Fashion in the Age of AI

By: Alyssa Medvedeff

A designer that is passionate about their work transforms an artistic vision into a garment, a spectacle meant to elicit emotion and tell a story. Those that love fashion understand this, seeing the meaning woven into each intentionally placed stitch. But the introduction of artificial intelligence into an industry built on human ingenuity threatens to shift fashion away from this deeply personal process of expression. Fashion has embraced technological innovation in the past, and I am hopeful that AI will become a useful tool within fashion operations, though I hesitate to believe that it can offer the same value when it comes to the design process.

Still, I’m not dismissing AI entirely. It has potential in areas like product development, supply chain management, and consumer marketing. And if used correctly, it can help transform fashion into a more sustainable industry. AI can forecast trends and analyze consumer behavior more accurately than other models which helps brands predict the demand for clothing launches. More precise inventory calculations could lead to an overall decline in overproduction, helping companies create less waste. But, AI might be feeding companies the formula for capital success and when they get greedy, it can have the opposite effect. With improved behavioral analysis models and more efficient supply chain systems, brands may prioritize efficiency and quantity over skillful craftsmanship and quality of launches. A quick product turnaround could intensify environmental harm, despite its potential to mitigate it.

This conversation grows infinitely more complex for the industry's creative side. How can an algorithm simulate the spirited and vibrant designer?

When all designers knew was needle and thread, sewn garments crafted by hand held something special that machines could never replicate. There was a sense of intimacy embedded into every stitch, an essence that can only be drawn from the personal involvement of the creator. These garments were imbued with time spent thinking, planning, and sewing, lots of time spent sewing. With every stitch, an abstract idea turns into something real and personal. There was also a sense of beauty in imperfection, slightly uneven stitches or subtle variations in the tension of fabric. These flaws were not mistakes, but rather a quality of what made the work human. This sort of authenticity could never be replicated.

But then sewing machines entered the fashion scene changing everything, or so we thought. What once took hours of meticulous, often painstaking, effort could be accomplished in a fraction of the time. Sewing machines offered both efficiency and scalability previously very costly and inaccessible. A new era emerged, where fashion became more accessible for the masses. But the sewing machine didn’t entirely erase the artistry of fashion, it just sped up the production process allowing designers more time to experiment on a larger scale. The sewing machine opened up the fashion world in ways that had not been previously possible and gave designers the ability to create more art.

I’ve seen something similar occur in art history. Before the invention of the printing press, art almost exclusively belonged to the elite, hardly, if ever, was it accessible to the majority of regular citizens. Print media changed that. Artists could replicate their work and spread ideas to patrons across physical distance and social class, breaking down barriers that once made art inaccessible. Print media allowed artists to make a living and experiment with a new medium. The sewing machine did something similar for fashion, giving designers the ability to create art for a greater number of people no longer bound by the limitations of time and labor.

https://www.history.com/articles/printing-press

Now we stand at a new precipice of technological revolution, one hundred and seventy-nine years after the first practical sewing machine was patented. Is AI comparable to the sewing machine? In the most obvious sense, no, but AI is pushing the boundaries of efficiency and design exploration on an even grander scale. And like print media, it democratizes fashion. Tasks like generating virtual prototypes and experimenting with fabric simulations gives designers an opportunity to dedicate their time and resources toward innovative ideas. AI can also offer personalized style recommendations to consumers. So, if AI can make fashion more accessible, improve sustainability, and let designers focus on their creativity, what’s the downside?

When AI accelerates the process of prototyping, it could inhibit some of the best artistic breakthroughs. This stage, often overlooked as uncreative only because AI can do it faster, is actually one of the most creative and rewarding moments in design. It’s when ideas take form and the unpredictability of testing something new can lead to brilliance. When AI takes over, you lose the sense of discovery, not to mention, AI lacks true originality, relying on the data it’s trained on.

On the other hand, AI can reshape how we experience shopping and personal style. So many people, whether they know it or not, have been conditioned by marketing to buy things that don’t speak to them. For beginners looking to emerge from these shackles, virtual try-ons offer an ability to explore new styles without ever stepping foot into a fitting room, which can be intimidating when you initially start exploring what you like. AI can also be a personal stylist, helping you discover new uses for items stashed away in your closet or help you understand what to look for in stores based on your personal preferences.

Same article of clothing on two different models

https://zero10.ar/blog/harnessing-generative-ai-for-virtual-try-on

In the end, we can debate whether AI belongs in fashion for hours, but it’s not going anywhere. Really, it’s up to the largest corporations running the industry to balance morals with convenience. Most will probably capitalize on this opportunity, yet it will be the brands that have a strong identity and genuine authenticity that won’t get lost on those that love and appreciate fashion as an art form. Besides, fashion has already been overly commodified by fast-fashion corporations that would so willingly do anything for a quick dime. The best we can do to preserve the integrity of fashion and our personal style is to support the designers that prioritize hand-made artistry and sustainability, but more importantly, seek out the garments that truly embody your identity. And as consumers, we hold more power than we think. Where we choose to spend our money will dictate the future of the industry.