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Spree announces first image search shopping feature in Africa

I did a little online shopping via the Spree app last night. I have no idea how I survived last winter as I have nothing warm to wear! And Cape Town is cold. I ordered a poncho, chunky jersey and a scarf. Fingers crossed that everything fits! At least I’m safe with the scarf.

I placed my order just before 20:00 last night, and I received a sms this morning that my order will be delivered today. Today!! I am really impressed.

Then I received the below press release this morning. Wow. I just have to share this with you.

PS. This post is in no way sponsored by Spree; this is just too cool to keep to myself.

Spree announces first image search shopping feature in Africa

Have you ever seen a fashion item you absolutely had to have, but didn’t know how to find it online to make it yours? Now, thanks to Spree and their newly launched image search and similar style shopping app features, you can find all those coveted items online and make them your own. Spree is the first online fashion retailer in Africa to offer this innovative technology that identifies clothing or footwear seen in photos and images and finds you something similar in their app.

Spree announces first image search shopping feature in Africa

Within the existing search functionality, the Spree app now features a camera icon, which allows shoppers to take a live photo or upload an image from the smartphone photo library, and it’ll return visually similar items in seconds. And when you find something you like, you can quickly make it yours with the app’s easy checkout process. Finding similar styles while browsing is now also easier: shoppers can tap and hold any product image in a Category or Search results view and the feature will highlight items that are visually similar.

Adopting a mobile-app-first approach, Spree has initially launched the image search and similar styles shopping feature on the Spree iOS app, with a roll out plan to the Android app and the website scheduled for the next couple of months.

“Our goal at Spree is to make the shopping experience for our customers as easy and intuitive as possible, and with our new image recognition capabilities and similar style shopping feature, we think we have come closer to achieving this. Searching for items with photos and images saves consumers from having to type keyword combinations, which is especially challenging on mobile devices.

In a world where words are commonly replaced by emojis and images, it makes sense that our shopping habits follow the same path and we’re very proud to be the first online retailer in Africa to lead this visual trend.” says Sven Schoof, Spree’s Head of Customer Experience.

Taking advantage of the latest Artifical Intelligence (AI) technologies available, Spree’s similar style shopping feature bases its suggestions on silhouette, colour, pattern and texture, and customers can filter seamlessly by gender.

With AI tech being ranked in the top 5 trends driving change and growth in retail in the next few years1, the launch of Spree’s image search feature certainly sets the bar in shaping the fashion landscape in Africa.

The new image search feature works across phone and tablet devices, and is available in the Spree iOS app via the existing Search feature. 

Happy shopping!

xoxo

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I’ve found #MySuperbJacket on Superbalist

The cold weather has caught me completely off guard and I have nothing to wear. Or perhaps it’s more a case of I have nothing I really want to wear.

Superbalist has me lusting after so many gorgeous coats and jackets after reading their Winter is Coming post. Head on over to see how the fabulous Bee Diamondhead and Tara Lee McNulty style and model Superbalist’s new must-have jackets and coats.

Number 1 on my lust list is a parka.  Warm, comfy and it looks great. What more do you want from a winter jacket?

parka 1

Tara-Lee: This would work for a sporty girl. Definitely worn with a pair of high-waisted jeans or a baggy shirt-dress and a sneaker. You can rock it with pretty much anything. It’s comfortable, casual and something to keep in your car for whenever it’s a bit nippy. I feel very comfortable in this and the fact that I can still move easily is nice.

Parka 2

Bee: Like the leather jacket or the denim jacket you’ve had forever, a parka is something you can’t go without. It can take a beating and is perfect for when it rains and you don’t want to mess up your other stuff. And it’s so timeless. Not the most chic option, and if I wear it to work it’s probably because I’m on location. That way if I need to take it off I can just tie it around my waist. If I were travelling I’d take a lightweight one that can roll up and pop into a bag. It doesn’t matter if it’s creased. The Parka has stayed standard for a minute now. People tried yellows and pinks and that didn’t really work out. But the blues are nice. Blue is a colour that’s slept on. Navy head-to-toe – levels. Rihanna is a huge fan and wears them so well. It’s part of that festival, road-trip, travel look and can be jeans and T-shirt but also shorts and pixie boots for, like, a desert look.

I am a little obsessed with sleeveless jackets right now. Okay, maybe A LOT obsessed. Aren’t you? I can’t get enough of these two stylish coats.

Sleeveless 1

Tara-Lee: I’m super tiny in my waist with bigger hips and legs, so if I’m romping around in jeans and a crop top I’d generally like a long layered thing just to hide the junk in the trunk. I like that it’s sleeveless so in summer you can wear it as a kimono and in winter you can wear it with a polo neck. It’s very cool and would suit every body type. It’s one of those things you add on to whatever you’re already wearing.

sleeveless 2

Bee: This is for the skinny woman with skinny-ass, Angela Basset arms. I’d wear it with something slightly longer underneath, in different colours so that you can differentiate the sleevelessness. They’re quite chic so it’s a nice thing to wear to work, especially if you’re running around all day, as it’s not too heavy. I remember when Kim was pregnant and I kept on having whole conversations with anyone who would listen how she was into sleeveless coats and also not really into them.

FYI! You can win! Share your favourite Superbalist #MySuperbJacket and it could be yours. Check out the details of this awesome competition HERE.

Happy shopping!

xoxo

Disclosure Ranking: 3