Imagine entering the studio of a designer. The melody of Beethoven playing in the background, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee lingering lazily, invigorating the senses. A few crushed papers with rejected ideas sulking on the floor, a half-chewed pencil lying on the table, feeling ignored, as the designer looks outside the window, introspecting, waiting for that Eureka moment when the perfect idea strikes! A challenge indeed!
Can a creative mind be ruled by the clock? Definitely not! But in the fashion industry, the deadline is always – Yesterday! It may sound like wordplay, but it’s an undeniable fact. In this race against time, any tool, which can act like the magical genie to help designers fly on the magic carpet of their imaginations and reach their destination really fast, is a welcome boon!
In its most rudimentary form, design is nothing but a combination of trial and error, a play of the elements and principles of design and reaching that perfect moment when the designer strikes gold and manages to balance the perfect design features, using the best possible materials and also meets the right price! Till date, each fashion professional is in a firefighting mode and facing new challenges with the forever changing lifestyles and trends! What’s happening today, becomes boring tomorrow and what did not exist yesterday, may be today’s Rage!
Always at the forefront of technology and innovation, the fashion industry is undergoing a major transformation currently, with the advent of AI! It is the need of the hour keeping in mind the challenges faced by this industry -be it changing consumer preferences, emerging trends and fast paced advances in manufacturing processes.
On inputing information like colour, style, fabric, silhouette, etc., AI tools can generate basic designs and therefore the designers can focus more on refining the ideas, rather than going back to square one and designing from scratch. AI algorithms can analyse data from various sources like online shopping sites, fashion blogs, social media, consumer buying habits like frequency and choices and help identify emerging trends. This will help brands predict the popular styles and restock them, ideate on same lines and also help know what could be trending in near future.
‘Humans must rein in machines, gallop together into the future’ Neeti Banga Associate Professor and Unit-in-Charge, International and Domestic Linkages, PhD Scholar, Leather Design, National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi |
Coming to the debatable question – With AI advancements, does Fashion Design lean more towards Science or Art?
The dictionary meaning of science is the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation, experimentation and the testing of theories against the evidence obtained. Also, the main difference between Art and Design is that the former is the personal expression of an artist, which is not meant to solve any purpose, but to express. Design, on the other hand, is a problem-solving solution, keeping all aspects in mind like price, end use, aesthetics and so on.
Keeping all these in mind, the fashion professionals are in a dilemma that about whether AI advancements pose a threat to take over creativity and dominate it with complete logic and scientific principles. Some are living in fear, some in denial, while some in exhilaration after using these tools. Do they need to fear that AI will take over the world and leave them jobless? Will everything become mechanical and lose the human touch?
Fashion professionals need to arm themselves with latest tools, software and be prepared to handle the overflowing demands and manage the diminishing supplies. They need to keep their creative sparks alive with fuel from the latest AI technologies. The humans need to rein in the machines and gallop on the pathway to the future together.
Do we really need to see AI as a threat? Do we really need to choose between Science and Art? The solution lies in co-existence and maintaining a symbiotic relationship because the goal is common betterment of the human society, making this world a better and beautiful place to live in.
‘3D Design empowers Designers to unleash creativity, experiment with ideas’ Ram Sareen Chairman-Founder, Tukatech |
As a Chairman-Founder of a fashion tech company, I believe that AI is part of Science that is predicting based on information already available, it may even combine and offer solutions but the ‘Art’ is missing, the creativity is with the artist or in our industry, it is with the ‘Designer’. 3D design is a scientific tool that also enhances art and I would like to shed some light on it.
3D design has played a significant role in contemporary fashion design and its influence can be seen as a combination of both Art and Science in the fashion industry. 3D design allows designers to explore and express their creative ideas in three-dimensional space. It provides a digital canvas to experiment with textures, shapes, embellishments and embroideries without producing a possible wasted garment. Designers can bring their vision to life in a virtual environment, enabling them to see how garments will look and move before creating physical prototypes. This enhances the creative process and allows for more informed design decisions. It also facilitates precise pattern making and prototyping, contributing to the scientific aspects of fashion design. Designers can create accurate digital representations of garments, ensuring better fit and reducing the need for multiple physical iterations. The true magic unfolds when 3D design and AI intertwine. Imagine feeding AI with your desired style and fabric and watching as it generates a unique 3D design in real-time. 3D design software allows fashion designers to sculpt garments virtually, draping fabrics on digital mannequins in real-time. This not only streamlines the design process, but also unlocks a world of possibilities.
The integration of 3D design in the fashion industry streamlines the production process and reduces time, an element crucial in the world of fashion while making it easier to share information across the supply chain. The scientific capabilities of 3D design with digital sample enable designers to create customised and personalised fashion experience for consumers. Once we have the data in digital format, the possibilities are endless for suppliers and buyers. This fusion of art and science caters to individual preferences and body types.
3D design and data if reliable, can become the best possible resource at a fraction of the cost to offer consumers products as per their size and their preference at an affordable price. It allows manufacturers to make only what has been sold. AI algorithms help in minimising fabric waste by generating optimal cutting patterns and reducing the environmental footprint of fashion. 3D design offers promising solutions to the fashion industry which is already grappling with sustainability concerns and 3D printing technology paves the way for garment upcycling and repurposing, giving materials a second life.
As 3D design technologies advance, concerns about intellectual property and privacy arise. Ensuring ethical practices in the use of 3D designs, particularly in prints, logos and other factors resulting in the final product is crucial to maintaining the integrity of the creative process and protect designers’ rights.
Finally, I would like to conclude that 3D design in fashion occupies a unique space where Art and Science intersect. It empowers designers to unleash their creativity, visualise concepts and experiment with new ideas while incorporating scientific precision for efficiency, accuracy and innovation in design and production processes. The successful integration requires a harmonious blend of artistic expression and technological advancements. Like any other invention, AI has its advantages and disadvantages. Everything would depend on how its users see it and how they wish to apply it to drive growth and improve their businesses. The fashion industry’s use of 3D design and AI has still a long way to go. However, there is a lot of potential in the strands of innovation, sustainability and customisation. We can create a future where fashion is about more than simply following trends; it’s about creating and consuming with awareness when we embrace this technological revolution.
We should never forget that 3D printing machines are ultimately coded and operated by the creative human mind which has not been designed by any machine!