Fashion Innovation Day 2024, a new meeting point for professionals in fashion innovation

On March 7, a group of restless minds and passionate about the technological vanguard in the field of fashion gathered at ISEM, in search of the best clues to face the exciting challenge posed by the use of artificial intelligence, which was the theme addressed by the Fashion Innovation Day 2024 of Atelier by ISEM.

Teresa Sábada, dean of ISEM, welcomed the attendees, reminding them that Atelier has been helping fashion companies to drive innovation for 7 years. This forum stands as a space where the most cutting-edge trends converge, offering participants the opportunity to learn first-hand about the innovations that will transform their industry.

Ángel Niño, Councilor for Innovation of the Madrid City Council, opened the conference and shared his vision of the city of Madrid as an epicenter of technology and fashion. In a world that is constantly evolving, the capital of Spain stands as a benchmark of progress, leading initiatives that drive the development and adoption of emerging technologies. In this context, the prominence of Chat GPT does not go unnoticed. This intelligent assistant, which has emerged as a very valuable tool, stands as a facilitator of talent, helping to enhance the skills and knowledge of those seeking to stand out in the technological landscape. Finally, the Councilman stressed that talent will be the real engine that will drive the development of cities, and that cities that foster innovation and offer an environment conducive to talent will be the ones chosen by those seeking to live and thrive in a technologically advanced environment. "Madrid, with its commitment to innovation, is emerging as a natural choice for those seeking a future full of possibilities and growth," he remarked.

ALL THE PHOTOS OF FASHION INNOVATION DAY 2024

Sampsa Samila, professor at IESE Business School, then discussed in depth the impact and evolution of work in the context of the growing presence of artificial intelligence (AI).

Samila began by highlighting the growing demand for AI-related skills in all sectors, without limiting herself to specific fields. She illustrated the evolution of AI, noting that ten years ago it was mainly focused on image recognition, while today it is able to recognize patterns and foresee future events, making decisions and generating content autonomously. Samila highlighted the impact of this evolution, highlighting as an example the creation of AI-generated images of people, which are more realistic than real photographs. Special emphasis was placed on the fact that, in any technological revolution, jobs may be threatened, but in the end they persist, undergoing radical transformations in the way they are carried out. In this context, he stressed the need for professionals to adapt to technological changes in order to increase not only their productivity but also the quality of work. The correct integration of AI by experts can make the difference by creating an exponential competitive advantage.

Technological evolution also poses challenges for managers, according to Samila. They must thoroughly understand both technology and business to discover new opportunities at the intersection of the two, to innovate and find solutions that drive organizational growth.

His vision for the future of business can be summarized as follows:

• In the future of industries, artificial intelligence (AI) will simplify the value chain in areas such as design, operations and customer service.
• The key lies in understanding customer demands and offering products or services that provide a real competitive advantage. Those companies that integrate AI and data are the ones that will be best positioned to be competitive, and challenging them will be more difficult.
• AI, by understanding patterns based on existing data, will transform the way we work. Early adaptation to this change will be beneficial for both individuals and businesses. In this context, innovation and the ability to do things that were not possible before are critical.

Another of the day's speakers was José López García de Leániz, from lgeneris, whose talk was entitled "AI, gateway to smarter fashion in real time. New priorities for innovation departments." In it, he detailed how organizations that implement artificial intelligence in their operations experience greater flexibility, as all departments have mutual information in real time; for example, knowing what is being sold in the store, something that is known by logistics, design, among others. This approach is beneficial when assessing the geopolitical implications of a global conflict, such as if something happens in Pakistan, thus allowing the entire enterprise value chain to be dynamically distributed in real time to minimize any negative impact on the company.

Finally, Frédéric Godart, professor at INSEAD Business School and IFSA 2023 award winner, explained what Artificial Intelligence can bring to Fashion Research, offering valuable insights into the transformative potential of AI in the field of this sector.

Godart reviewed key points in the history of fashion and innovation, from the earliest moments of the application of technology in fashion to the present day. He illustrated how fashion and luxury have surpassed other industries in the use of NFTs.

In addition, he addressed a topic of great relevance in the current era: the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the entire value chain, highlighting some critical challenges. The professor recognized the fundamental role of AI in academic research, where it has become one of the most advanced scientific techniques in recent years. This has led to exponential growth in the application of AI in various creative industries, such as fashion.

However, he noted that creative industries pose unique challenges for AI, as the associated processes demand different levels of innovation and skills than routine behaviors. The field of AI research is booming, with a significant increase in the number of publications on the topic in the last five years.

In the specific case of fashion, elements such as seasonality and cyclicality of design were highlighted, as well as the growing importance of sustainability. The relationship between AI and design in fashion was further explored, highlighting the need to find a balance between creativity and the integration of brand identity with AI. An interesting dilemma was also raised on how AI can enhance creativity in fashion without compromising the unique essence of each brand.

Once again, Fashion Innovation Day proved to be an indispensable meeting point for all professionals who want to build the fashion of the future in Spain.