Matthew Williamson in Net-a-Porter Instagram takeover for #matthewmapped campaign

Matthew Williamson is guest posting on Net-a-Porter’s Instagram this week in a campaign that teases his own arrival on the social platform.

The London-based designer is sharing images of his favourite places from around the world on Net-a-Porter’s account twice daily for seven days. Each is tagged with #matthewmapped and the relevant location, therefore curating a geographic story of his travels that will result in a ‘Matthew Map’; an image that showcases all the shots together in one place.

“All week we will be sharing photos of [Matthew’s] inspirational travel destinations on our Instagram. Get inspired!” reads the intro post from Net-a-Porter.

“Follow me around the world in 7 days! MW x,” quotes the copy in the first shot from Matthew – one of him in Mauritius. Others so far have also come from Goa, Lake Tahoe, Venice and the Nevada Desert.

The initiative is being pushed across Net-a-Porter’s social platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest and its blog, Fashion Fix. There are also posts showing relevant product from Matthew Williamson, such as an ombré sweater inspired by the sunset hues from the Nevada desert snap (as below).

It all leads to Matthew launching his own Instagram account from April 1. This will be run by the designer himself and include everything from shots of his creative inspiration to insight into his daily life (the profile picture for his account is shown at the bottom).

Rosanna Falconer, head of digital at Matthew Williamson, said: “We both felt it was crucial Matthew was posting his own visual story and personal photo diary. His aim is to encapsulate our core brand DNA, be it about colour or travel, art, nature, or interiors. He’ll share his sketching and his styling when he’s in the studio, as well as shots when he’s out and about with friends.”

The new feed will also see images shared from the brand’s #MatthewMagnified and #OhMW campaigns – the former stitching together different shots that zoom in to the details of collection pieces, and the latter featuring fans themselves wearing Matthew Williamson. “They have both proved so popular on Facebook and Twitter, and I always find fans taking the images from those platforms to Instagram on their own accounts, so it’s an obvious fit.” Falconer added.

Matthew can be followed via @matthewwilliamson on Instagram from April 1.

Asos introduces interactive mobile mag

Asos has launched an interactive weekly magazine designed especially for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Fashion Up, as it’s called, is a free app released every Monday featuring information on the latest fashion trends, inspiration from celebrity and street star styles, and how-to guides for nail art, make-up and hair. Created by the in-house team behind the e-tailer’s print magazine, it also incorporates click-to-shop technology.

“Available globally, Fashion Up is intuitive, easily digested and image based, meaning you can consume the weekly edition on the move,” said Duncan Edwards, editorial director of Asos Magazine.

The first issue, released yesterday, includes a beauty editorial from WAH Nails, and an exclusive acoustic performance from indie band Two Door Cinema Club.

An Android version will release later in the year. See more in the video below:

Asos partners with Aurasma on scan to shop app

Asos is making its print magazine shoppable straight from the page, thanks to a new partnership with augmented reality technology company Aurasma.

The online retailer has introduced a “Scan to Shop” app that will enable the mag’s 450,000 readers to bring any one of 50 pages to video life via their smartphones, and then click to buy immediately from the Asos mobile site.

Asos has also incorporated a digital treasure hunt in the magazine, with hidden symbols leading to exclusive offers when unlocked.

Duncan Edwards of Asos Magazine, said: “We know our readers love fashion and their mobiles and this app unites the two. Our readers look forward to receiving the magazine in the post, but they also want the convenience and immediacy of shopping via their phones. Our new “Scan to Shop” app uses Aurasma to bring the two experiences – reading the magazine and shopping online – together seamlessly.”

To use the feature, readers must just download the Scan to Shop app from the App Store or Google Play.

The initiative sees Asos added to a rapidly growing list of fashion brands using Aurasma’s innovative image-recognition technology, included among them Net-a-Porter, Dunhill, Debenhams and most recently eBay.

Digital snippets: Grazia, Barbour, Dolce & Gabbana make-up, Diesel, Honestby.com

Some more great stories from around the web surrounding all things fashion and digital over the past week:

 

• UK Grazia magazine teases its Fashion Issue Live documentary series ahead of London Fashion Week (as above), crowdsources content [Grazia Daily]

• Barbour ups spend on search ads to fight fakes [Marketing]

• Behind-the-scenes on the Felicity Jones for Dolce & Gabbana Make-up shoot [Beauty High]

• Diesel partners with 5InchandUp blogger, Sandra Hagelstam [Business Insider]

• Honestby.com: a fashion e-tail revolution? Vanessa Friedman certainly thinks so [Material World]

• Fashion tech boom: why it’s happening and how start-ups get funded [Fashionista]