AI is Reshaping the Business of Fashion
How big brands are using emerging tech on and off the runway.
Dear friends and artificial intelligence,
It’s been a while, how are ya?
It’s the time of year that always gets me thinking—where I’ve been and where I'm going. This year is especially special, I've clocked in 10,000 hours (a decade) in my entrepreneurial journey.
I started my first company when I was living in Seattle as a freshman in college. After I graduated university (Go Huskies!), I packed up my car and embarked on a journey, starting in sunny Venice Beach, California. ☀️ 🌊
You quickly learn that most people dream of moving to California, most notably the people who grew up rarely seeing sunlight, like the Brits and folks from the PNW. IYKYK.
The emergence of “Silicon Beach” was on the horizon. Casper was the new cool startup on the block. Snapchat opened HQ offices on the beach and the Dollar Shave Club acquisition with a capital B was the buzz around town.
Venice Beach added a layer of coolness to the tech world. It was here that my fascination with startups, technology, and the founder journey deepened.
Like many founders, I’m time and time again confronted with the question: “What’s next?”
Perhaps there's truth to the idea that after 10,000 hours, you truly find your footing.
Stay Tuned 🎉
With that said, I'm eager to unveil some upcoming projects that I have had in mind for several years.
As I decided to take the next brave step in my journey, I was reminded of Alan Watt’s lecture, “What Do You Desire?”
And my favorite expert:
" …When we finally got down to something, which the individual says he really wants to do, I will say to him: “you do that and forget the money.”
Because if you say that getting the money is the most important thing, you will spend your life completely wasting your time. You'll be doing things you don't like doing in order to go on living, that is to go on doing things you don't like doing, which is stupid…
And after all, if you do really like what you're doing, it doesn't matter what it is, you can eventually become a master of it. The only way to become a master of something is to be really with it. So don't worry too much, somebody's interested in everything. And anything you can be interested in you'll find others who are.
But it's absolutely stupid to spend your time doing things you don't like, in order to go on doing things you don't like doing…”
Now that I’ve set the tone, let’s dive in.
In This Newsletter
1️⃣ New AI features in review.
2️⃣ Fashion (and tech) week coverage, including a special collaboration with Missoni.
3️⃣ 3 personal recommendations for the week.
This Week in New AI Features 🤖
Decisions - No more shoulda, woulda, coulda. This new tool unlocks your decision-making powers, so you don’t have to wear black turtlenecks every day (unless you want to.)
MagicPost - Apparently, you can create content for LinkedIn 10x faster, 10x better. Curious if anyone can actually measure this metric?
CloneDub - Friends don’t let friends miss out on a good podcast, even if that podcast is recorded in another language.
Copilot2Trip - A personal travel assistant. You can even ask it to find secret gems in your favorite places. See below:
AirBrush - Professional AI headshots. Does anyone have time for real headshots these days?
Read All About It! 🗞
Another reason why I love September is also because it’s fashion month. Every September in New York, London, Milan, and Paris, designers showcase their new collections.
TL;DR: my early career was mixed between fashion, content creation, and brand partnerships. Some background info on this Newsweek op-ed written by yours truly here. I was working with Fortune 500s and luxury brands at the age of 19.
Last week, I returned Milan Fashion Week, and I’m thrilled to share the remarkable collaboration between world renowned artist Kolodny and Missoni.
The blend of Kolodny's innovative chrome sphere “reflective worlds of self-expression” with Missoni's creative director Filippo Grazioli unveiling his new collection was truly spectacular! The synergy of these two creative forces was an evening to remember.
I've witnessed the immense passion, dedication, and unparalleled artistry of Kolodny firsthand, and I am so incredibly proud of his success.
Artist Shawn Kolodny and Filippo Grazioli tell the origins of their collaboration and the new SS 2024 collection in this NSS magazine interview, as well as in WWD.
The New Frontier for Fashion 🌒
While in Milan, I was fascinated by the number of big names that have embraced emerging technologies, such as Gen AI and Web3, in their marketing and creative strategies.
It is clear: technology's potential for brand experiences and viral cultural moments is becoming harder to ignore.
It’s going to get interesting and fast.
Key Moments:
Boss recently integrated AI into their fashion presentation, with Hanson Robotics' AI-driven robot, Sophia, dressed in Boss attire, welcoming guests. The venue, designed as a fusion of advanced tech and humanity, featured immense holograms and the AromaSynth Lab.
Coperni, a leader in fashion tech, gained online acclaim with Bella Hadid's spray-painted dress. This Paris Fashion Week, they introduced the Humane AI Pin, modeled by Naomi Campbell. A very mysterious pin because no one knows what it does or how to use it… The company was founded by former Apple employees Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri.
Gucci. With Sabato De Sarno's debut SS24 collection and change in leadership, including the exit of Robert Triefus, CEO of Gucci Vault and Metaverse Ventures, there was speculation about the brand's digital direction. However, with Micael Barilaro stepping into Triefus' role, Gucci's digital ambitions continue to thrive.
Gucci introduced “Gucci Ancora” activations with the first-of-its-kind global metaverse experience (Vogue Business here) on three different platforms, offering a virtual copy of the show in the Brera, Milan district.
Diesel in collaboration with the Web3 talent platform, Public Pressure, released 300 "Metamorph" NFTs on the Polygon and Polkadot. These NFTs not only served as exclusive invitations to Diesel's SS 2024 show in Milan but also provided holders with a unique soundtrack by composer Senjan Jansen. They had a massive turnout.
There you go. The runway x tech analysis you never knew you needed.
P.S. Visi0nary will be picking up some extra posts each month to dig deeper on the exciting intersection of brands, digital, and culture.
3 Recs (in no particular order):
Marc Randolph’s Twitter or X account? I appreciate his perspectives on his journey as a founder and tips for aspiring leaders.
Blogging is cool again! I’m enjoying finding fashion/lifestyle blogs on Substack that have a circa 2010 feel without the RewardStyle product links.
Prada’s "Shaping a Sustainable Digital Future" conference. Panels focused on how technology contributes to the sustainable development of business and society, and reflected on the risks posed by technology. Round Table 2 video here.