If you’ve ever tried to describe a material in words – “It’s like a soft grey wool with a herringbone pattern, kind of mid-century but not too heavy…” you know how difficult it can be to translate visual inspiration into searchable product results.
That’s why image-based product search is becoming a game-changer.
What is image-based product search?
Image-based search enables users to upload a photo and find visually similar products in a database. It utilises computer vision and machine learning to analyse patterns, colours, textures, and shapes within the image, and then matches those visual features with product data.
In other words, you don’t need the product name or exact terms. The system “reads” the image and returns relevant options, even from large distributor catalogues, solving the common challenge of how to search distributor catalogue content effectively.
This kind of technology is already common in consumer shopping. But in industries like interior design, architecture, and material sourcing, it opens up entirely new ways of working, powered by contextual search and the growing use of the AI product finder.
What does image-based search do?
1. Translates visual ideas into product matches
Designers and specifiers often start with visual references – Pinterest boards, moodboards, and photography from past projects. Image-based search allows them to go from “I like this look” to “Here’s a matching product” without the friction of guesswork.
2. Eliminates the need for perfect keywords
Traditional search relies on typing the right combination of words. But when you’re unsure whether something counts as tweed, bouclé, or woven polyblend, it’s easy to get stuck. Image search skips that barrier entirely.
3. Works across materials and categories
While it’s especially powerful for textiles and surfaces, image-based search can also apply to tiles, wood finishes, and more, anywhere visual similarity is important.
4. Improves discovery
Sometimes a user doesn’t know exactly what they’re looking for, but they know what they like. Visual search supports exploration, helping users discover new products based on feel, tone, and aesthetic, not just specs.
5. Speeds up specification
Faster search means faster decisions. Architects, designers, and procurement teams can find the right product in fewer steps, reducing time lost to email threads, manual searching, or flipping through static catalogues.
Why it matters
In an industry where visuals drive decisions, the ability to search by image bridges the gap between creative intent and technical specification. It makes sourcing more intuitive, more efficient, and ultimately more aligned with how designers think.
Inspiration, мatched
If you’re a supplier with a visually rich catalogue – fabrics, surfaces, finishes, or textures, enabling image-based search on your own website can transform how clients interact with your products.
SearchTech by Stylib is built to do exactly that. It integrates seamlessly into your site and allows users to upload an image to instantly discover visually similar products from your catalogue.
It’s a smart, visual AI product finder, designed for architecture, interior design, and material sourcing.
With visual search built into your website, clients can upload a reference image- a texture, colour, or product photo and instantly see the most visually similar items from your catalogue. It’s a faster, more intuitive way for architects and designers to explore your range without relying on perfect keywords.
SearchTech understands what people mean, not just what they type. Whether a user searches for “warm-toned outdoor tile” or “eco-certified wall panel,” the system interprets intent and delivers accurate, relevant results, even when product titles or tags don’t match exactly.
SearchTech integrates directly into your site, using your existing product data. There’s no need for redirects or external logins, just a fast, branded search experience that keeps users on your site, engaged, and closer to specifying your products.
