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Mountain Hardwear Launches Augmented Reality Ski Kit Builder
Mountain Hardwear announces the expansion of its industry-leading augmented reality shopping experience to include its latest line-up of ski and ride
About this update from Columbia Sportswear Company
[{"type":"text","content":"\nMountain Hardwear announces the expansion of its industry-leading augmented reality shopping experience to include its latest line-up of ski and ride outerwear in partnership with GORE-TEX.\n\n RICHMOND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nAn industry first, Mountain Hardwear’s Augmented Reality (AR) shopping experience allows snowsports enthusiasts to build their next ski kit from their living room, garage, office, or wherever – all via their augmented reality app. Start with a ski bib, add a jacket, change colors, and mix and match styles to find the perfect GORE-TEX kit with ease.\nThis press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191218005790/en/Mountain Hardwear Launches Augmented Reality Ski Kit Builder (Photo: Business Wire)\n\n“AR offers an exciting opportunity, allowing people to virtually explore a product as a part of their shopping experience,” says Snow Burns, Mountain Hardwear Vice President of Marketing. “We are excited to be on the leading edge of developing this new technology and changing the way people shop for their gear,” Burns expands. “And as mobile AR technology becomes universal, we want to be sure we are meeting consumer demand.”\n\n\nWhen it comes to shopping for technical apparel like GORE-TEX ski products, as well as equipment, Mountain Hardwear identified three main barriers to making informed purchasing decisions: limited time to visit retail stores, product availability in-store, and guesswork of online product images. Shopping in AR, either in the app or on mobile, removes these challenges.\n\n\n“Our hope is that shoppers will use AR technology to interactively explore technical fabrics and design features, resulting in a more informed buying decision,” says Jeff Brandon, Mountain Hardwear Associate Director of Brand Deployment.\n\n\nDeveloped in partnership with Transparent House, a tech-forward creative agency based in San Francisco, California, the AR shopping experience showcases high-fidelity representations of the gear, even allowing users to zoom in on fabric textures and other finer details that would normally be difficult to view while shopping online.\n\n\n“In several years, we expect AR will be an everyday part of everyone’s shopping experience, and Mountain Hardwear is leading this charge now,” says David Scott Van Woert, Transparent...