Partnering with QReal and M7 Innovations, Bollé’s new AR experience is billed as a first for the sunglasses industry. Within Instagram, the demonstration invites users to try out Bollé’s Phantom lens through one of the brand’s sunglass models – the Chronoshield.
After seeing the glasses on their face, users can flip their camera from selfie-view to front-facing and Phantom lenses are superimposed on their actual view.
Users are then introduced to sunglass effects such as high contrast, anti-fog, and photochromic into their real surroundings to see Phantom lenses in action. Once users select a lens that suits their style and needs, they can then search for a retailer that carries Bollé.
“AR is routinely used for try-on and certainly enhances the buying experience,” said Louis Cisti, Vice President of Global Marketing for Bollé Brands. “But AR for try-out, this is a first.
“In the new normal of retail, Bollé recognizes that safety is now the most important thing. Consumers demand shopping encounters that minimize physical interaction. However, when it comes to buying premium sunglasses, they still have high expectations and expect to see tangible benefits.
“Bollé’s AR try-out does all that heavy lifting. Shoppers get to see perceivable performance benefits before making a purchase.”
Using AR, users can experience several unique Bollé features within its Phantom lenses:
- Light Adaptive Technology: the user is presented with a slider that allows them to change their exposure, making the scene brighter or darker. They then watch Phantom’s molecular photochromic filter adapt to changes in ambient light.
- Platinum Anti-Fog Treatment: the user’s view begins to fog up, simulating the fogging that occurs from sweat while riding, hiking, or spring skiing. Fog condenses outside the glasses, but the view through the sunglasses remains clear, mimicking the real-world performance Phantom Lenses in a perspiring situation.
- High Contrast: the scene outside the glasses remains natural, but the user is able to experience improved colour and depth perception as they look through the Phantom lenses.
For the try-on part of the experience users will also be able to see how they look in the Bollé Chronoshield, a new take on an original style from the 1980s. The Chronoshield offers an extra wide field of view, for visual comfort and protection against wind or debris.
Bollé adds that ‘venting ensures the lenses never fog up and the adjustable Thermogrip nose-pads and temple tips gives a custom fit while making sure they stay in place.’
