SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE SMART HANGER?

Over the past couple of years the fashion industry has experienced an increased reliance on social media as a method of communicating with its potential customers. For many years people have been following their favourite designers, labels and fashion celebrities on twitter, liking their pages on Facebook and even following their blog pages to keep in the know. Last season many designers even showcased their designs on twitter before they hit the runways allowing the world to comment on the collection. With this growing integration of social media and fashion, the industry has begun to think of new ways of using social media to their benefit.

DKNY and BigLive collaboration – Live fashion show

Retailers are struggling to figure out how they too can ride the social media wave and gain more exposure and communication between the business and its potential customers. Many retailers have been using Facebook and twitter to inform their followers of sales and upcoming events but one retailer in Brazil is taking it to a new level. Retail chain C&A has developed a hanger that is so advanced it tells the shopper how popular a garment is. The hanger is linked to Facebook and tracks its garment’s popularity by the number of likes it receives online.

Each of the garments are uploaded to C&A’s Facebook Page where people can ‘like’ the garment. Every ‘like’ the garment receives is transmitted to the hanger associated with the garment. The hanger tells the shopper how many likes the garment has received thus assuring the customer it is popular. Although these hangers appeal to the insecure shopper, it’s a very cool idea that will in the very least increase exposure of the brand. Watch an example of this process HERE.

 
The link between fashion and media is becoming very connected and we are sure to see some more very interesting inventions in the years to come.