PRESS: Lamoda offers online fitting of sneakers in AR for iOS

MOSCOW, Aug 16 (PRIME) -- Lamoda, one of Russia’s biggest online clothes sellers, has teamed up with Belarusian startup Wannaby to offer trying on of one of the most popular categories, sneakers, via augmented reality (AR) for iOS devices, business daily Kommersant reported on Friday.

The buyer is supposed to point a smartphone camera on his feet and pick up a model out of 100 types.

“We think virtual fitting will raise conversion in the sneakers category to 8–9% and cut refusals after trying on before a purchase by 10–15% from 60% now,” Yuliya Nikitina, managing director for digital marketing at Lamoda, told the daily.

Wannaby CEO Sergei Arkhangelsky said the application is available only for iOS devices and a version for Android will appear in late September.

The startup raised U.S. $2 million in May 2018 and already works with Gucci and is holding talks with partners all over the world, Arkhangelsky said.

“We see footwear AR fitting help brands not only improve involvement of users in their online and mobile platforms but convert shoes buyers from brick-and-mortar stores to online,” he said.

According to market researcher Euromonitor, online sales of sneakers would amount to $15 billion in 2019.

End