Fashion Meets Artificial Intelligence at ASBCI Conference in Halifax
Halifax, West Yorkshire – Industry leaders and tech visionaries will converge on 16 October for the ASBCI conference, aimed at dissecting the rapidly evolving interplay between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the fashion industry. The event, to be held at The Arches, promises a comprehensive exploration into how AI is transforming the fashion value chain, from trend prediction and product development to retail design and customer engagement.
The primary objective of the conference is to analyse how AI tools can drive innovation and create significant competitive advantages, while simultaneously addressing the newly emerging risks and ethical considerations associated with this technology. This gathering of experts will discuss ways to harness AI's potential while fulfilling their responsibilities towards people, the planet, and business ethics.
The keynote presentation will be delivered by Jack Stratten, head of trends at Insider Trends, an agency renowned for its work with prominent retail brands such as Galleries Lafayette, Westfield, and Tommy Hilfiger. Stratten is expected to provide a high-level overview of retail innovation influenced by AI, detailing both its benefits and challenges as observed in real-world applications.
From ASOS, Nick Eley, head of digital creation, will share the company's insights on integrating AI with 3D software and other emerging technologies to streamline workflows and fuel creativity. Eley's presentation will focus on how these tools enhance efficiency and reduce the time to market, providing a retailer's perspective on the AI revolution.
Supply chain enhancements driven by AI will be the subject of Cedric Hoffman’s talk. Hoffman, co-founder of Ameba, will discuss how their platform utilizes AI to create real-time supply chain transparency and extract actionable insights, improving operational efficiency.
Andrew Dalziel of Infor will address the potential for AI in revolutionising demand prediction and inventory optimisation. His presentation aims to unpack how these advancements could elevate customer experiences and reduce waste within the industry.
Peter Gallagher-Witham and Jon Smith, founders of The Fashion Guild, will delve into AI's impact on the creative process. They will share their experiences with AI-powered image generation software and pose the question of whether such technologies herald a revolution in design or a risk of redundancy for human designers.
Specialist in fashion personalisation, Sarah McVittie from Dressipi, will focus on how AI insights can combat overproduction. Her talk will address the problem of excess stock and propose AI-driven solutions to mitigate this wasteful practice.
Jason Wang, the COO of Alvanon, will provide insights into AI’s role in solving size and fit issues. These advancements are critical for retailers aiming to meet customers' varied fit requirements more precisely.
The legal and HR implications of AI will be examined by Norv Bell, founder of The Bureau model agency, who will navigate the complexities surrounding intellectual property rights in the age of AI. Simon Platts, co-founder of Recomme.co and ASBCI director, will share his knowledge on how AI can be utilized in supply chain management and sustainability.
Sustainability is another crucial topic to be covered. Abbie Morris, founder of Compare Ethics, will discuss how AI can support compliance with environmental and human rights policies. Jenny Holloway from Fashion-Enter will highlight how the synergy between innovation and AI can lead to more sustainable and ethically sound production practices.
Julie King, ASBCI Chair, underscored the importance of the conference, saying: “Understanding the risks and potential of AI is a key priority for the fashion industry and one that touches on so many of the challenges our members are facing. With so many tools under the AI umbrella and such rapid and far-reaching change, it can be challenging to keep on top of developments and cut through the noise to understand what we should and shouldn’t be doing, when and how.”
The conference is sponsored by Infor and Ameba, with registration starting from 9.00am. Hosted by Julie King and event director Elizabeth Brandwood, it aims to provide a platform for detailed discussions on the intersection of AI with fashion. Early bird tickets are available until 30 September, and attendance can be secured via the ASBCI office.
Source: Noah Wire Services