Fashion Forward: LCF Founders Club X Fashion Innovation Agency Navigating the Intersection of AI and Creativity

Members of the LCF Founders Club gathered at our East Bank campus for a collaborative event with the ever-brilliant Fashion Innovation Agency, industry experts and enthusiasts came together for an enlightening panel discussion on the utilisation of artificial intelligence (AI) within fashion and how startups can benefit from the use of AI tools. Hosted by Moin Roberts-Islam, Technology & Innovation manager within the Fashion Innovation Agency (FIA), the event featured insights from Lex Fefegha, a creative coder at the forefront of AI experimentation, and Mike Chatterton, the visionary founder of the AI Accelerator, a pioneering consultancy focused on democratising artificial intelligence (AI) for small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

Amidst all the lively discussion, one resounding theme emerged: the imperative need for fashion startups to embrace AI as a tool for future-proofing their practices.

Unveiling AI's Creative Potential:

Lex Fefegha kicked off the discussion as he talked us through some of the intriguingly brilliant projects he had been working on centred around the use of AI, most notably the 'Hip-Hop poetry bot' developed during his artist residency at the Google Arts and Culture Lab in Paris. His vision to merge playful interaction with hip-hop culture led to the creation of an AI model trained on rap and hip-hop lyrics by black artists, ultimately resulting in a captivating exploration of storytelling through machine learning. Lex's approach underscores the transformative power of AI in fostering creativity and innovation within the fashion landscape. He explained his desire to take a more nuanced approach with the use of AI and ultimately demonstrate how it can support your creative practice.

Democratizing AI for Small Businesses:

The conversation then shifted to the barriers faced by small and medium sized businesses when considering implementing AI solutions and how the use of AI can be democratised. Drawing from his extensive experience in technology and consulting, founder of the AI Accelerator Mike Chatterton shed light on the common misconceptions and barriers faced by SMEs when considering utilising AI as a tool. He emphasized the importance of making AI accessible to all businesses regardless of size or technical expertise and reducing the amount of gatekeeping around the use of AI, something he has noticed as a prevalent issue within the industry. Mike debunked the myth that AI is exclusively reserved for tech elites, advocating for tools like Chat GBT and Gemini as powerful yet accessible resources that can help you access the answers you need quicker and ultimately offer further cognitive support to business owners of all levels.

Navigating the Ethical Terrain of AI:

As the discussion delved deeper into the ethical implications of AI and the way it can be used in certain instances, questions arose regarding intellectual property protection and data privacy. Lex and Mike navigated these complex waters, highlighting the need for vigilance and adaptation in an era where AI-driven innovation intersects with legal and ethical boundaries. For example the use of things such as data scraping software, something that lots of businesses are utilising to get ahead of their market interests and ultimately tailor their marketing strategy.

Despite the challenges, their insights offered a roadmap for young businesses seeking to navigate the evolving landscape of AI ethics. And whilst the idea that there is no real quick fix to truly protect yourself or your business from such things was a scary reality to the founders, it was clear that it was important for them to understand that there are plenty of extremely beneficial ways AI can be utilised to elevate their business and as long as they were keeping as up to date as possible with how it can be used, as well as continuing to develop and improve their own IP, they will ultimately be giving themselves the best chance to combat the negative uses of AI, whilst also utilising it as a springboard for further creativity.

The thing that I find is that there is a certain lack of education as to what the impact of AI is going to be, because a lot of people are afraid of the complexity of it. But if you can understand a model of how AI works, It gives you an awareness of the risks and the opportunities that come with that. So to prepare, even as a creative or any other type of organisation, understanding what this technology means, and how it will impact you is probably the best defence you can have around any ethical concerns, as you’ll understand what’s possible. Knowledge is power, so knowing how those things work allows you to arm yourself for both the risks and opportunities that comes with it – Mike Chatterton, Founder of the AI Accelerator.

Empowering Fashion Entrepreneurs with AI:

In addressing the practicality of AI in fashion, the panelists emphasised its potential to revolutionise design, user engagement, and sustainability within Fashion. From personalised recommendations to virtual try-on experiences, AI holds the key to enhancing every facet of the fashion industry. And by embracing AI as a catalyst for innovation, fashion entrepreneurs can unlock new avenues for growth and individuality in an increasingly competitive market.

Following on from the panel discussion, the evening concluded with an hour of networking. And its safe to say the room was absolutely buzzing with excitement as those in attendance unpacked a truly fascinating evening of discussion. We caught up with panel host Moin Roberts-Islam who summarised the evening wonderfully, stating that "Despite the number of panellists, we covered such a broad range of topics. From the creative uses of AI to the practical everyday uses of AI and everything in between.

We had Lex talking about some of the more creative uses and where it may go, we covered user experience, making things more personal and making things more immersive. So it was great to think about things in many different ways. – Moin Roberts-Islam: Technology & Innovation Manager at the Fashion Innovation Agency.

LCF Founders Club member and current MA Fashion Entrepreneurship and Innovation student, Mariana Muhle felt ‘the most interesting thing about this panel discussion was that it was very practice based. A lot of these panel discussions are often about what you can do and what is out there, but it was really focused on what we as a founder can practically do right now. What stood out to me were the different perspectives on AI. So, we had very business focused perspectives like how you can make money through using it as well as the ethical concerns around it so very objective, different perspectives.’

Despite raised concerns around the ethics of AI, overall the panel discussion epitomised the collective effort to drive change and ultimately how AI can be utilised to future-proof the fashion industry. Through insightful discussions and visionary perspectives, attendees gained valuable insights into the transformative potential of AI. And as our Founders Club members navigate the ever-evolving landscape of fashion and its emerging technologies, its safe to say they will continue to lead the charge towards a more innovative, sustainable, and inclusive future for fashion.

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