April 2024
Exciting News from IG-Fashion Erasmus
Project!
Fashion education takes a jump forward with the latest updates from the IG-Fashion Erasmus project! During a recent meeting in Athens, hosted by Militos Consulting, the team finalized the training content program for their upcoming platform. This platform aims to equip fashion enthusiasts with cutting-edge knowledge and skills.
But that’s not all! Partners are also working on a Chatbot tailored for both beginners and professionals in the fashion sector. This innovative tool will offer personalized guidance, ensuring users access the most relevant content for their needs.
Stay tuned as IG-Fashion continues to innovate in fashion education!
April 2024
AI’s Impact on Fashion: London Fashion Week
The fusion of artificial intelligence (AI) with the fashion industry is reshaping the landscape, challenging perceptions, and unlocking new opportunities. Amid widespread concerns about job displacement and creative erosion, London Fashion Week’s 40th-anniversary edition stands as a testament to AI’s transformative potential.
Matthew Drinkwater, leading the charge at the London College of Fashion’s Innovation Agency, champions AI as a “hugely beneficial tool” for creativity and inclusivity. AI’s democratizing effect is breaking down barriers, offering avenues for aspiring talents from diverse backgrounds to enter an industry long seen as elitist and exclusive.
AI isn’t just a catalyst for creativity; it’s a sustainability game-changer. Major brands like Heliot Emil, Zara, and H&M are leveraging AI to optimize supply chains, curbing overstock and waste. By accurately predicting demand and streamlining production processes, AI fosters a more environmentally conscious approach to fashion.
In the design sphere, AI’s influence is profound. From generating clothing designs based on typed prompts to visualizing materials and patterns, AI empowers designers to explore novel ideas and make informed decisions swiftly. The once arduous task of sourcing data for design inspiration has been streamlined, with generative AI effortlessly producing images at the click of a button.
Financially, the implications are significant. McKinsey forecasts a substantial boost to operating profits within the fashion and luxury sectors, courtesy of generative AI’s ability to create compelling visuals, text, and audio from basic human inputs. Such innovations hold the promise of revolutionizing marketing, design, and customer engagement strategies.
Looking ahead, AI’s role in fashion is poised to expand further. Predictive analytics for trend forecasting and virtual try-ons are just the tip of the iceberg. As AI technologies continue to evolve, the fashion industry stands on the cusp of unprecedented innovation, efficiency, and sustainability.
In a world where creativity and accessibility converge, AI emerges as a driving force, reshaping fashion for the better. As we celebrate four decades of London Fashion Week, it’s clear that AI isn’t just a trend; it’s a transformative wave shaping the future of fashion.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2024/feb/08/ai-london-fashion-week
March 2024
On February 19, 2024, “The Technological-Professional Supply Chain” national conference organized by CONFAO took place at Villa Altieri, Rome. On that occasion, the participants were informed about the progress of the IG-Fashion ERASMUS + project.
CONFAO is a partner in the Erasmus+ KA2 project, IG-Fashion: Towards an Intelligent and Green approach in VET Fashion Design, coordinated by CNPCD (Romania), together with four other partners, PGO and SCIAT (Bulgaria), Militos (Greece) and SOML (Netherlands). The project is in its second year of activity. The partners have prepared a Compendium with the results of interviews with VET teachers and students, and fashion entrepreneurs on AI applications. They have also started working on the next steps, arranging material on good sustainability practices in the fashion industry to implement an online training provision for teachers, students, and professionals in the fashion sector. The training provision will be then complemented by an AI chatbot; an intelligent assistant to facilitate interaction with the core material.
February 2024
As Paris Fashion Week concluded, France moved closer to imposing a tax on fast fashion, with proposals suggesting fines for brands contributing heavily to environmental damage. The French Environment Minister, after consultations with stakeholders, aims to reduce the ecological footprint of the fashion industry by targeting fast fashion brands with fines, enhancing consumer information, and limiting advertising. This initiative includes a public consultation on environmental labeling and a campaign against fast fashion, demonstrating France’s commitment to sustainable practices in fashion.
