The words «artificial intelligence» conjure up mental images of tech, numbers, and a sci-fi future that’s wildly different from our own. Until recently, the notion of AI has been mostly restricted to the tech space.
However, in the last few years, AI has exploded into the public sector, disrupting just about every industry and completely changing the trajectory of society in unprecedented ways. Its power is so strong that it’s extended into areas we never dreamed were possible, including the fashion world.
If you told us 15 years ago that AI would be disrupting the fashion ecosystem as we know it, we’d never have believed you. However, while still in its early days, it’s already become clear that AI is going to change fashion as we know it and lead us into an era that we never dreamed possible.
Here are some key ways that AI’s implementation is transforming the fashion industry, and how this might affect how we view and consume fashion in the near future.
AI and the Design Process
A key way that AI is revolutionizing the fashion industry is by assisting with the design process. AI has the capability to generate just about any type of image when correctly prompted. This means that designers can conceptualize garments digitally to change fit, length, color, or silhouette in a heartbeat, without needing to remake expensive samples. Additionally, AI has the power to create unique patterns and fabrics, pushing fashion into a new space and creating new aesthetics.
The power that generative AI has within the fashion industry is immense. In fact, consulting firm McKinsey recently predicted that generative AI could add anywhere from $150bn to $275bn to the luxury and fashion industry in the next three to five years. The way that our favorite designers and brands design their clothes will drastically change over the coming decade, all thanks to AI.
AI and Editorial Photography
While print media might be on the decline, social media is rising exponentially, meaning that brand campaigns and fashion photography are still highly relevant.
The power of generative AI means that just about any visual concept can be brought to life, allowing brands to have increased creativity when it comes to creating new concepts for their digital and print media. AI can touch up, enhance, and even create whole photographs in the blink of an eye.
This is a relatively new area of fashion in which AI is taking hold, however, we’ve seen a large amount of growth. Powerful AI tools such as Portrait Pal and PixelPose have emerged, which allow users to upload several images for an AI-generated headshot of themselves to be created with an uncanny likeness.
Who knows? Perhaps fashion technology like this will change how models are used within editorial shoots. Or you might have seen AI influencer Miquela, who’s modeled for various fashion houses and has amassed over two million followers on Instagram.
The options are truly endless when it comes to editorial photography and AI, and it will remain an exciting space to watch in the coming years.
AI and Trend Prediction
Another useful way that AI is disrupting the fashion industry is by allowing brands and clothing companies to engage in more accurate trend forecasting. Fashion houses are utilizing AI technology that combs through millions of photos, clothing items, social media posts, and magazine articles to figure out consumer preferences and forecast what the next trend might be.
This information is then passed on to designers and marketing teams, who then use it to make decisions about upcoming collections and designs, allowing them to stay in the know of what the consumers want, thus increasing the chances that their products sell.
Trend forecasting used to be an arduous and time-consuming task, requiring company employees to comb through millions of pictures and posts, and conduct consumer research themselves.
Now, with the power of AI, this entire process is refined and streamlined so that the focus can shift to creating the product rather than trying to keep up with trends. It also allows brands to stay ahead and even create trends, giving them high visibility and relevancy in the cutthroat fashion industry.
The prospect that the next trend could be discovered by AI is an exciting one, and is something that will revolutionize how the industry creates new concepts.
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AI and Fashion Consumption
Finally, AI can have a direct impact on you as an everyday fashion consumer. It’s no secret that brick-and-mortar stores are being replaced by online shopping, however, this doesn’t come without its issues.
One of the biggest problems online shoppers face is figuring out whether clothing will actually fit them as they don’t get the opportunity to try items on in person. If an item doesn’t look or fit right, then the customer has to return the clothes, which can be a hassle.
However, new AI technology is being developed to help counteract this issue. For example, the new virtual shopping feature from Google takes an item of clothing and allows users to see what it would look like on a range of body types and skin tones. From the draping, fit, and overall look of the garment, AI can let customers see what the piece might look like on them by trying it on a virtual model who has a similar body type.
This is a revolutionary technology that will change the way we shop as it solves one of the biggest gripes consumers have with online shopping and allows more accurate purchases to be made.
The Bottom Line
AI is a powerful tool that’s making exciting changes in the fashion industry. From the way clothes are designed, bought, and marketed, AI is steering the fashion world in an exciting new direction that puts consumers first and creates space for new and innovative ideas to develop. The best part is that AI in the fashion industry is still in its infancy, meaning we can expect a whole host of new and exciting changes to come soon.
