Kate Barton is set to unveil her latest collection at New York Fashion Week, but with a unique twist. Partnering with Fiducia AI, Barton has incorporated a multilingual AI agent, built with IBM Watsonx on IBM Cloud, to enhance the guest’s experience by allowing them to identify pieces from the collection and virtually try them on.
In a recent interview with JS, Barton revealed that technology plays a significant role in her creative process. She enjoys blending the realms of reality and fantasy and saw the potential of using AI as a set design element to provide guests with a glimpse into the collection’s world. The goal for this collection, according to Barton, is to spark curiosity and create a sense of wonder among the audience.
Ganesh Harinath, the founder and CEO of Fiducia AI, explained that their collaboration with Barton involved leveraging IBM Watsonx, IBM Cloud, and IBM Cloud Object Storage to execute the presentation seamlessly. The Visual AI lens, powered by IBM Watsonx, enables the detection of pieces from Barton’s new collection, offering multilingual voice and text responses and photorealistic virtual try-ons.
This isn’t the first time Barton has integrated technology into her fashion shows. In a previous season, she experimented with AI models in partnership with Fiducia AI. While there has been speculation about the use of technology and AI in the fashion industry, Barton believes that many brands are utilizing AI, albeit discreetly, primarily for operational purposes.
Harinath noted that while many brands are exploring AI applications like chatbots and content generation, there is still untapped potential for AI in areas such as prototyping, visualization, production decisions, and immersive fashion experiences. However, Barton emphasized the importance of maintaining human creativity and craftsmanship in the face of technological advancements.
Looking ahead, Harinath predicts that AI will become normalized in the fashion industry by 2028 and integrated into the operational core of retail by 2030. Dee Waddell, Global Head of Consumer, Travel, and Transportation Industries at IBM Consulting, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the transformative power of AI in driving competitive advantage through real-time insights and engagement.
Ultimately, Barton envisions a future where technology enhances rather than replaces human creativity in fashion. As AI becomes more commonplace, shows like Barton’s may become the new norm, ushering in a new era of innovation and collaboration between technology and fashion.
