How Technology is Affecting Menswear Business

Q: I’ve been reading about the merging of technology and fashion, such as the Apple Watch and Google Glass. Is this something I need to keep on my radar, or is this far down the line when it comes to being integrated with menswear?

Steve Pruitt: This is a good question. Technology surrounds our lives, in communication, autos, medicine, and, yes, apparel, particularly accessories. Who knows how it will play it’s way out, but this is what we do know:

1. Technology is being used extensively in supply chain management, and cloud-based POS systems are here.
2. Accessories are the next big hit, particularly jewelry, such as smartwatches that keeps track of our health and welfare.
3. I see a big trend towards knowing where merchandise is sourced from, even down to the granular level such as who grew the cotton and who wove the material.
4. Technology can also be used in innovative ways such as identifying handbags so the customer knows that they are authentic.

Bottom line: technology is all around us, so my advice is to hold on and be open.

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