Fashion has always been an integral part of our daily lifestyle, and this has been possible because of the adaptability of this industry to time, culture, and technology. Among these, it is best to agree that technology has had the most extensive impact on carrying fashion alongside changing times, making it more accessible, modernising the industry, and more.
We are in the year 2024, and we are seeing significant growth in technological advancements which are helping the fashion industry in a way that has become a boon rather than a bane. Here are some of the ongoing technological trends that we are currently seeing in the fashion industry.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI has been around for quite some time, and brands have been implementing it across their operations such as trend forecasting, supply chain, inventory, data analysis, etc. It has helped speed up the creative process by saving manual labour for designers, thus saving money on materials by rendering rather than manufacturing prototypes.
AI can be truly beneficial to designers as it can predict colours, trends, designs, and silhouettes and come up with designs that will be most suitable for the market. AI has been extensively used in chatbots, which can be seen on almost all websites, helping customers with their queries, sorting and filtering personal preferences, order tracking, etc., enhancing customer experience.
In stores, AI is present in the form of interactive touchscreens that guide customers throughout the order process. AI has also improved inventory management as brands can now analyse real-time data for stock projection, aiding the supply chain with better deliverables. Through image recognition, AI is making the inspection process much more efficient by detecting defects such as stains, holes, and misalignment in fabrics.
Brands and organisations such as Stitch Fix, True Fit, Edited, Intelligence Node, XARIIA, and Style AI are a few examples of AI implementation in the fashion industry.
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Smart Textiles and Wearables
The fashion industry has always been growing, and along with it, the options for fabrics. From natural fabrics such as cotton, silk, and linen, we have moved towards polyester, rayon, nylon, etc., and now towards smart textiles.
Smart textiles have been in trend for the past few years as they promise extensive integration of technology with fashion. These are made with materials such as carbon, nanoparticles, conductive threads, and embedded sensors to perform tasks such as temperature control, moisture-wicking characteristics, colour-changing ability, activity monitoring, and more.
The application of these can be seen in outdoor apparel, sportswear, and athleisure, and in some cases, they have found their way into day-to-day wear.
Internet of Things (IoT)
The Internet of Things can be described as a network of gadgets (things) embedded with technology that allows the exchange and connection of data over the Internet. In recent years, it has grown significantly, especially with the rise in wearable gadgets in the form of accessories.
Gadgets such as watches, rings, and neckbands have become a key part of how we style ourselves and also provide useful data such as heartbeat, body temperature, blood pressure, etc. In addition to smart textiles, it will one day be possible to sync all these 'things' in harmony to provide the user with the best experience possible.
Digitisation
The digitization of the fashion industry began with the digital revolution, and since then, brands have been continuously implementing all the new tools followed by other industries.
Software available in the market such as PLM (Product Lifecycle Management), ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), various types of CADs, etc., are always being upgraded for better efficiency, customisable, and accessibility.
In 2024 and beyond, we will see significant advancements in these software tools, making businesses run more smoothly. Manufacturers started using mobile-based applications for product quality audit processes, shop floor production monitoring, and WIP control. It becomes part of compliance to use supply chain tracking through RFID technology.
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Mobile Commerce
In the present times, it is safe to say that we have become one with our mobile phones, and with mobile technology getting more advanced each day, so is our shopping experience.
Mobiles have altered our shopping ways that it would sometimes be impossible to see otherwise. E-commerce has become the fastest-growing sector in the fashion industry thanks to tools like live shopping, e-wallets, convenient payment systems, real-time inventory tracking, swift delivery times, etc. In the coming times, we will see more such tools that elevate our daily shopping experiences.
Virtual and Augmented Reality
The implementation of AR and VR has been flourishing in the retail industry ever since its inception, and all brands are looking for ways to implement it more and more. It helps with more efficient marketing by allowing the visualization of products in digital space.
Virtual try-ons, fittings, and customization are key elements that make AR and VR simulations useful to customers. These technologies are also used as illustrators in software such as CLO, which allows designers to tweak designs, render in real-time, and adjust for fit and finish, thus eliminating the process of sampling and physical try-ons.
Blockchain
With the rise in customers who are more cautious about the products they choose, blockchain is becoming a great tool to add assurance to the product’s manufacturing. Blockchain is excellent for transparency, traceability, and efficiency in the supply chain. Once a record-keeping technology for digital currency, it has found its use in the fashion industry by efficiently tracking and keeping records of clothing apparel and the supply chain.
Each time a product moves through its supply chain, blockchain helps to keep data such as time, place, and amount. This process also prevents the counterfeiting of goods, as pieces with missing digital links are likely to be fake, providing proof of originality as well.
Production Automation
In the past few years Industry 4.0 has taken the garment manufacturing industry by storm and since then has become a buzzword. In every other textile expo, we are looking at different types of machinery that are more than capable of running independently and performing tasks with speed, accuracy, and efficiency.
These machineries range from cutting, stitching, and finishing apparel products with the sole intent of automating the production process. These machines are also deployed in distribution centers for order picking and packaging. With such benefits, these are becoming a compelling value proposition for apparel manufacturers and retailers, allowing them to optimize operations, reduce costs, and respond more effectively to evolving customer preferences.
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