The Retailer That’s Obsessed With AI

The Retailer That’s Obsessed With AI

From The Business of Fashion Podcast by The Business of Fashion

April 1, 2026 · 22 min

About this episode

The episode discusses Revolve's shift towards AI in retail and its implications for the fashion industry.

For years, Revolve was fashion retail’s byword for influencer marketing, particularly around its over-the-top Coachella event. But as the Instagram aesthetic matures and the cost of human-led marketing rises, the company is pivoting. The new mandate? To become as much an AI powerhouse as it is a party-hosting fashion giant.  In a recent conversation with Retail Editor Cathaleen Chen, Revolve founders Michael Mente and Mike Karanikolas argued that AI isn't just a buzzword for the board; it’s the engine that will sustain their multi-billion dollar dominance. Chen joined The Debrief to talk about how Revolve is pushing the limits of how AI can be used in retail, and whether its strategy is working.  Key Insights: Revolve was founded by software engineers who viewed fashion as an e-commerce "white space,” setting it apart from rivals that invested in new technologies only after establishing themselves in the marketplace. "While Revolve looks like a Shopbop or a Net-a-Porter... Revolve is actually built like a data science company." said retail editor Cathaleen Chen. Revolve differentiates itself by building its own tools where possible, rather than buying off-the-shelf…

People in this episode

Guest: Cathaleen Chen

Topics covered

  • AI in retail
  • influencer marketing
  • e-commerce
  • fashion technology
  • data science

Keywords

  • Revolve
  • AI
  • influencer marketing
  • e-commerce
  • data science
  • fashion retail
  • party dress

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Revolve, Shopbop, Net-a-Porter

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