Is AI reshaping the fashion industry?
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Artificial intelligence is making its mark on one industry after another, and fashion businesses are not exempt. “From design to marketing and sales, AI is affecting everything and offering businesses new opportunities to streamline their operations and reach new heights,” Forbes reports. While some people feel “AI can’t match human originality,” as Asian Scientist Magazine wrote, some fashion executives are eager to test the bounds. The introduction of AI raises so many questions: How might the technology be helpful to fashion designers? What are the risks? Most importantly, what does this mean for the future of fashion?
How could AI be used in fashion?
Using artificial intelligence in fashion may sound outlandish to the average consumer, but for developers and those in the industry, it’s easy to see how AI could take loads of work off their shoulders. Just as scientists are using AI to detect cancer mutations, fashion designers and businesspeople are finding their own creative ways to use the same technology. “One of the biggest impacts of AI in fashion is in the area of supply chain management,” Forbes says. AI models can be “trained by historical inventory levels and sales performance to predict future sales, businesses can make more informed decisions about what to stock and when.” That means there could be less waste, happier customers, and higher profits.
WGSN Releases Report on the Future Influencers of Fashion
Who dictates fashion? Magazines, celebrities, people on the street? In the future that’s just around the corner it may very well be robots who could reign as the greatest fashion dictators of all time.
WGSN has released a new report entitled “Multidimensional Tech for Fashion,” which examines the integration of multidimensional technologies in fashion and how they are “rapidly evolving and cross-pollinating, progressing toward a multi-layered future.” Included in the 14-page study by the trend-forecasting company is the role of AI, the controversial computer intelligence that is poised to make its presence felt in every aspect of life.
“Despite being notoriously slow in adopting advancements, the industry is now showing signs of major progression,” write the report’s authors. “Technology is viewed as an ally with the potential to solve systemic industry pain points such as overproduction, waste, environmental pollution and worker exploitation.”
But beyond production enhancements, the most interesting albeit still largely speculative aspects of the report involve what it calls generative AI fashion, digital reality fashion and robotic wear.
Circular Solutions For Transforming The PET/Polyester Ecosystem
Eastman’s Kingsport, Tennessee, manufacturing sites produces a broad range of specialty and … [+] sustainable materials.
Eastman
Eastman is a leader in creating a circular economy to address the world’s plastic waste crisis in the advanced materials industry. In partnership with Systemiq, Eastman just released a report outlining six priority actions needed to transform the PET/polyester system in Europe, which include reversing the high-consumption business models in fast fashion.
I had a chance to connect with Eastman’s Sandeep Bangaru, Vice President of Circular Platforms, and one of the steering team members for the report. Sandeep has been at Eastman for ten years where he leads a team that works every day to revolutionize recycling and transform the future of plastic waste.
Our conversation comes at a critical time as the industry grapples with finding scalable, innovative solutions to address the global plastics crisis and climate change, on the main stage at this Climate Week at the United Nations General Assembly.
During our conversation, Sandeep provides a deep dive into the findings within the report and technological solutions that are making great strides in promoting a circular economy.
Christopher Marquis: You recently worked with Systemiq, a well known B Corp, on a report that says systemic changes to the plastics industry could triple the recycling rate of PET/polyester to 67% in Europe.
What are the immediate first steps leaders must take?
Sandeep Bangaru, Eastman’s Vice President of Circular Platforms,