Japan-based eCommerce business Zozo is introducing spectacles to measure skin tone. An innovative technology that aims to help people while ordering cosmetics online.
The “Zozoglass”, a pair of spectacles covered with color swatches and markers, detects skin tone when scanned with a smartphone for tailored cosmetics recommendations on Zozotown, Japan’s biggest online fashion site.
“Traditionally in Japan, you’d go to a large department store, you go to the counter and then you actually try stuff on. We’re trying to replicate that through technology and give the consumer confidence to buy online,” Zozo’s Chief Operating Officer Masahiro Ito stated.
Zozo’s new glass launch is following the eCommerce platform’s expansion into the beauty and cosmetic category by the initiation of a dedicated platform, Zozocosme. Even though both the Zozocosme and Zozoglass will be officially released in March only, the pre-ordering of the spectacles has commenced.
Currently, the Zozoglass will be limited to the foundation only and later it will be expanded to cover other product lines. Augmented reality functionality in the online retailer’s app will allow consumers to see how the make-up will look on them.
In the recent past, fashion tech is being eyed by online retailers, which have enhanced by shopping at home during COVID-19, as a way to help consumers overcome some doubts about buying remotely. Due to the pandemic, in-store makeup sampling has been partially restricted, preventing customers from physically trying on cosmetic products and the Zozoglass is a solution for this challenge.
Zozo, part of SoftBank’s internet business Z Holdings Corp, has shipped about 1.4 million units of its ‘Zozomat’, which is a foot measuring tool that accurately scans customers’ feet and provides shoe size. The company is now planning to launch a successor to its body-measuring ‘Zozosuit’ this year which it says has fixed the flaws of the earlier version.
