An important and much-talked-about artificial intelligence (AI) is its potential to replace human jobs. The fashion industry, like many others, is adopting AI, but the human touch is always needed.
Alexa, help me choose clothes
The fashion industry is increasingly using AI to assist with the decision-making stage of the buying process. E-commerce sites already employ simple algorithms to recommend products for purchase based on user preferences and previous purchases, as seen on popular websites such as Net-A-Porter and Selfridges. increase. However, more complex applications are being developed. Created by Goldman Sachs alumnus Bianca Rangecroft, Whering claims the costume selection program for the movie Clueless is a reality. Introduced in Dragon’s Den, her Whereing helps you build outfits based on an analysis of the clothing in your closet, with the goal of saving you both time and energy.
Another fashion app that incorporates AI is Psykhe. The patented model combines psychology and machine learning to provide consumers with personalized recommendations. Featured in Vogue and the Business of Fashion, the app boasts a 5x increase in conversions due to its recommendations.
The benefits of these applications are evident, as is the ingenious use of AI. But AI lacks one important and often overlooked characteristic of human stylists: empathy. Computers can learn from previous purchases, but only a human stylist can measure the actual comfort level of an outfit and suggest items that will give you strength and confidence. The ability to look at an individual and notice how their shoulders drop back in a particular dress or how they walk in a particular heel is still left only to the human eye. and an experienced stylist remains the best choice for both everyday. So do shoppers and celebrities.
virtual catwalk
Models are the heart of the fashion ecosystem, traveling the continent for high-profile events and countless photo shoots, showcasing clothes so easily that they motivate us to buy them. Designers covet the most famous models to reach a wider audience and increase their sales potential. But what if one of these supermodel girlfriends happened to be digital?
AI fashion model Michela Souza boasts 2.8 million Instagram followers, her own Wikipedia page, and a distinctive Princess Leia bun on the side of her head. Sousa, who entered the virtual scene in 2016, has worked with brands like Prada and Calvin Klein, and has “posed” with celebrities like Bella Hadid and Millie Bobby Brown. Aside from her novelty as a virtual superstar, Sousa’s appeal to fashion designers is obvious. She is able to replicate the range and style of human equivalents without the travel, lodging, and costs associated with hiring a stylist or make-up artist for her. Michela is beautiful and accessible, but is that the best way to sell your product?
Estimates put Sousa at just over $8,000 per post. By comparison, when her model and influencer Daniel Bernstein had about the same number of followers as Sousa, she could get up to $15,000 per post. Designers may appreciate Sousa’s benefits, but customers respond better to seeing how clothes move and sit on people of the same body type than digital avatars. There is evidence to show We can also empathize with our human models even more when they look happy in a particular outfit, or stride down the catwalk confidently in a must-have outfit. , can ultimately give a higher value than the digital model.
human touch
Fashion cannot escape the technological revolution, and AI will continue to emerge. However, since fashion is an art form, it requires empathy. This requires perception that AI may never possess. At the end of the day, the fashion industry is best left in the hands of talented people who can grace it with a gentle, passionate humanity.