In an ambitious stride towards sustainability, France proposes a 5-euro tax on each fast fashion item sold. Championed by MP Antoine Marques and the Horizons Group, the tax aims to curb the environmental and social repercussions of fast fashion giants like SHEIN. This initiative seeks to encourage local production and sustainable practices. With concerns about the tax’s effectiveness and its ability to foster significant change, the discussion extends to a broader call for legislative actions, such as the Corporate Sustainable Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), to ensure a more responsible fashion industry. This tax represents a pivotal moment for sustainable fashion, inviting a reevaluation of production practices across Europe.
January 2024
At the end of 2023, we worked a lot on creating an educational program and helpful learning materials for those of us who are focused on intelligent and green approaches in vocational education and training in the fashion industry. We’ve got to some inspiring topics and problems, that keep us on the path that intelligent and green thinking in the fashion industry are practical and possible. Check out more in our 4th Newsletter (downloadable below)
January 2024
The fashion industry faces a critical sustainability challenge: the broken cotton supply chain. With environmental and ethical concerns at their core, industry leaders are now confronted with a pivotal question—will they commit to transformative changes to mend the system? This crisis not only impacts the planet but also the very fabric of ethical labor practices and resource conservation. As the demand for transparency and sustainability grows, the call for a unified effort to repair the cotton supply chain has never been more urgent.
The sustainability of the cotton supply chain has come under scrutiny, with major fashion brands being called on to address and repair their systemic flaws. Environmental degradation, unethical labor practices, and the inefficient use of resources are pressing issues. The industry faces a turning point: to continue with business as usual or to innovate and implement sustainable practices that respect both people and the planet. This call to action is not just about rethinking materials but also about transforming the entire lifecycle of fashion products to ensure a viable future for the industry and the environment alike.
December 2023
The Future of Fashion: Insights from McKinsey’s 2024 Report
The McKinsey 2024 State of Fashion Report unveils transformative trends shaping the fashion industry. This year, sustainability and digital innovation take center stage, with brands adopting eco-friendly practices and leveraging technologies like AR and VR to enhance customer experiences.
Inclusivity in fashion continues to evolve, with an emphasis on diverse representations and corporate cultures. The luxury segment is set to focus on personalization and bespoke experiences, catering to a market that values uniqueness. A notable highlight is the advent of futuristic materials and smart textiles, indicative of a shift towards more environmentally conscious and technologically advanced fashion solutions.
The 2024 State of Fashion Report by McKinsey is not just a forecast of trends; it’s a roadmap for a more sustainable, inclusive, and technologically advanced fashion industry. As we step into the future, the fashion world is set to become more exciting, responsible, and inclusive than ever.
Read here the full publication.
November 2023
Our 2nd transnational meeting hosted by the Connect College (SOML), in Echt, in the Netherlands took place on the 11th and 12th of October 2023. We discussed all that has been done so far, focusing on the development of a Compendium on the Application and Impact of AI in the Fashion Industry; one of our main outputs which will guide our future steps. Check out more in our 3rd Newsletter (downloadable below)
October 2023
AI in the fashion industry
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the fashion industry, presenting a host of transformative opportunities and some pressing challenges. AI is revolutionizing supply chain management by leveraging historical data to predict sales, enabling businesses to optimize stock levels and minimize waste.
In marketing, AI-powered tools empower fashion enterprises to refine strategies, target audiences, and enhance advertising efficacy, thereby tapping into new markets and boosting sales. Moreover, AI-driven design processes are generating trend-driven creations that resonate with target demographics, reducing the risk of unsold inventory.
