What is the Role of AI in the Fashion Sphere?

Artificial Intelligence is something that is consistently discussed within the media, from advancements to the ethical issues surrounding the theft of creations or the risk of job losses. ??

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The Guardian quotes Harry Woodgate (award winning illustrator and author), who states, ‘’These programs rely entirely on the pirated intellectual property of countless artists, photographers, illustrators, and other rights holders.” From this, it's not hard to see why so many are apprehensive about the future of AI and why this apprehension can translate to the fashion industry. ?

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The impact of AI on the fashion sphere is relevant to several areas, from selling to wearing clothes. In October 2023, Adobe changed the game with their animated dress. It is named ‘Project Primrose’ which utilises generative AI and demonstrates the use of ‘flexible textile display’. This allows the wearer to have programmable images placed on a garment allowing for different patterns and effects to be shown due to the materials acting as ‘miniature screens.’ Will the Generative AI continue to improve with its designs? Or will the complexity of designing with the material be off-putting to designers? ?

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The impact of AI has a large effect on consumers, influencing their decisions over what to buy. Google has recently released a tool that allows shoppers to experience how an item will fit on customers of different sizes (Anthropologie, H&M, and Loft) surely useful for the 42% of customers buying on-line (Statista). In 2020, statista.com also reported that in the UK, over half the population bought shoes, clothing, or accessories online, and while the pandemic had a large impact on this it does show the importance of making the on-line experience as accessible as possible. While the Google tool is available only in the US, it will be interesting to see how this affects spending habits closer to home. ??

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There are also new tools such as NewArc.ai, which creates 3D images of sketches in varying colours and backgrounds, and while this does raise some concern, Business of Fashion report that this will not affect the fashion creatives, but instead create more love for the craft. At the beginning of 2023, Forbes discussed the use of AI in fashion and states that there is a risk of people losing creativity due to the reliance on the technology. Only time will tell whether this introduction of AI into fashion will create more love or raise concern. Where are your thoughts?