AI is revolutionizing the fashion industry, but it will never replace the original creativity of designers, says Calvin Wong, the director of a groundbreaking project. Wong has developed AiDA (Interactive Fashion Design Assistant), which is the world’s first designer-led artificial intelligence system. This system uses image recognition technology to accelerate the design process from initial sketch to runway.
Designers can upload their fabric prints, patterns, color tones, and sketches into AiDA. The AI system then recognizes these design elements and generates proposals for designers to refine and modify their original designs. AiDA’s strength lies in its ability to present every possible combination for designers to consider, something that was previously impossible in traditional design processes.
In December, an exhibition at Hong Kong’s M Museum showcased collections by 14 designers created using AiDA. However, Wong emphasizes that the purpose of this tool is not to take over designers’ work or creativity but rather to facilitate inspiration for them. He believes that preserving the original creativity of designers is crucial.
The Artificial Intelligence in Design Laboratory (AidLab), directed by Wong and based on a collaboration between Britain’s Royal College of Art (RCA) and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, aims to explore AI’s transformative impact on various aspects of fashion.
Naren Barfield, vice-chancellor of RCA, predicts that AI will have an enormous impact on all stages of fashion production – from ideation and conception to prototyping, manufacturing, distribution, and recycling. Personalization is already being used to enhance the customer experience through better product recommendations and more effective searches.
Apart from AiDA, AidLab has other projects on display as well. One such project is Neo Couture which seeks to digitally preserve couturiers’ specialized skills and techniques using advanced technologies. Another project focuses on increasing sustainability in fashion by reducing clothing waste ending up in landfills each year.
One notable project called AI Loupe utilizes AI technology to help designers overcome the challenges of using dead fabrics. Designers can photograph fabric scraps and use AI Loupe to obtain missing details and assess their suitability for their designs.
The future of AI in fashion design, however, remains uncertain. Although some designers have used AI image generators to create collections, legal issues surrounding intellectual property rights may hinder the adoption of AI-generated clothing on runways.
Rebecca Lewin, senior curator at the Design Museum in London, suggests that regulating AI-designed fashion will require significant work. Naren Barfield believes that test cases and legislation will eventually resolve these issues.
Barfield acknowledges that massive investments in necessary infrastructure are currently holding companies back from fully embracing AI. However, once those barriers are overcome, companies can benefit from reduced material waste and increased productivity.
Addressing concerns about AI replacing human creativity, Barfield asserts that the key lies in who controls decision-making. While a computer using genetic algorithms can generate thousands of different styles within a short time frame, it is crucial for designers to remain in control of the process. AI can greatly speed up the design process without making decisions for designers.
It is widely disclosed that (source), while AI is transforming the fashion industry, it cannot replace the originality and creativity of fashion designers. Wong’s AiDA system exemplifies how AI can assist designers by offering countless possibilities for refinement and modification. As technology continues to evolve, specialized tools like AiDA will continue to revolutionize various aspects of fashion production. The future of AI-generated clothing on runways may face legal challenges but could be resolved through test cases and legislation. Entirely, as long as designers maintain control over decision-making processes, AI has enormous potential to enhance creativity and efficiency in fashion design.
