Technology has become central to shopping as COVID-19 has led people to seek out touch-free experiences. But how will augmented reality fit into the future retail landscape? How can it bridge the gap between e-commerce and brick-and-mortar to deliver convenience, safety, and a personal touch?

COVID-19 has led to an uplift in e-commerce, and customers are planning to keep much of their shopping online way beyond the pandemic’s end. Canvas8 spoke to brand expert Mark Pilkington, author of Retail Recovery, about the role bricks and mortar stores will play for consumers in the future.

French brand Uniforme creates sustainable garments that explore traditions of uniforms with materials from small-batch suppliers. As people continue to question the wastefulness of fashion seasons and trends, there’s a growing appetite for designs that are classic and long-lasting.

Luxury shops in Paris have been cautiously reopened after two months of strict lockdown. With sanitised clothing and social distancing now a part of the experience, brands would do well to think about making shoppers feel taken care of through appointment systems and digital innovations.