The inaugural AI Fashion Week was a groundbreaking event that highlighted the intersection of technology and fashion. With AI-powered designs and virtual runway shows, the event showcased innovative ways to create and experience fashion. Attendees were able to explore the latest in AI technology while also experiencing the glamour and excitement of a traditional fashion week. From 3D printed dresses to virtual models, the event was a true showcase of the future of fashion.
The fashion industry is constantly evolving, and now, there’s a new concept to keep an eye on: AI Fashion Week. This event was brought to us by Maison Meta, an AI creative studio, and backed by e-commerce platform Revolve Group. It saw the debut of collections crafted by 30 AI designers chosen from 350 submissions of 15 to 30 looks each, spanning two days and attracting over 1,000 visitors.
What makes AI Fashion Week interesting is the way in which the event came about. Each applicant had one month to curate 15-30 images depicting their collection and show environment. The competition was then narrowed down to just ten final collections through two rounds of voting, the first of which involved the general public.
A judging panel composed of fashion industry icons like Dame Pat McGrath, and Vogue Japan’s head of editorial content Alexander Gilkes, among others, will name the top three winners in May. The winners will be part of the initial cohort of the first AI Fashion Tech incubator developed in partnership between Maison Meta and Revolve. Additionally, they’ll be able to create their brand, design, and produce their physical collection for sale on Revolve and Fwrd.
However, what is interesting about how Maison Meta operates is their use of a custom workflow that sits across various different AI tools. They use tools, such as Midjourney, Stable Diffusion with custom models, plus Deform, Wrap Fusion, EbSynth, ControlNet, StyleGan3, TouchDesigner, and Notch, that allow them to create the quality that they produce with the ultimate control on the final output.
Even though the vast majority of students who hold fashion degrees are women, men still dominate the fashion industry. However, Maison Meta revealed that 70 percent of the 350 designers who applied for the AI Fashion Tech incubator are female, ranging in age from 16 to 68, and all with various backgrounds and nationalities.
Since the show’s opening in New York, more than 4,000 people have registered on the app to view and vote for qualifying collections. With the advent of digital fashion and now AI fashion, we are watching with bated breath to see if this accelerates the democratization of the fashion industry.
In conclusion, AI Fashion Week is starting to gain popularity and is quickly becoming a fashion go-to event. With such a unique approach to fashion design, it is no wonder that it is gaining so much traction. We look forward to watching this year’s winners in the AI Fashion Tech incubator’s first cohort of designers evolve their creations and potentially lead the charge in the democratization of the fashion industry.