As Apparel Returns Keep Climbing, Retailers Look for Better Ways to Help Shoppers Decide Before Buying

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As Apparel Returns Keep Climbing, Retailers Look for Better Ways to Help Shoppers Decide Before Buying
Most returns start with hesitation at the point of purchase,” said the founder of PrimeStyleAI. “If shoppers feel unsure, they tend to over-order. We’re trying to give people a clearer picture before they buy so that uncertainty doesn’t drive the decision.
Online apparel returns remain a costly problem for retailers and a frustrating experience for shoppers. Many purchases are made with uncertainty around fit, proportions, and overall appearance — and are later returned when expectations don’t match reality. PrimeStyleAI has now opened a public beta of its virtual try-on platform, giving shoppers a way to preview outfits on their own body before completing a purchase.

Apparel remains one of the most returned categories in e-commerce. Industry estimates routinely place return rates between 25 and 40 percent, with fit and appearance cited as the most common reasons. For retailers, the impact shows up downstream — reverse logistics, markdowns, restocking costs, and wasted inventory.

PrimeStyleAI focuses on the moment when shoppers are deciding, not after the purchase has already been made. Its virtual try-on and outfit-building tools allow users to see how selected items may look together and how those pieces might appear on their own body, using images they provide.

The platform is currently available in public beta. It works with products from recognized apparel retailers and sends shoppers directly to those retailers’ websites to complete purchases. PrimeStyleAI does not operate a store or marketplace and does not control pricing, inventory, or fulfillment.

Earlier attempts at virtual try-on struggled to move beyond novelty. Image quality was inconsistent, and results rarely felt useful for real decisions. Recent improvements in image processing have changed that landscape. PrimeStyleAI applies these tools with a narrow goal: helping shoppers reduce guesswork before clicking “buy.”

Retailers see value beyond fewer returns. When shoppers feel more certain, they tend to spend more time exploring options and are less likely to order multiple sizes or styles with the expectation of returning most of them. Outfit-building features also encourage shoppers to think in terms of complete looks rather than single items.

For consumers, the experience reduces friction. Instead of placing several speculative orders, shoppers can narrow choices earlier and move forward with more confidence.

PrimeStyleAI was created after years of observing how differently people behave online compared to fitting rooms. In-store, decisions are visual and immediate. Online, they’re often hesitant. The company’s goal is to close that gap by giving shoppers more visual clarity before purchase. Following the beta release, PrimeStyleAI is preparing a Kickstarter launch to support broader access and continued onboarding of retail partners in the U.S. and Canada.

Learn more about the PrimeStyleAI launch: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/primestyleai/primestyleai-see-how-clothes-look-on-you-before-you-buy

CONTACT & LINKS

Website: https://myaifitting.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primestyleai

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primestyleai

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrimeStyleAI

Media Contact
Company Name: PrimestyleAI
Contact Person: John Watson
Email: Send Email
Country: United States
Website: https://myaifitting.com