I used to be opposed to 3D years ago. I didn’t see the benefit of it because it can’t fully replace physical sampling if your goal is to produce a physical garment.
But then I realized that I was expecting the wrong things from 3D. I was looking for it to be a garment production tool, but its real benefit is in being a design communication tool. 3D sampling helps designers express their vision more clearly in multiple dimensions. 3D sampling helps me as a patternmaker confirm that I’ve understood the designer’s concept and fit intent and drafted a pattern that fits that vision.
I think generative AI is going to be the same. I don’t know about you, but I’m struggling to see the benefits of it for my work. I might be expecting the wrong things from it, though. It is definitely not good enough to design on its own in any (useful for garment production) way. Where I see some brands benefit from it, though, is to use it to communicate an idea.
AI can help fashion designers and fashion marketers visualize their concept and share that vibe with others. It is best used, I think, in the abstract where its hallucinations don’t matter. Its benefits are in the dreamy ‘what if’ realm instead of the practical ‘how to’. An AI-generated image is like a fancier-looking napkin doodle that substantiates the spark of an idea.
Once the team is onboard and excited about the direction, though, that is where the work begins of turning that fantasy into a tangible, manufactured product.