Pashion Footwear CEO Haley Pavone Discusses The Impact Of Tariffs
Haley Pavone, Pashion Footwear CEO This week is National Small Business Week, which acknowledges the critical contributions of America's entrepreneurs and small business owners to the economy and their communities. The inspiration to start a small business can come from the most unlikely moments. For Haley Pavone, it came at a spring formal when her high heels were killing her feet and she ditched them to dance barefoot – only to end up having her foot impaled by another woman's stiletto. That moment led her to launch Pashion Footwear, the world's first fully convertible high-heel. Almost nine years later, Pashion Footwear's products have expanded to include boots and bridal wear and the company has repeat customers from all over the world. Unfortunately, that success is in jeopardy due to the impact of the Administration's recently announced tariffs. This led Haley to begin sharing with her customers and others over social media about what tariffs could mean for the future of Pashion Footwear. She recently sat down with me to discuss her journey as a business owner, how these policies affect her directly, and why other entrepreneurs should tell their story. I am grateful to her for taking the time and below is our conversation, edited for clarity. Rhett Buttle: What inspired you to launch Pashion Footwear? Haley Pavone: Pashion Footwear is a very innovative fashion tech company that really has created an entirely new category of women's shoes called convertible high heels. If your high heels start hurting, which they are prone to do, you can just take the heel off and turn the same shoe into a comfortable flat, utilizing our innovative, flexible sneaker material mid-sole. We also let you customize your shoe over and over again with different, swappable accessories, which is both fun for the customer and also kinder on their wallet and the environment. We have utility patents in 30 countries and the company will have its nine-year anniversary in October. I actually started this when I was a 20-year-old junior in college at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, and really I got into this just wanting to solve my own pain point as a consumer. High heels are a critical aspect of my style. I love the way they look, but I hate the way they feel, and this came to a head for me actually in my sophomore year when I was at my sorority spring formal. I'd worn six-inch stilettos, as one does when you're 20, going to a sorority spring formal and you can't dance in six-inch stilettos. So I solved that problem the way most young women do and ditched my heels and went barefoot. Then, unfortunately my inspiration struck quite literally when one of my sorority sisters accidentally stomped the ballpoint of the stiletto she was still wearing and impaled me through the foot. Looking back, I have no regrets because that very literal pain point was what got me thinking about how odd it is that we have this whole category of products marketed to women that really is quite painful and inconvenient. And now here we are, eight and a half years later. Pashion Footwear's The Brenna Rhett Buttle: We have been hearing stories about how the tariffs set by the White House are affecting small businesses across the country. How are they impacting your business? Haley Pavone: I think that they are weighing on the forefront of every small business owner's mind, but particularly for people in consumer goods sectors. In particular, I'd argue quite confidently that our technology is the most complicated shoe on the market today and as such requires very specialty injection molding in conjunction with craftsmen footwear upper assembly. Right now, those two processes only coexist at scale in China. There is no manufacturing capability for what we do in the U.S. whatsoever. There's varying degrees of opportunity in other countries, but not without their own restrictions. The only straightforward path to producing a product like this is in China and so we feel very trapped and confused by these tariffs. Theoretically, the point is to onshore more manufacturing, but we fundamentally don't have that infrastructure and to build out that infrastructure would take three to five years and for one scale footwear facility, probably $30 to $40 million. That is something a small business like mine can't hope to execute in any kind of near term horizon. So, a lot of business owners and I feel like the government's policies are specifically designed to squeeze us out. It's saying you have to eat this and absorb this or go out of business. Actually, those end up kind of being the same thing because trying to absorb it would bankrupt a lot of businesses, especially at the rates we're seeing today. Another thing that's going on is the Administration is actually eliminating a very popular section of import code called Section 321. Section 321 essentially has enabled direct consumer businesses to participate in free trade, so it allows us to warehouse our goods actually in a free trade zone in Windsor, Canada. Then we ship every order directly to the consumer and through this section 321 we're able to do so without incurring a tariff whatsoever. This has allowed our business to be much more profitable, which inherently lets us hire more people, create more U.S. jobs and reinvest more of our profits into growth. It actually allows us to provide a better price point to our U.S. customers than customers from any other country because those orders still incur their localized duty rate, whereas our U.S. business is basically free trade. This allows us to post more profit and increase our corporate income tax base. We actually posted our first ever corporate income tax last year, which is a nerdy thing to be excited about paying, but it is still a great feeling. Rhett Buttle: What would you say to the people who say that the current system favors countries like China too much? Haley Pavone: I personally would disagree with that. I think global trade has so many benefits across the board for all countries involved because it allows us to really specialize. If you think about any given person, no one can be great at everything. If you look back historically, the U.S. actually enacted a lot of policies specifically to move manufacturing out of the country because in doing so it really