Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, CapEx Growth, Daydream Beta

Is wearable tech finally having its fashion moment?

After years of false starts, wearable tech may finally be gaining traction in fashion, not just for fitness, but as a lifestyle accessory. From smart rings and connected fabrics to stylish health trackers, brands are now blending aesthetics with utility in ways that resonate with consumers.

Why it matters: As wellness, personalization, and tech converge, wearables are evolving from niche gadgets to fashion-forward essentials, with new opportunities for brands to design around data.

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Sales Triple: EssilorLuxottica | Entrepreneur

EssilorLuxottica, the eyewear company that collaborated with Meta on Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, said sales of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses contributed to its 7.3% revenue growth.

EntrepreneurSherin Shibu

Retail’s CapEx divide widens as AI reshapes investment priorities

Most apparel brands and retailers plan to boost capital expenditures this year (paywall), but a stark divide is emerging between those with the resources to invest in AI, tech, and store upgrades, and those falling behind.

Giants like Amazon and Walmart are outspending competitors by orders of magnitude, while struggling players like Kohl’s are pulling back. As brands grapple with aging infrastructure and pandemic-era store neglect, the pressure is mounting to invest smartly - particularly in AI, which is shifting from experimentation to end-to-end reinvention of design, merchandising, and planning.

Why it matters: The future of fashion retail may be won not just by those who spend, but by those who know where and how to spend.

Retail’s Spending Divide: How CapEx Could Shape the Future of Fashion

Fashion is investing heavily in tech and store upgrades as leaders face tough decisions on capex allocation to compete in a rapidly evolving market.

WWDEvan Clark

Julie Bornstein’s Daydream launches beta, betting on agentic AI for fashion shopping

Former Stitch Fix COO Julie Bornstein is back with Daydream, a new AI-powered shopping platform aiming to transform how people discover and buy fashion. Unlike traditional recommendation engines, Daydream uses "agentic AI" to act more like a personal stylist - proactively browsing, filtering, and curating looks across brands based on a shopper’s taste, body type, and budget.

Why it matters: If successful, Daydream could redefine the future of online retail, shifting the user role from searcher to receiver in a more intelligent, hyper-personalized shopping experience.

Julie Bornstein’s Daydream Is Redefining AI Fashion Shopping

Julie Bornstein’s Daydream is redefining AI fashion shopping with agentic AI, real-time personalization, and a discovery-first model powered by 8,000 brands.

ForbesSindhya Valloppillil