Keywords: Sustainable Fashion, Technology & Art, ArtTech Fusion 2024, AI, AR.
As part of the academic knowledge dissemination series within the ArtTech Fusion event hosted by the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), the panel discussion titled “AI and Virtual Influencers in Fashion Industry” brought together leading experts in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), and sustainable fashion. The session served as a meaningful gathering to share insights, perspectives, and experiences on the transformative shifts in the modern fashion industry. The session was chaired by Dr. Nguyen Thien Bao, with guest speakers designer Quynh Paris and AR creative director Dong Ho.
AI in the Fashion Industry: Potential and Applications
Dr. Nguyen Thien Bao, an AI expert with over 20 years of experience, opened the discussion by sharing in-depth knowledge about AI and its applications in fashion. As the founder and CEO of HBB Tech, providing AI solutions for businesses, Dr. Bao emphasized AI’s crucial role in optimizing design and production processes within the fashion industry.
One of the most notable applications of AI in fashion is optimizing creative design processes. Major companies like Amazon, Tommy Hilfiger, and IBM have collaborated to leverage AI for trend analysis and design creation. AI helps designers quickly identify fashion trends, generate innovative designs aligned with consumer preferences, saving time and resources while expanding creative potential and fostering innovation in fashion.
Dr. Bao also highlighted AI’s role in supply chain management and production optimization. Giants like H&M and Zara use AI to forecast demand, manage inventory, and streamline production, reducing waste and maximizing profits. By analyzing online shopping data, social media interactions, and even weather patterns, AI predicts which products will become popular, allowing companies to adapt quickly to market demands.
An exemplary case is Alibaba’s AI-driven smart shopping experience, where AI helps customers find products matching their personal style, suggests new items, and simplifies outfit selection. This trend is particularly significant in e-commerce, where AI enhances user experience and optimizes shopping processes.
“Milk and Flowers” – A Story of Art, Technology, and Motherhood
The session was also marked by a compelling presentation from Dong Ho, CEO and AR Creative Director at Fomalia XR Studio. Known for his expertise in digital marketing and augmented fashion, Dong Ho’s career bridges the intersection of art, fashion, and modern technology.
One highlighted project was the creation of the “Milk and Flowers” motif, symbolizing a mother’s boundless love.
The poem “Milk and Flowers” captures the sacred moment of motherhood through each drop of milk, embodying both joy and the complex emotions of identity and transformation that come with nurturing life. Dong Ho described how motherhood can blur personal identity, enveloping a woman in an invisible shift where fragments of self are reshuffled and torn.
These motifs are visualized and optimized using 3D design software, reducing production risks and enhancing design precision.
Dong Ho then utilized Augmented Reality (AR) to create immersive shopping experiences, allowing users to interact with fashion pieces virtually, enhancing their appreciation of the product’s aesthetic and emotional depth.
For Dong Ho, creativity is a journey of self-exploration and conveying profound human values. By blending art and technology, he transforms fashion products into meaningful works of art, infused with love and life.
Sustainable Fashion: A Future-Oriented Approach
A key part of the discussion featured designer Quynh Paris, who shared her perspective on sustainable fashion — an increasingly vital trend in the global industry. With natural resources depleting and fashion’s environmental impact becoming more apparent, sustainability has become an essential consideration for modern designers and brands.
Quynh Paris emphasized the use of recycled and eco-friendly materials in her collections. She highlighted the importance of leveraging technology to optimize production processes, reduce waste, and create long-lasting designs. Quynh Paris stands as a role model for integrating sustainability into fashion design, inspiring young designers to craft products that are not only beautiful but also environmentally responsible.
AI, AR, and Sustainable Fashion – The Intersection of Technology and Art
The panel discussion “AI and Virtual Influencers in Fashion Industry” provided a profound exploration of how technology is reshaping the fashion landscape. From AI-driven design and product management to AR-enhanced shopping experiences, the fashion industry continuously innovates and adapts to modern technological trends. The speakers offered diverse perspectives on how technology and creativity merge to produce aesthetically pleasing and sustainable fashion products.
In the future, the integration of AI, AR, and sustainable fashion promises to unlock new opportunities, enabling the industry to grow stronger while meeting rising consumer demands and protecting the environment.
| As part of the growing ArtTech field, the annual international ArtTech Fusion (ATF) series is hosted by the ArtTech Hub (ATH), in collaboration with UEH School of Technology and Design (CTD), University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), and various domestic and international partners, with different themes each year. In 2024, the ArtTech Fusion series was organized under the theme “New ArtTech for Future Generations,” aiming to ignite and promote creative thinking and innovative actions of future generations, contributing to building a sustainable society. Over three days (October 22–24, 2024), ATF24 featured more than 30 academic and practical activities, including 5 keynote speeches, 10 special sessions, 5 parallel research presentation sessions, 5 workshops, 1 academic book chapter publication, 9 exhibitions, 1 heritage connection trip, and 1 tangible performance. In 2025, the fourth ArtTech Fusion (ATF25) will be held with the theme “Co-Creation for a Wondrous Future,” scheduled for September 24–26, 2025. This will be an opportunity to explore, experience, connect, and create within the wondrous world of art and new technologies towards a sustainable future. For updates on ATF25, please visit: Website: https://ath.ueh.edu.vn/ Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/ueh.arttechhub. |
Author: Dr. Hoang Viet Linh – School of Media Design, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH)
This article is part of UEH’s “Research Contribution For All” series, disseminating research and applied knowledge with the message “Research for the Community.” We cordially invite readers to follow the next issue of UEH Research Insights.
News, images: Author, UEH Communications and Partnership Development Department
