Aesthetic Launches Innovative Fashion Discovery Tool Comparable to Shazam
Aesthetic, a burgeoning fashion tech company, has officially introduced its AI-driven fashion discovery tool this week, designed to streamline clothing identification and shopping experiences for users. Dubbed “Alma,” this virtual fashion concierge enables users to acquire clothing items spotted on social media platforms effortlessly.
How Alma Works
When users encounter an outfit they admire on platforms like Instagram or TikTok, they can send a link to the Aesthetic account via direct message. Alma promptly responds with a link directing them to the Aesthetic website, where they can either purchase the outfit or save it to a personalized collection board known as the Lookbook.
CEO LJ Northington explained the company’s vision, stating, “Our goal is to help users save, shop, and share their fashion inspiration without having to leave their favorite social apps.”
Inspiration Behind Aesthetic
Northington’s journey into the fashion tech realm stemmed from his perception of a gap in innovative e-commerce solutions. His initial exposure came from working on a project for a prominent creative director after graduating from college, which sparked his interest in personal shopping concepts that ultimately led to Aesthetic.
Future Aspirations and Collaborations
Northington envisions lofty prospects for the app. With aesthetics dominating popular culture, he seeks to enable creators to monetize their style. Discussions with brands and record labels are already underway to create tailored Aesthetic pages for artists, allowing fans to shop curated trends inspired by their favorite celebrities. For instance, this could replicate the trend of fans dressing in silver for Beyoncé’s “Renaissance” tour or the vibrant outfits associated with Charli XCX’s “Brat Summer.”
While specifics about funding remain undisclosed, Aesthetic has garnered investment from Slow Capital and Zeal Capital Partners, with support from the Google Cloud AI startup program.
A Focus on Profitability
Northington stated, “We’re using the funds to reach profitability. Google is assisting us with essential AI components, allowing us to operate a cost-efficient business model.”
Prior to founding Aesthetic, Northington held roles in business development and strategy at Westbrook, the media venture co-founded by Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith. With dreams of becoming an NFL player, Northington redirected his career ambitions towards the business world, drawing inspiration from his father’s entrepreneurial journey and his studies in psychology at Harvard, which shaped his understanding of consumer behavior. “Building consumer tech in today’s world is a very psychological, philosophical endeavor,” he remarks, emphasizing the experimental nature of developing a consumer app.
Key Takeaways
- Aesthetic’s tool, Alma, offers a seamless way to shop for outfits seen on social media.
- CEO LJ Northington aims to enhance the experience of sharing fashion inspiration directly from social apps.
- The company is eyeing collaborations with artists to create personalized shopping experiences for fans.
- Aesthetic has received backing from notable investors and is utilizing Google Cloud’s AI resources for growth.
