Fashion Reseller Launches AI-Powered Shopping Tools

Second-hand fashion retail platform ThredUp has launched a new suite of AI-powered search features that incorporate advanced machine learning algorithms and generative AI.

The tools understand natural language and visual cues to help shoppers more easily curate style inspiration and build personalized outfits faster using text descriptions or images.  

Customers can now search for items using more specific and natural descriptions such as "light pink knee-length dress with ruffles” or "swimsuit for a triathlon” and the platform will generate relevant results.  

They can also find head-to-toe outfits using natural language, such as "outfit for a fall wedding,” via the site’s new AI-powered chatbot. Parameters such as color, style and coverage can be adjusted to personalize results further.

The search engine also enables shoppers to upload pictures, photos and Instagram posts from which it will find matching or similar items for sale.

ThredUp said the new algorithms will continuously learn and improve to create more relevant and personalized results.

ThredUp’s proprietary operating platform, which consists of distributed processing infrastructure and proprietary software, is one of the largest globally and has processed over 200 million second-hand items from 60,000 brands across 100 categories.

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Company CEO James Reinhart said he hoped the new AI-powered offering would be a game-changer for the platform, which saw disappointing last quarter results.

“AI presents an enormous leap forward for second-hand shopping by bringing emotion and storytelling to the millions of unique shopping journeys that happen regularly on ThredUp,” said Reinhart.

“Given the breadth of our offering with millions of unique items available in our marketplace at any given time, generative AI technology is accelerating how we’re changing the way consumers shop and providing the easiest and most fun way to shop sustainably.”

By integrating generative AI into its customers’ shopping experience ThredUp follows in the footsteps of other major retail brands. Walmart’s Voice Order service launched last year, for example, allows customers to connect mobile devices and home smart speakers to their Walmart account and make an order using only voice commands.