Stop Giving Tech Jobs to Fashion People: Part 2

OP ED: Make Tech Education accessible to Fashion Students and Our Current Workforce!

Leave Fashion Jobs to People Passionate About Fashion and Apparel. Believe it or not, people who are passionate about fashion are still intelligent.

It may come as a surprise, but many often assume that those pursuing an education in fashion and apparel lack intellect. This couldn't be further from the truth.

Just as financial planners aren’t necessarily wealthy, or doctors may lack empathy, intelligence takes many forms. Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences outlines this beautifully, identifying at least eight types, some familiar and others often overlooked.

While fashion may not seem as complex as rocket science (let's ignore the billions of dollars in explosions and the two trapped astronauts for now), it is a $3 trillion industry that demands a multidisciplinary approach and consistent learning opportunities.

Fashion professionals must develop a deeper understanding of technology, business, and consumer behavior to sustain the industry’s growth and evolution.

Student Learning

Last week, I had the privilege of returning to my alma mater, NC State University Wilson's College of Textiles, for two engagements. First, I taught a class on technology for fashion students. While technology may seem intimidating, the hackathon-style experience allowed students to prototype real-life case scenarios and understand the rapid evolution of technology in our industry. The students quickly grasped the concepts of over 20 technologies that could be used anywhere in the supply chain, proving that proficiency in a technology is not necessary to understand best-case scenarios for use cases.

No one ever puts as much emphasis on the design of an oven as they do on the master baker who understands how to use it.

Second, I spoke at the university’s National Retail Federation (NRF) chapter about career development, helping students prepare for the future. NC State students are fortunate to have access to cutting-edge hardware and supply chain technologies, but like many other fashion programs, they lack comprehensive instruction in areas like generative AI, 3D design, Web3, and shifting consumer behavior analysis.

The fashion industry is evolving 10 times faster than education, and institutions need to keep up! Gatekeeping technology is a mistake—it shouldn't be reserved for “nerds.” We all have the ability to solve problems, and fashion is full of billion-dollar challenges that require innovative solutions.

Innovation and technology are integral to the future of fashion. To prepare our workforce for upcoming shifts, we need to teach how to integrate technology responsibly while meeting the needs of consumers.

Upskilling the Existing Workforce

It’s not just about the future workforce—current employees need the same dedication to upskilling. The fashion industry is rapidly adopting technologies like 3D design, Web3, and AI. A 2023 McKinsey report highlights the increasing role of technology in fashion, with more than 50% of executives acknowledging that technology will be a critical enabler of business success in the next few years.

If we don’t provide our employees with the tools and resources to adapt to these changes, we risk stagnating the entire industry. For instance, Nike’s former CEO, John Donahoe, came from a tech background, and his focus on digital transformation created tension with Nike’s traditional retail channels and strained its relationships with wholesale partners. Similarly, Ron Johnson, former Apple retail executive, implemented rapid changes at J.C. Penney that resulted in a 25% drop in same-store sales within a year, ultimately costing the company a $1 billion loss.

Now, these problems aren’t just solvable by using technology, but it’s a good indication that upskilling the current workforce, who hold years of experience and understanding of the industry, is our best bet moving forward.

I’m not saying all outside hires are bad. I’m only speaking to the desire to provide life-long careers for fashion and retail professionals as the industry continues to shift and the use of technology becomes ever more essential.

Link to guided presentation

Fashion is a unique industry with complexities in consumer behavior, trends, and supply chains that require a specialized understanding of the field. Before we look to replace employees from other industries, we must address the gap in education and learning within our own. We should prioritize experiential learning, design thinking, and rapid prototyping as key ways to introduce new concepts and technologies to employees of all ages, as well as the future workforce.

What are the 20 most relevant technologies for fashion to add to one’s vocabulary? See my list below:

• Gen AI
• Predictive AI
• 3D design technology
• Parametric Pattern Grading Technology
• 3D body scanners
• AR
• VR
• Integrated POS Systems
• Body Shape Analysis tools
• Mobile Body Scanning / Image-Based Scanning
• Magic Mirrors
• Data Analytics
• Visual Search
• RFID
• Geo Location Services
• Heat Mapping
• CRM Integration
• User-Generated Content
• Social Commerce
• Humanoid to Coveroid Correspondence

If you're interested in workshops reach out and we will help give you the best tools for tech success!