The latest Global Growth Insights report on the Virtual Fitting Room market has just been released, and the numbers are staggering.
For years, virtual try-on was seen as a "nice-to-have" gimmick. But the 2025 data paints a different picture: it is rapidly becoming a standard expectation for online shoppers, especially in the fashion sector.
If you are running a clothing store on Shopify, these are the statistics that should define your strategy for the coming year.
1. The Market is Exploding
The global virtual fitting room market size hit $3.45 Billion in 2024. It is projected to reach $13.12 Billion by 2033.
This represents a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16%. To put that in perspective, that is significantly faster than the growth of the e-commerce fashion market itself. This isn't just a trend; it's a fundamental shift in how people buy clothes online.
2. Shoppers Are Demanding It
The most critical metric for merchants isn't market cap—it's consumer preference.
- 70% of online shoppers prefer retailers that offer virtual try-on options.
- 75% of Millennials and Gen Z consumers actively use these tools.
- 68% of US shoppers say they feel more confident buying when they can visualize the item on themselves.
If you don't offer a way to "try before you buy" digitally, you are now at a competitive disadvantage compared to the 65% of fashion brands that have already integrated these technologies.
3. The "Returns" Killer
We all know the pain of returns. It is the profit-killer of fashion e-commerce. The report confirms what we have been seeing with Genlook users:
"Virtual fitting rooms are reducing return rates by up to 40%."
By allowing customers to visualize the look—drape, style, and vibe—on their own photo, you eliminate the "imagination gap" that leads to dissatisfaction when the package arrives.
4. The Shift to Mobile & AI
The report highlights two major technological shifts that align perfectly with modern solutions:
- Mobile First: 55% of the market is now mobile-based. Customers want to snap a selfie and see the result instantly on their phone.
- AI Dominance: 60% of market spending is now going into AI-powered solutions (like Genlook) rather than clunky hardware scanners.
5. The "Cost Barrier" is Falling
Interestingly, the report notes that 48% of retailers still cite "high implementation costs" as a challenge. This stat likely reflects the legacy mindset of "Enterprise AR" which costs thousands to set up.
However, the "New Products Development" section of the report notes a surge in "AI-powered solutions" designed for scalability. This is exactly where Shopify apps come in. Tools like Genlook have smashed this cost barrier, moving the investment from "thousands upfront" to "subscription-based," allowing the other 52% of the market to adopt the tech without breaking the bank.
Summary for Merchants
The data is clear:
- Adoption is high: Your customers expect it.
- Impact is real: Returns go down (40%), sales go up.
- Barrier is low: If you thought it was too expensive, you are looking at old data.
The virtual fitting room isn't the future of e-commerce anymore. In 2025, it's the present.