Weaving tradition and technology: AI’s role in reshaping fashion in Asia

Asia's fashion creatives stand poised to flourish leveraging artificial intelligence. While AI has already begun to revolutionise aspects like trend forecasting, personalised recommendations, and supply chain efficiency, its potential within the creative heart of the industry — design itself — remains largely untapped. Some might fear AI replacing human artistry, but many see it as a powerful tool to augment creativity, allowing designers to explore new possibilities and push boundaries. This presents a unique opportunity for Asia's culturally-rich fashion scene to embrace AI and unlock a new era of innovation and expression.

While AI can analyse existing data, it cannot truly have the inherent desire to "wonder" or question assumptions in the way humans do. AI struggles to grasp the nuances of human social interactions and cultural contexts, and cannot fully comprehend and respond to the emotional complexities that drive human creativity. This limits AI's ability to create fashion that moves people and resonates with human emotions and experiences. Instead of seeing AI as a threat, designers can view it as a powerful collaborator, freeing them from tedious tasks and allowing them to focus on the artistic aspects of their work.

Asia's existing robust supply chain infrastructure, together with the up-and-coming boom in AI-related infrastructure such as data centres, will provide a solid foundation for integrating AI-powered solutions. AI will help build a seamless flow from design to production, such as creating realistic 3D models of garments, allowing for virtual fitting and adjustments, by taking a single clothing image and accurately reflecting how it would drape, fold, cling, stretch, and form wrinkles and shadows on a diverse set of real models in various poses.

Implementing AI in the fashion industry requires a deep understanding of both fashion and artificial intelligence technologies. Skilled professionals are needed to develop, deploy, and maintain AI algorithms and systems tailored to the specific needs of the fashion sector.

It is prime time for fashion companies to jump on the bandwagon of innovation, as tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are making a big push to invest and expand in Southeast Asia, which is home to 700 million people and whose economies are collectively worth over US$3.8 trillion. This shows that Asian countries are accelerating in attracting and nurturing AI talents. Coupled with the fact that Asia’s “Generation AI” (those who have grown up with the technology), compared to other regions, is more ready than ever to learn and adopt new technologies, educators should leverage this opportune timing to prime the AI-ready workforce, and simultaneously foster closer collaboration between tech companies, brands, and academic institutions.

Educators are crucial in fostering partnerships between tech companies, our own respective industry brands, and academic institutions. While Asia has significant investments in technology, there's a need for more focused R&D and education in AI specifically tailored to the fashion industry. We are already integrating AI into our curriculum through hands-on experiences like fabric pattern design and creating virtual fashion models, but a collaborative effort is still important because the process of developing proprietary AI tools that address the unique challenges and opportunities in Asian fashion requires wide partnership and devotion. By actively engaging with AI, we are in fact encouraging a more creative and responsible use of technology, preparing our future workforce for the AI era.

AI empowers humans to delve deeper into the realm of design concepts

The most crucial thing to remember is that humans remain the ultimate decision-makers. AI-powered workflows serve as powerful tools that augment human intuition and creativity, allowing designers and manufacturers to make more informed and impactful decisions. AI-powered manufacturing processes free up human hands from repetitive tasks, allowing designers and craftspeople to focus their energy on the creative and strategic aspects of their work. By automating tasks like pattern cutting, fabric manipulation, and assembly, AI empowers humans to delve deeper into the realm of design concepts, material exploration, and innovative techniques. This shift from manual labour to creative thinking fosters a more fulfilling and impactful experience for those working in the fashion industry.

An example of the creative possibility could be tech-powered fashion crossovers showcasing Asia’s diverse cultures. From the intricate silk saris of India to the flowing Hanfu of China, the region boasts a wealth of traditional garments with distinct styles, fabrics, and embroidery, inspiring contemporary designers to constantly reinterpret these traditional elements or blend them with modern trends to create exciting new aesthetics. Just as a Saudi designer has referenced traditional attire and invented his own futuristic style, Asia’s deep and broad cultural pot presents a plethora of possibilities for bringing heritage into the future, waiting to be explored with AI. AI’s role becomes evident in style transfers in these cross-cultural collaborations. Conveying the essence of one style onto another using AI, designers can create hybrid garments that blend elements from different cultures while promoting collaboration within the industry.

The influx of AI-powered solutions in fashion presents a unique opportunity for upskilling and reskilling existing workers. By investing in training programs that bridge the gap between traditional fashion expertise and AI knowledge, companies can empower their existing workforce to adapt to the changing landscape. This can involve training designers in AI-assisted design tools, teaching manufacturing workers to operate and maintain AI-powered machinery, and equipping sales and marketing professionals with data analysis and AI-driven personalization skills.

The future of fashion in Asia is bright, powered by the unique synergy of cultural inspiration, technological prowess, and a growing pool of talented creatives, yet it also requires fertile ground for us to see their fruition, including AI-savvy industry innovators and infrastructure support. By embracing AI, Asia's fashion industry can unlock a new era of innovation, where traditional aesthetics meet modern technology, and where designers push the boundaries of creativity. Through collaborative effort with fashion schools taking the lead to unite industry stakeholders, Asia's fashion creatives can flourish, not just by adapting to AI, but by shaping its future.