French AI-powered virtual try-on technology platform Veesual has raised $7.5m and plans to expand in the USA through a partnership with women’s fashion brand Eileen Fisher.

Veesual is a Paris-based virtual try-on platform for the fashion industry that changes the way online shoppers experience digital retail. It has closed a $7.5m seed round.

The investment should accelerate delivery of the company’s plans to expand into the USA by opening its first US-based office, recruiting senior US talent, and enhancing its current product offering for US apparel companies. A cornerstone of the expansion is a partnership with Eileen Fisher that will see Veesual’s augmented shopping experiences powered by virtual try-on technology integrated into the Eileen Fisher online shopping experience (www.eileenfisher.com/a-simple-wardrobe/start-here/the-closet.html).

“We are thrilled to be the first US brand to partner with Veesual on this innovative new virtual try-on tool,” said Blair Silverman, vice president at Eileen Fisher. “Eileen Fisher is committed to inclusivity, designing clothes that cater to every body shape. Navigating online shopping poses challenges, particularly in predicting how garments fit diverse body types. Our collaboration with Veesual addresses these challenges head-on and we are proud to be launching a tool that is sure to be a new standard for ecommerce.”

Founded in 2020, Veesual is on a mission to transform the online shopping experience for all customers, independent of style, fit and fashion preferences through its augmented shopping offerings Mix&Match, Switch Model and Look Inspiration. The company’s proprietary 2D-based image generation Eegine (IGT) was designed for fashion brands to deliver high-quality imagery at scale, and adapt several pieces of clothing on any model, with natural renderings and precise fitting.

While brands are working to reflect diversity for ecommerce shoppers by featuring models of different ethnicities, ages and body types, it can be extremely costly to shoot individual products on various models. Veesual’s Switch Model experience allows customers to choose a model with which they identify.

While 3D-based try-on technology can be expensive and time-consuming, 2D images offer a scalable and cost-effective method for brands that engage shoppers. Veesual lets brands create a more seamless and inclusive shopping experience for customers and, in turn, yield higher sales and a lower return rate, allowing them to capture a larger percentage of online sales.

“The global fashion ecosystem is undergoing a seismic shift right now,” said Veesual CEO Maxime Patte. “The industry is increasingly focused on sustainable production, a better, more relevant buying experience and upcycling as a new standard. At Veesual, we’re meeting those changes by drastically improving how shoppers buy online which creates a more inclusive retail experience while also improving fit and reducing waste. This fundraise is critical for our plans as we scale in the USA with brands who are pioneering the augmented shopping experience. We anticipate significant growth in 2024 and beyond.”

The funding round was led by AVP (AXA Venture Partners) and Techstars.

“We are proud to invest in Veesual, in order to accelerate its commercial roll-out and pursue its technological developments, as well as its international expansion,” said François Robinet, managing partner of AVP (axavp.com). “We believe in Maxime and his team’s vision. They have demonstrated a strong ability to execute and understand market challenges by offering fashion brands options to optimise their customer experience. With a presence on both sides of the Atlantic, AVP’s teams will be able to support Veesual in the next stages of its development.”

To support growth in the USA, Veesual is working to recruit more senior talent and will open its first US office in New York in 2025. In addition to ecommerce, Veesual (www.veesual.ai) aims to create value for brands by displaying generated images on its acquisition and retargeting channels.