AI has made its way into a ton of creative industries. You can use it for art, song and text writing, and much more. And it seems like only a matter of time until it finds a place in every industry.
But given the many issues people have rightfully pointed out regarding art and AI, is AI coming to fashion something to anticipate or dread? Is AI in fashion a good thing or one that warrants criticism? Let’s explore.
AI in the Fashion Industry
Already, you can find AI has made its way into the fashion industry as you can use it to predict trends—with certain styles, colors, anything. AI can also help with design generation.
Fashion trends come and go much quicker nowadays than even a decade ago, so turning to AI to predict what’s coming can give a leg up to fashion designers. You can easily test color and pattern combinations and base your next designs on what AI suggests.
AI can make a great personal stylist, too. Many retailers are exploring integrating AI in interactive smart mirrors on shop floors or changing rooms. Mirrors that will allow you to select outfit options and, with the help of AI, see how they fit on your body without putting on anything.
And as much as that sounds like a dream, the question remains, does AI deserve a place in fashion?
AI in Fashion: The Good
AI can benefit the fashion industry in certain aspects; for example, AI can make the process of shopping way easier.
If you can browse clothes, accessories, and everything else you need, without having to look around a store and try on anything physically, it’s a game changer. Plus, it will take much less time and energy.
And, if you look to the future and hope for the best, AI can help streamline shopping even more. For example, you can fill a store with items of one sample size and keep it there for reference. You won’t sell the things that are physically in the store but hold onto them, so shoppers can have something to look at and feel.
With the help of smart mirrors and AI, shoppers can try everything available at the location, see how they like it, and order it for pickup or delivery. That way, you don’t fill the store with a mountain of the same items in different sizes and colors. This way shoppers don’t get overwhelmed browsing and, what’s more, the method is size-inclusive.
Everyone can walk into a store, and once they find something they like, order it in their size. And if we employ wishful thinking, maybe the items will get produced only after they’ve been ordered. That way, you’ll avoid overproduction, won’t add to landfills, and help the planet a bit in the fight against climate change.
Yes, you might have to wait for your item anywhere between a few days to weeks or even months. But it’s ethical consumption in a capitalist society. Plus, the likelihood of you returning the item is less since you already know how it looks on you, and the AI has ordered the right size for you.
It’s also beneficial for garment companies as it allows them not to waste money stocking every shop they sell at in all available sizes and colors for every item. And instead, have them shipped out once someone orders in a particular size, style, and color.
Even if the items are already made and simply stored elsewhere, like a warehouse, it still helps streamline the shopping process. So, looking at AI in that light, it could revolutionize the entire fashion industry.
AI in Fashion: The Bad
Modeling is among the areas in fashion with which the public tends to have many problems, even today after supposed years of progress. Among those issues is diversity.
There has been an outcry for diversity in modeling for a long time. People want to see diverse skin tones, shapes, sizes, and hair types. And not only on a runway.
Online shopping is a straightforward process, but if you wish to see how a garment or accessory fits, you’re limited to seeing it only on the model shown on the website you’re visiting. If that model differs from you, you must guess how the item would suit you.
And here’s where diversity would improve the fashion industry. If AI easily and quickly generates all manner of models, brands can utilize considerably more people to showcase items. So, presumably, you’ll be more likely to find models similar to you.
When you see yourself in the model, you’re more likely to buy, so it does make sense why brands are starting to turn to AI to generate more diverse and inclusive models.
But many have expressed opinions that this is a way for companies to make their lives easier while saving money and face. After all, instead of hiring actual people and using them to help with diversity, they’re using AI for computer-generated inclusivity.
Why hire and deal with people when you can buy AI-generated images of the people you would have otherwise used? And herein lies the controversy…
AI in Fashion: The Controversy
Though AI-generated models may sound grand in theory, the public seems to disagree about their practicality. AI models are branded as a tool to improve inclusivity and diversity, but it doesn’t showcase actual people.
You’re showcasing fictional individuals and don’t know who’s profiting from their image. So, while you believe you’re supporting diversity or inclusivity by showcasing a specific type of person, in the end, you don’t know who’s profiting off the AI model you decided to use. So is this really the way forward?
Levi’s AI Ad
Levi’s found itself in hot water after including an AI model in one of its ad campaigns. The company turned to LaLaLand.ai—a digital studio that creates customized AI models—and settled on using AI to model its clothes.
Levi’s was quick to point out that it will still utilize real people, too. And AI-generated models will only add to its roster and showcase a better representation of sizes, skin tones, and ages. But the brand won’t invest in real human models to achieve that. Instead, it’d prefer to pay for AI to render them out.
Sinead Bovell and AI
Sinead Bovell is a model who’s consistently spoken about AI making its way into our lives. AI is used in music production, it impacts healthcare and the game industry by introducing AI-generated games, you can create art with AI, and so much more. Given she’s a model, she’s shared a particular interest in AI in the fashion industry.
And her opinions have been featured on talk shows, publications, and more. She believes that although AI has certain benefits, the negatives outweigh the positives.
For one, AI may push her and other models out of the industry. Sure, AI can be good for models if they agree to license their image, for example. That way, they can work at multiple places at the same time.
But it’s not certain whether AI-generating services would choose to pay for licensing images or just create new faces.
Is AI the Way Forward for Fashion?
As with most things, there’s yet to be a clear answer. AI can undoubtedly help the fashion industry move forward and do better. But, sadly, in some aspects, it can do that at the expense of real people. And that itself leads to the question, will this be the new normal?
Are we to expect AI to become a part of our profession only to then push us out? Should we prepare to get replaced by AI? And how do you survive in an AI-forward space? Models partaking in the fashion industry are rushing to answer these questions for themselves today, but what about tomorrow?