QR codes in the Fashion Industry as a tech essential in 2021
QR codes in the fashion industry have been around for years to give a digital dimension to brands and leverage shoppers engagement.
However, these codes weren’t as pervasive as they are today. QR codes today have invaded not just in fashion industry but also in many sectors (e.g. utility, education, business, marketing)
For the past years, brands like Levi’s, Victoria’s secret, Lorea’l, Zara, Nike, Ralph Lauren have already integrated QR codes to their marketing tactic to maximize customer experience to their brand and increase their conversion rates.
These QR codes used in the fashion industry can be mostly seen in billboards, posters, magazines, clothing, store windows and even online such as in websites and social media pages.
These QR codes will redirect scanners to an online information when scanned using a smartphone device. Because the QR code’s flexibility to be used in both offline and offline marketing campaign, many innovative marketers were also quick to utilize these codes.
But how these codes are making a huge comeback to the fashion industry in the Post COVID-19 pandemic world?
Related: What is a QR code and how does it work? The Beginner’s Ultimate Guide!
QR codes in the fashion industry and how does it work?
QR codes or Quick response codes embed an online information of any kind such as video files, URL, audio, MP3, contact details for a vCard and many more.
When the QR code is accessed using mobile devices by scanning the QR code, this leads the scanner to a digital information online about the brand’s products and services. This can lead to their website, a video or online store.
The information encoded in the QR code is generated using a QR code generator online.
Real use-cases of QR codes in the Fashion Industry
Klarna QR fashion show
Klarna’s ‘censored’ fashion show sent models down a runway in nothing but a robe & a QR code.
Instead of wearing glamorous outfits, models of Klarna, Australia’s s shopping app, walked down the runway in a fashion show wearing only robes while holding a QR code.
When the guests of the show scan the QR code via the Klarna shopping app — socially distanced, of course, it will redirect scanners to reveal what is the outfit online, where they can purchase the clothing items right away.
QR codes in the Fashion TV channel
FashionTV, which is a multimedia platform offering a review of global fashion through television.
The TV company displays a QR code that pops up on the TV screen once in every while. When viewers scan the QR code, they will be redirected to the various fashion shows of numerous premium brand names, in style designs, fashion fads, Haute couture, commercials, and many more.
R Collective
The new denim collection of The R Collective, a Hongkong upcycled apparel company and supported by Levi’s, gives jeans a digital identity using the power of QR code technology!
The denim collection are imprinted and labeled with QR codes, that, when scanned, leads to the website.
The website contains tips and different information about sustainable product care after purchase, supply chain information, less energy-intensive washing, and drying tips.
It also contains information about re-styling tips to prolong the life of the clothes as well as advice on recycling the garment at the end of its life.
Kanye West Drops Long-Awaited Yeezy Gap Collection along with QR codes
The new collaboration between Kanye West and Gap, featured a QR code of the single item advertisement.
The jacket went live online the same time QR codes were displayed in big cities like Chicago and Los Angeles.
Gabriela Hearst
Another fashion brand known for luxury women’s and men’s ready-to-wear and accessories collection advances clothing transparency using the newest tech essential: QR codes.
Gabriela Hearst’s Spring/Summer 2020 collection, named “The Garment Journey” showcased a digital identity using QR codes that stores information about each garment for customers, resellers, new owners, and recyclers.
The QR code, printed on the product label of each garment embeds information about the clothing.
Customers will know various information like the materials used, country of origin, and production process of the garment. Furthermore, they will know the carbon footprint of each garment and the narrative behind the design.
How to use QR codes on fashion industry
QR codes to digitize magazines
The integration of QR code technology in the print industry is how the print media is catching up with the modernization of marketing.
With the advent of e-portals, internet, smartphones, and LED screens, people have lost interest in printed mediums overtime.
To make the print media such as newspapers, catalogs, brochures, leaflets, and magazines interesting again and prevent from being obsolete, tapping into new and interactive ways using QR codes is their way of going back into the spotlight.
Related: 7 Ways you can use QR Codes in magazines
Store windows for online shopping
Even without entering the physical store, QR codes can be displayed on store windows. This allows the passer-by to shop in your online store by generating a URL QR code that you will display on your window store.
