Sports Insight

20 • Sports Insight ~ December 2018 sportsinsightmag.com IN BUSINESS TODAY responsiveness is key, and as such 3D is moving fast into apparel – as well as accessories and footwear – with technology that makes it easier for companies to keep pace with consumer expectations of speed and con- venience. Firms are taking a 3D approach to design, as well as to product develop- ment and delivery. Having grasped the potential of 3D modeling we are now on the cusp of 4D technology that enables additional built-in product functionalities. What exactly is 3D tech? In many ways it is automation re-imagined for contemporary manufacturing. 3D tech is revolutionizing the design process by elim- inating the need for physical samples and allowing for faster iteration of customized product offerings. It leads to smarter pro- duction and increased speed-to-market. It reduces inventory costs, lessens waste, and promotes eco-responsibility. A good example of a gamechanging use of 3D tech is what's known as "smart fashion." For example, UnSpun, a robotics and apparel company is "building" custom jeans for each consumer on demand with digital customization and automated manufacturing. Another example is the company Thursday Finest, which first sparked interest by making customized socks with quick turnaround at its NYC pop-up shop. Individuals could place an order at the shop, equipped with the latest 3D knitting machinery, and within an hour receive a text that their custom-made hosiery was ready. The company has since expanded into beanies and ties, retaining its 3D tech quick-turn model. At a recent footwear innovation summit, Dr. Andre West, department head of Textile & Apparel, Technology & Management at NC State College of Textiles, predicted that based on 3D and 4D innovations, "sock patterns could create shoes in a matter of seven to eight minutes." This clearly has huge ramifica- tions in footwear. Whether used for digital design or for the implementation of rapid production methods, 3D technologies look to be evolv- ing fast going forward. — Emily Walzer Gen Z: The New Power Shopper WHILE MANY OF US ARE STILL hyper-focused on how Millennials are transforming the way we all shop and buy, the next big economic gamechangers are already here — they are known as Gen Z. Born between the mid-1990s and mid- 2000s, the oldest Gen Zer is around 22 years old. And Gen Zers are influencing consumer spending in a big way. At 32 percent, Gen Z makes up the second- largest age demographic of tastemakers — according to a 2017 National Retail Federation report, more than 70 percent of Gen Zers said they influence their family's spending, including clothes and shoes (60 percent) and electronic devices (61 percent). Additionally, Gen Z has its own spending power — $44 billion worth to be exact. Adyen, the payment platform that works with companies such as Uber, Facebook and Netflix, recently commissioned a survey of more than 2,000 U.S. consumers between the ages of 18-55, to understand the shopping habits, expectations and hopes (and fears) of this up-and-coming generational group. The research reveals that Gen Z is a generation that is even more frugal and price-conscious than its immediate predecessors. More than half of Gen Zers still count on allowance for spending money and nearly 20 percent work full- time. These frugal habits and the desire to stretch their dollars through discounts, coupons and rewards programs could be indicative of how this generation will spend as it grows up. Gen Zers are constantly digitally connected and they make shopping decisions based on the ease of the process. What Gen Z sees on social media impacts purchasing decisions. Gen Zers crave efficiency. If a Gen Z shopper is going to spend money in a store, they want to make sure they're making the most of their trip. For Gen Z shoppers, 66 percent would visit a store more if they could check if an item they wanted was in stock beforehand. And once they're in the store, the Gen Z shopper would opt to pick up the items they need and have the store automatically charge their account. More than a quarter (39 percent) of Gen Z shoppers hope that this "just walk out" technology is ubiquitous in the next 12 months. — Cara Griffin 3D Tech, 4D Tech + Automation "Gen Z has its own spending power – $44 billion worth to be exact." "A good example of a gamechanging use of 3D tech is what's known as 'smart' fashion." T H E G A M E C H A N G E R S

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