The big buzzword in fashion these days is ‘app’. You’re not embracing the zeitgeist unless you’ve got a mobile platform with a special aspect to pull in customers.
While brands worldwide, from Net-a-Porter to Chanel, are making shopping on the go easy as pie with free apps, some of the most exciting work is actually happening right on our doorstep.
The Australian fashion app industry is booming – and whether it’s because of local talent, keen investors or a booming retail sector, it’s a good time to be thinking mobile for Aussies.
So we’ve picked out our favourite homegrown apps, all made by Australian companies or developed by local minds. Some of them are worldwide successes, others are more specific to our shores, but picking them up will definitely support the green and gold.
TheICONIC is apparently Australia’s top-rated fashion app, and we can understand why. Its New Arrivals section alone features new items from over 700 brands every day – talk about overwhelming. It’s a shopping extravaganza, but it also has an array of features that allow you share your finds on social media and see HD images of all your purchases.
Shopstyle Australia is part of the international Shopstyle network, but the Australian iteration certainly has good local flavour. The Shopstyle app has access to both the best in Aussie fashion and the cream of the international crop – searches can be narrowed to Australian designers, if you’re feeling patriotic. It lets you buy directly from the retailer, and Aussie shoppers also get an exclusive look at designers’ homeware collections. Fancy.
Stashd was the brainchild of 22-year-old Jessica Wilson from Coffs Harbour, and it’s taking over the world one app download at a time. It’s based on Tinder’s swipe-through function, allowing people to swipe through items from international designers and either ‘stash’ or ‘trash’ them. All the ‘stashed’ items are collated into your own personal wardrobe, which you can share online or purchase. Right now it’s very luxury-oriented, but Wilson wants to bring in more fast fashion, so ready your credit cards.
MyMacquarie is the app created specifically for the Macquarie Centre, which will be opening in Sydney’s North soon – and will be filled with H&M, Zara, Willow and other killer boutiques. If you’re heading in that direction, pick up this app – it’s definitely more than just a way of navigating the centre. It’s got trend reports, runway rundowns, exclusive offers and in-store events. It’s basically an inside track for Macquarie shoppers – we love.
eBay Australia will always be our favourite. The auctioneer’s paradise has a good app from iTunes that gives you full access to the Australian store, with notifications and alerts on all your auctions and easy ways to add items to your own store. Be careful, though, it’s addictive.
Lasoo is for Australian shoppers who want to make sure they’re getting the best bargain. It’s a must for catalogue queens – it’s basically a comparison app, making sure that you get the best deal on whatever you’re shopping for, from Kmart to David Jones. It also lists big deals from local retailers – particularly a must if you’ve got kids.
Vogue Australia isn’t a shopping app, unfortunately – but it’s a must for diehard fans of the fashion tome, because it expands the version on the news stands to include intelligent content, behind the scenes interviews and other sneak peeks. Back in 2011 Vogue launched Vogue VIP for Fashion’s Night Out, a location-based shopping app that lead shoppers to gifts, discounts and other hidden goodies in selected stores – but it’s vanished for now. Bring it back, Vogue, please?
Image: Australian fashion shopping apps theICONIC, Stashd and Lasoo.