You only need to convert the URL of your shop into a QR code and display it in your window store.
Related: How to use QR code on the window of your store?
LED advertisement
QR codes in LED advertisement is a great way to pique people’s interest who are passing by the streets and garner a larger amount of audience. Moreover, you can also make the QR code interactive for your target audience for them to scan your QR code!
Redirect QR code to download your app
An app QR code redirects users to download your app. For example, if you have a shopping app for your fashion brand you can generate an app QR code and users will be redirected to Google PlayStore or Apple App store depending on their smartphone’s operating device to install your app right away.
QR code tags
QR codes have many possible use-cases in clothing and other garments. They are often placed in product tags of the clothing or in the clothing itself.
For example, Gabriela Hearst’s Spring/Summer 2020 collection, named “The Garment Journey” showcased a digital identity that stores information about each garment for customers, resellers, new owners, and recyclers.
The QR code, printed on the product label of each garment embeds information about the garment. Or it can can also be used to authenticate a product.
Related: What is an app store QR code and how to use it?
QR codes on clothing labels
You can use the QR code as one of the design elements of your clothing labels. Second, is to put a smaller QR code somewhere more obscure on the garment. The QR code is not the main design but it can also be accessed if needed.
Grow your number of social media followers
Fashion brands use social media for marketing and advertising to engage their target market. Moreover, this also make their customers feel more connected to fashion companies.
Social media world is the best platform to showcase your fashion studio and it acts as the best medium for brand recognition and enhances brand awareness.
To grow fashion brand’s social media followers, users can generate a social media QR code that will house or link of your social media apps and other digital resources.
The importance of QR codes in the textile industry
QR codes are not just meant to be a valuable unique element in the clothing design that gives an information to the shopper about the product.
More importantly, this digital tool also help combat the rampant of counterfeit brand items by enabling QR code authentication, which has unfortunately become a common occurrence among many clothing brands worldwide.
International fashion brands like Ralph Lauren and Diesel, secured their brand by attaching the QR code to its label items so customers can scan the QR code and verify for themselves if the product is authentic or not.
QR codes for retail shop
QR Codes in retail is one of the most popular technologies that is widely used by marketers.
Retail giants such as Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, 7/11, Amazon and many retail industries have already utilized QR codes to modernize customer engagement to leverage brand experience.
QR codes make the purchasing and shopping experience easier for customers. Furthermore, with the ever-growing competition in the e-commerce industry, the QR Code technology will serve as a gateway to get new target customers and set a competitive streak in the market.
Retail: How to use QR codes in retail? Diverse use-cases
Benefits of using QR codes for the fashion business industry
Accessible using smartphone devices
Since QR codes are available to be read using mobile devices, this makes it easy for fashion brands to connect to their consumers from all groups of ages!
QR codes are editable in content
Even after you have printed your QR code in your clothing product tags, or if you have already distributed them online, you can still edit or modify the content of your QR code to another information anytime. This saves you time and money.
The ability of QR codes to be modified also allows users to have a multi-campaign marketing using one QR code.
Tracking your QR code campaign scans
QR codes scans are trackable.
Tracking the data of your QR code is essential for a better marketing and understanding of your campaign.
If you are not tracking your QR code scans’ data, you are simply wasting all the effort you put in your QR code marketing campaign by leaving all the sales opportunities to your competitors in the market!
When you generate a QR code using a Dynamic, you can uncover valuable important data such as the location where your scanners are scanning from, the time when you get the most scans, the device they used when scanning your QR code.
These data are stored and revealed in the QR code generator online dashboard using a dynamic QR code.
Related: How to set-up QR code tracking in real-time: A step-by-step guide
QR codes: Fashion’s new tech essential
QR codes play a very efficient and effective role to ensure customer loyalty and retain them in a long-term relationship. Unquestionably, QR codes help fashion brands for better customer engagement.
Therefore, it is valuable to opt for QR codes, to give your customers the best possible experience while shopping.
For more information about how you can use QR codes for your fashion brands, contact us today!