However, there are concerns about potential job displacement and a risk of homogenization in the industry due to AI’s influence. Striking a balance between harnessing AI’s potential and maintaining human creativity and diversity remains critical. Despite these challenges, the fashion industry is embracing AI as a powerful tool for growth and operational efficiency, underscoring the nuanced relationship between AI and fashion. With conscientious implementation, businesses can leverage AI to elevate their performance and bottom line.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2023/02/21/artificial-intelligence-in-fashion/
September 2023
Integration of Generative AI in business models
Generative AI and foundational models are ushering in a new era of AI, elevating assistive technology, expediting application development, and empowering non-technical users. OpenAI’s ChatGPT, a generative AI language model, exemplifies this transformative potential. Its ability to generate context in McKinsey & Company’s style underscores the impact of generative AI on businesses.
This technology, born from foundation models trained on extensive and diverse datasets, showcases impressive versatility, enabling tasks from content creation to coding. Generative AI bridges human interaction and introduces a level of creativity previously reserved for humans. Its applications span marketing, operations, IT, risk, and R&D, promising substantial efficiency gains.
Despite its promise, executives should approach generative AI with caution, acknowledging challenges such as accuracy issues, content filters, biases, and IP concerns. As companies contemplate adoption, cross-functional teams must assess
potential impacts, establish policies, and identify use cases, while fostering an environment of responsible innovation. Generative AI holds immense potential, but vigilant consideration of its early-stage risks is imperative for its successful integration into business operations.
September 2023
Uses of AI in the Fashion industry
Generative AI is poised to revolutionize the fashion industry, offering a blend of creative direction and the power of artificial intelligence. OpenAI’s ChatGPT is a notable example of consumer-friendly generative AI, capable of creating various types of content including text, images, audio, and more. This technology, driven by foundation models like GPT-3.5 and DALL-E, is set to bring about substantial changes in fashion.
In the next three to five years, generative AI could contribute up to $275 billion to the profits of the apparel, fashion, and luxury sectors. From product innovation to marketing and customer experience, generative AI is finding applications across the fashion value chain.
Use Cases for Generative AI in Fashion:
- Product Development and Innovation
- Transforming sketches and descriptions into high-fidelity designs.
- Enhancing product ideation with creative options generated by AI.
- Customizing products based on individual consumer preferences.
- Supply Chain and Logistics
- Assisting in supplier negotiations through research compilation.
- Enhancing automation in warehouse operations with real-time analytics.
- Marketing
- Predicting and identifying trends for targeted marketing.
- Automating consumer segmentation for tailored initiatives.
- Digital Commerce and Consumer Experience
- Structuring and generating sales descriptions based on successful posts.
- Personalizing online consumer interactions and offers.
- Store Operations
- Optimizing store layout through generated plans.
- Enhancing in-store labor efficiency through real-time video data.
- Organization and Support Functions
- Coaching sales associates for successful client relationships.
- Enhancing in-store labor efficiency through real-time video data.
July 2023
Our first activities into the project are going strong. We carried out both secondary and primary research with two goals: Identifying sustainability practices in the fashion industry in Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, and Romania as they relate to European Union regulations for a green sector, and getting directly in touch with 60 fashion industry professionals across project countries to explore their thoughts, challenges, needs and expectations regarding the inclusion of artificial intelligence and relevant tools like chatbots in their daily processes. Next step, approaching the training and education community in fashion VET, to acquire their feedback! For more on this and our upcoming activities, you can download and read our 2nd Newsletter clicking on the respective language below.
March 2023
Rolling into the first activities of IG-Fashion
Our first face-to-face meeting took place in Timisoara, Romania on the 2nd and 3rd of February 2023. The meeting was hosted by the IG – Fashion coordinator CENTRUL NATIONAL PENTRU PRODUCTIE SI CONSUM DURABILE (CNPCD). First off, it was about a detailed “walk-through” of what is ahead of us in terms of activities and concrete results. We zoomed in right into our first tasks, which involve research activities (primary and secondary research), approaching the fashion sector in terms of both the professionals in the sector, as well as educators, trainers, students, acquiring all the necessary information, opinions, and preferences, that will eventually lead us to the development of our training provisions.
You can download and read our 1st Newsletter clicking on the respective language below.