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In the coming year, it’s expected that companies will double their investments in technology tools like 3D CAD Software and AI solutions. While that sounds like a big move, the spend for high tech will only total about 3% of budgets industry wide.
, our fully automated 3D fashion design tool, knowing that the fashion industry had to infuse sustainability and efficiency into its processes to remain relevant to consumers and maintain profit levels. Here are some things to look out for this year as you decide how to spend your high-tech budget.
Artificial Reality/Augmented Reality
Artificial Intelligence and Artificial Reality are already being used for online shopping experiences and will now be a more central element of in-store shopping experiences. The high tech trends will help brands bring customers to their brick and mortar locations as well as enhance sustainability of their business models.
AI can help customers narrow down what styles they are interested in or might complement their body best. While Artificial Reality (AR) provides a virtual try-on experience. This high tech fashion trend will be especially relevant for accessories like rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings and more. These AI and AR tools will also take a lead role in the skincare and makeup industries, which are closely connected with fashion.
The AR try-on experience also brings shopping to the customer in a way we haven’t seen before. Sure, consumers have been purchasing clothes and accessories online for years now, but AR technology takes it to a whole new level. The augmented reality experience can be customized to each person with real life effects, allowing consumers to move through various styles and brands quickly from the comfort of their own home and device.
Environmentally Friendly
In a recent Bloomberg article, it was noted that fashion accounts for up to 10% of global carbon dioxide output; that’s more than international flights and shipping combined. Much of this fashion industry pollution and massive amounts of wasted material are related to creating physical samples of garments that consumers never see!
As more and more fashion companies adopt 3D CAD Software, the need for multiple physical samples will decrease. This may sound like a small change, but it can have huge effects. In the non-3D sampling world, the cycle looks something like this:
- Design and pattern are created.
- Pattern is sent to China where one sample is made.
- Sample is sent back to the U.S. where the sample is tried on by a model and the garment is adjusted.
- The edited pattern is sent back to China where another sample is made. Then, that version comes back to the U.S. You get the picture. This can go on for months and months.
Think about how much fashion industry pollution and waste are happening during this process. Not to mention, that often, even after all of that, the garments that are made don’t sell well because the one size of the sample that was made didn’t account for a change that should have been made as the garment’s size changed. Now, all of those garments end up in a landfill equaling more waste and pollution.
With 3D fashion design and editing tools, like the GDT, fashion companies can cut this waste down substantially and decrease the footprint of fashion industry pollution, which is a must to be environmentally friendly.
Influencers
We all have our favorite celebrities and social media followers, but high tech trends in 2023 are bringing virtual influencers to the forefront. Even luxe brands like Prada are embracing this trend with its own virtual muse dubbed Candy. With realistic looks and beauty that rivals supermodels, the virtual muse was used to launch a new fragrance line.
With virtual influencers becoming more popular and advertising brands across channels, will traditional fashion industry pillars like fashion shows and print ad campaigns fall to the wayside? Time will tell, but this is definitely a trend we’ll be watching closely.
3D Printing
While 3D printing of garments is currently limited to samples or show pieces for fashion shows, as the high-tech tool continues to be perfected, could it become a more mainstream way of fabricating garments? The technology itself allows for specific digital designs to be precisely printed, which minimizes manufacturing errors and resource waste.
It would certainly streamline the process between 3 CAD design, like the GDT, and editing tools and garment creation. 3D printing can also boost sustainability for brands while allowing for added personalization. This tech-led production style could also lead to seamless garments, which would be a revolution to the way clothes are currently made.
3D printed items are environmentally friendly in materials and production, which also makes it attractive for the fashion industry moving forward. Currently, footwear, accessories, and embellishments like buttons are leading the charge with 3D printing in the fashion industry, but creating comfortable 3D printed clothes is on the horizon in 2023 and beyond.
Historically, the fashion industry has been a slow adopter of new tools that other industries like automotive and manufacturing have quickly infused into processes and facilities. Regardless of each specific high tech fashion trend, the important thing to pay attention to is that the fashion industry is seemingly finally waking up to the idea that they must embrace technology to survive. Yes, we all need clothes, but only brands who take notice of what these tools can do to create efficiencies and limit waste will be leaders in the next decade.
In 2023, the fashion industry must pay attention to these high-tech tools and trends to remain relevant in the eyes of consumers who care about environmentally friendly brands and will spend more with those companies than others. People are more in tune with purchasing based on causes they care about than ever before!