actually elevated the American economy into being more service-based. Our primary exports are entertainment and services. When I think about my team, I have 12 U.S. employees, 11 of whom are women. None of them work in manufacturing. A lot of them work in marketing, which are inherently higher paying service jobs. This structure has directly allowed us as U.S. citizens to participate in higher wages, and better roles in the large corporate landscape. I think it's actually incredibly advantageous to pursue a global trade policy and would disagree that it is particularly disadvantageous to the U.S. to have our manufacturing offshored. Rhett Buttle: Your business's story has garnered national attention. What made you decide to speak out and what tools have you used to tell your story? Haley Pavone: As far as making the decision to speak out for me, it was the natural next step. I've been very lucky to build a personal platform for myself on social media, and I use that platform to promote other female-founded small businesses and discuss what building a business looks like. Furthermore, I can't stress enough that this business is my whole career. I started it when I was 20 and I've built it up over the last eight and a half years into a profitable business that employs people. This really is my American dream. This invention is my baby, and so I will do whatever I can, and use whatever tools are at my disposal to advocate on its behalf. The main pieces of advice I would give to business owners is don't be scared to share your story. I think the modern consumer really appreciates transparency and wants to be involved in that larger business conversation. It's been really validating for me to see the response to the content that I've been posting. A lot of people have thanked me for helping them understand what's taking place. Obviously, business owners are very confused in a climate this volatile but consumers are confused too, and they don't want to be. They want to understand what's happening to trade. They want to understand the impact on the brands and businesses and founders that they support and care about. If you speak out, I think that is only going to benefit you in the eyes of your consumer, you will gain more respect for that, and then also more support. Our customers are very motivated and they want to keep us in business, but they don't know how to do so unless we transparently share with them what's going on in ways that they can help. The only tactical piece of advice I would have is to try to remain as bipartisan as possible. I know it's very challenging. Obviously we all have our political affiliations, and there is so much tension in today's political climate. Honestly, I think that there is a need from some entities to make everything so polarizing and this is a big part of why messages aren't being heard. Fortunately, I've been able to put my personal political affiliation aside and just speak from a factual place, and I truly believe that's why my content has gone as viral as it has. I'm able to really speak to both sides of the aisle and just say, 'Hey, political affiliation aside, this is bad economics, and everybody should care about this.' Pashion Footwear CEO Haley Pavone Rhett Buttle: If you could talk right now to your policymakers or the White House, particularly on this trade or tariff issue, what would you say on behalf of your business and all small business owners at this moment? Haley Pavone: The first thing that comes to mind is that small business owners like myself are really feeling like pawns in this trade war and we're feeling largely ignored. When you look at this purely as an economic model, these changes and the speed at which they are happening is going to disproportionately harm small businesses faster and more aggressively. The simple fact of the matter is that your cost of goods is what informs your price, and the difference between the two is what informs your operating margin. That's what informs your marketing budget, how many people can you hire, and how much you can put into product development. When all those things are yanked out from under you overnight, you need time to be able to pivot those aspects of your business. I sometimes say anything is possible with time and money, but in the absence of time you need way more money. In the absence of money, you need way more time. Small businesses don't have the money to buy ourselves the speed of time that's being asked of us right now. However, Nike is backstopped by billions of dollars and can afford to take a loss for much longer. Of course it's not advantageous to them either. No business should be losing money, but the fact of the matter is, they have more money to play with to safeguard their interests than a small business that operates on cash flow does. I would urge government officials to really listen to small business owners. We are the backbone of the economy. We create jobs. We're profitable. We're innovative. We're playing by the rule book and policies like these are going to damage us so unbelievably quickly. If that happens, the downstream effect to the American people as well as the economy at large, is going to be devastating the longer that these policies stay in effect. Rhett Buttle: Is there anything else that you would like to add? Haley Pavone: The biggest thing I can share if I can speak on behalf of small businesses of my generation is we are very resilient against our will. I launched this business in June of 2019, we only had about three normal market condition months before the first trade war. Then there was the pandemic, the supply chain crisis, and then the recession. Something that's been hard for so many small business owners is 2024 was one of the first stable markets small businesses of my generation have seen. To now see our own government for lack of a better description working against us in a way that – when you break down the unit economics – is worse for small businesses than the pandemic is really heartbreaking. My heart just goes out to all small business owners. We've already been through so much and we're being asked to be incredibly resilient and innovative and resourceful. I would like to think that we really are just built differently at this point, and we'll be able to do so. But it certainly would be nice if our own government would help us in that effort.
