I’ve long admired women in technology and seen great potential in wearable tech. So when I met Karen Song, founder of Stylematic, a mobile app that delivers personalized fashion recommendations that users can buy directly, at a Creeds Collective event and discovered that we both share a passion for combining fashion and tech, I knew I had to learn more. So set up an interview with her to learn what it’s really like to be a female entrepreneur in Silicon Valley and where she sees wearable tech going in the future. Here’s what she had to say.
1. What inspired you to start the Stylematic app?
I created the Stylematic app to help me figure out what to wear. Although I love window shopping, finding something that expresses who you really are can be an intimidating process. I wanted to create a one-stop shop where users can discover the latest styles, find other fashion lovers to follow and shop for items they actually like. So much of what we end up buying is informed by the mainstream media, runway shows and magazines. My intention with Stylematic is to enable users to discover and share new items and create a space that enables boutiques and up and coming designers to flourish alongside the big box retailers.
2. In what ways can merging tech with fashion improve our lives and our style?
A lot of my friends use tech to supplement their current shopping and discovery habits. Especially professional women in my age range with some disposable income and limited time. Services like Pinterest and Instagram are being utilized for book-marking and discovery purposes. I also think there are some very practical applications in the wearable space that empower women and men in their lifestyle choices.
3. Where do you see wearable tech going in the near future?
I see wearable tech becoming more fashionably integrated into daily life in terms of fitness trackers, augmented accessories and dress collections. I also see wearable tech going in the direction of helping people to discover the right fit and clothing customization for their style and body type.
4. What are currently some of your favorite wearable tech products and designers?
Here are some of my top picks:
The PoloTech Shirt by Ralph Lauren
5. What’s it like being a female entrepreneur in Silicon Valley? Any advice for women looking to do the same?
Being a female entrepreneur in Silicon Valley is an interesting experience given the ratio of men to women here. In some ways, being a female is great because you offer a unique vantage point and people here are especially welcoming and supportive of people who have something different to offer. Many groups and organizations are created with the specific purpose of supporting and encouraging women who are pursuing entrepreneurship and tech (e.g. Glassbreakers, Women 2.0).
The greatest challenge for myself is overcoming the personal discomfort I feel being in the minority and ensuring that I don’t accept the projections of others. My greatest advice for women is this – remain unabashedly yourself. Embrace your femininity and/or your masculinity and leverage the skills you’ve got. The health of your company depends on how healthy you are personally so make sure you stay true to yourself.
6. How can Stylematic help bloggers share their style?
Bloggers can establish a following through Stylematic by publishing engaging content on our Fashion Inspirations feed. They can also sell their designs on our Recommendation feed, where users are able to make purchases, or earn commission off of sales they make for any references to major retailers. Finally, bloggers can build a following by creating and sharing items in their digital Stylematic closet.
7. Tell me more about the LED dress you were photographed wearing at Fashion Week.
I partnered with a talented local designer in the Bay Area named Mariya Milovidova to create a wearable tech dress with LED bright lights inside of it. Legendary photographer Bill Cunningham took a picture of me outside of a fashion show during New York Fashion Week last year.
8. What can people designing wearable tech do to make their products more appealing?
I think the temptation for people designing wearable tech is to make their products “innovative” or “useful.” I think wearable tech needs to actually be “wearable” for it to truly take off. It is hard to get people to change their day to day behaviors, so creating something that seamlessly works with people’s wardrobe in terms of aesthetics and pragmatic utility is probably the best approach.
9. What are you most excited to see in September at New York Fashion Week?
I’m most excited to see Marc Jacobs and Givenchy!
10. How do you hope to revolutionize the shopping experience with Stylematic?
I hope to make Stylematic the go-to resource for users looking to update their style and shop more efficiently and for designers/retailers looking to achieve broader reach and increase user engagement with their content.
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