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Farfetch Aims To Bring Web3 To The World Of Fashion
What does Web3 offer to fashion? Farfetch CEO and founder José Neves is on a mission to blend the real world with the virtual.
José Neves is no stranger to innovation. The Portuguese billionaire and owner of online luxury fashion platform Farfetch revolutionized eCommerce back in 2007, creating a business model that blended boutique shopping with online retail.
Today, Neves is using his innate knowledge of both haute couture and technology to explore how Web3 can enhance the world of fashion. Web3 describes the blockchain-integrated internet, where crypto and NFTs are built directly into platforms, creating a new online world owned by its users. On a recent Most Innovative Companies podcast, Neves explained his enthusiasm for Web3, explaining that “If Web1 was about ‘read’ and Web2 was about ‘read and write’, then Web3 is about ‘read, write, and own’.’’
Neves aims to take the Farfetch brand into the new Web3 environment using their Dream Assembly Base Camp accelerator program, which according to a press release back in July, will:
“Provide a cohort of the most promising Web3 startups in the luxury fashion and lifestyle sectors with a curated program of mentorship, networking, and support in order to help drive the future of Web3 luxury commerce.”
Also Read: Intro Platform Connects Users To Celebrity Experts
The 12-week program is a partnership with Outlier Ventures, which has backed startups since 2014. The platform will focus on “digital fashion, tokenized loyalty, immersive experiences, and the creator economy”, with participating startups having direct access to a network of investors and mentors.
Neves believes that with Web3, the potential is endless, with the application of principles of user control and decentralization being a perfect fit for fashion, where people’s styles often act as second personas, or even masks. The entrepreneur now hopes that emerging technology will increase interaction between creators and users, as Farfetch becomes actively involved in the Web3 luxury commerce space with its new accelerator program, yet again standing at the forefront of fashion, culture, and technology.
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Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.
Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.
As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.
Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.
Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…
— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) December 3, 2024
The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.
A Collaborative Software Effort
Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.
Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.
Feature Set And Compatibility
The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.