Globe and Mail
06-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
SpreeAI Is Redefining Retail With Virtual AI-Powered Try-Ons Curated by the Top in Tech and Fashion
SpreeAI celebrates a $1.5 billion valuation as it prepares for groundbreaking partnerships and game-changing innovation. NEW YORK , May 6, 2025 /CNW/ -- SpreeAI, a leader in fashion tech innovation, is transforming retail with its photorealistic try-on product so lifelike the naked eye can't tell it's virtual. Combined with sizing technology boasting 99% accuracy, SpreeAI delivers hyper-personalized shopping experiences that enhance both retail companies' operations and consumers' satisfaction. Designed for seamless use both in-store and online, SpreeAI is reshaping shopping by merging advanced AI with real-world applications. For consumers, SpreeAI adds an unparalleled level of personalization, allowing shoppers to become the model and visualize clothing in a lifelike, photorealistic way. Packed with upcoming features like an AI stylist, a virtual wardrobe, and more, SpreeAI creates a dynamic and engaging shopping experience. For retailers, SpreeAI is engineered to reduce returns and boost sales conversions, offering a transformative solution for the fashion industry. Visionary Leadership Drives $1.5B Valuation Led by visionary Co-founder and CEO John Imah, SpreeAI's board is bolstered by legendary supermodel and fashion icon Naomi Campbell , alongside entrepreneurs Bob Davidson and Larry Ruvo . Having one of the world's most recognized fashion figures on the board underscores SpreeAI's fusion of high-fashion insight with cutting-edge tech. The company recently achieved a $1.5 billion valuation after an undisclosed funding round led by The Davidson Group, a prominent family office known for supporting groundbreaking ventures. This milestone valuation reflects the market's confidence in SpreeAI's mission and its rapid growth at the intersection of technology and style. "It's inspiring to be part of SpreeAI's transformative journey under John's visionary leadership. I've always believed in pushing boundaries and embracing innovation, and seeing John's passion and determination firsthand makes me even more excited about the future we're creating together. SpreeAI represents the powerful fusion of fashion, technology, and inclusivity—and I'm thrilled to be on this groundbreaking path." — Naomi Campbell , Fashion Icon and SpreeAI Board Member Academic and Industry Alliances Fuel Innovation Exclusive collaborations with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( MIT ) and Carnegie Mellon University across research initiatives, talent development, and technical collaboration drive SpreeAI's deep commitment to innovation. Additionally, SpreeAI's partnership with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) further solidifies its intersection between advanced technology and high-fashion expertise. These prestigious alliances enable the company to lead the industry with unmatched solutions. With 4 issued patents and 23 pending, SpreeAI safeguards its proprietary technology, ensuring its position as a frontrunner in the competitive retail tech market. This foundation of innovation is further supported by internal initiatives like Protea—a platform that helps retail partners integrate and test SpreeAI's solutions—empowering brands to enhance operational efficiency and customer experiences. "The CFDA is proud to collaborate with SpreeAI, a fashion technology leader delivering innovative solutions to help designers and brands thrive in the fashion industry." — Steven Kolb , CEO, Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) "SpreeAI's partnership with the EECS Alliance exemplifies the kind of forward-thinking collaboration we strive for—bringing together industry innovation and academic excellence. Their active involvement, including providing impactful internship opportunities, has opened up exciting pathways for our students while supporting research and real-world application in the AI space. We're proud to support SpreeAI as they continue to grow and lead in this evolving field." — Priscilla Capistrano , Program Manager at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( MIT ) "AI is poised to revolutionize many things including e-commerce. SpreeAI is pushing the forefront of this for a truly personalized garment-shopping experience, by leveraging collaborations with academia and assembling a team that understands both the deep technical challenges and their product impact." — Professor Deva Ramanan, Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Fashion Collaborations & Met Gala Spotlight 2025 is set to be a transformative year for SpreeAI, with major retail and luxury brand partnerships and new product features on the horizon. As part of this momentum, SpreeAI is announcing new partnerships with luxury fashion label Sergio Hudson and London -based contemporary womenswear brand Kai Collective. The timing of these collaborations coincides with a cultural moment: the 2025 Met Gala's theme, "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," which honors Black designers. Both Sergio Hudson and Kai Collective's founder Fisayo Longe are celebrated Black designers at the forefront of fashion innovation. John Imah will attend the Met Gala as the first-ever fashion tech in AI startup CEO invited, underscoring SpreeAI's prominent role in the fashion world and its commitment to celebrating the creative visionaries who inspire its technology. You can now experience SpreeAI's technology firsthand by visiting Sergio Hudson's website at "We're thrilled to partner with SpreeAI and aim to create a personalized experience for Sergio Hudson and drive increased sales." — Sergio Hudson , Founder & Creative Director "At Kai Collective, we're always looking for ways to fuse innovation with storytelling. Collaborating with SpreeAI allows us to explore how technology can elevate the customer experience while staying true to our brand's identity and values." — Fisayo Longe , Founder & CEO of Kai Collective These designer partnerships exemplify how SpreeAI's technology unites with creative vision to redefine customer engagement. And SpreeAI isn't stopping here – the company has hinted that even more collaborations with major luxury fashion houses are on the way. By keeping details under wraps, SpreeAI is fueling a buzz of excitement and industry-wide anticipation for what's coming next. "Our approach will always be customer-focused—that means both the retail partners and the consumers we serve," said John Imah, Co-founder and CEO of SpreeAI. "We don't just look at the shopping landscape; we reimagine it. Whether it's in-store or online, we step back and ask how AI can transform real-world challenges into seamless, exciting experiences. This mindset drives us forward as we continue shaping the future of retail and fashion with AI, blending innovation with personalization to empower and inspire. The possibilities are limitless, and we're just getting started." For more information, please contact Brittanae Casper at brittanae@ About SpreeAI SpreeAI is transforming the shopping experience with its photorealistic try-on product and 99%-accurate sizing technology, designed to enhance both retail operations and consumer satisfaction. For shoppers, SpreeAI offers unmatched personalization, enabling them to become the model while introducing features like an AI stylist, a virtual wardrobe, and more. For retailers, SpreeAI reduces returns, increases sales conversions, and creates seamless shopping experiences. Its product integrates effortlessly into both in-store and online environments, promoting sustainability and setting new standards for retail. About John Imah John Imah is a visionary leader at the forefront of technology and fashion. As a Nigerian American and first-generation immigrant, John brings innovation and diversity to the tech industry. Under his leadership, SpreeAI has achieved a $1.5 billion valuation , cementing its role as a transformative force in AI-powered retail. John's career includes leadership roles at Samsung, Twitch, Amazon, Meta, Take-Two Interactive, and Snap Inc., where he implemented strategies that drove impactful growth. A member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), John seamlessly combines his expertise in tech and fashion to deliver groundbreaking solutions. As a successful entrepreneur and creative, John's influence extends beyond business into design, music, and philanthropy, including initiatives like serving as a strategic advisor to the Davidson Academy—a pioneering school dedicated to providing profoundly gifted students with educational opportunities tailored to their unique abilities, strengths, and interests. His involvement with the Academy is deeply personal, rooted in his own experiences as a profoundly gifted child. By actively mentoring students, funding scholarships, and supporting charitable initiatives, John blends professional success with a genuine commitment to empowering gifted youth and uplifting underserved communities, ensuring his legacy is defined not only by innovation but by authentic and meaningful impact. SOURCE SpreeAI
