The use of artificial intelligence (AI): A review within the fashion industry

Abstract

The fashion industry contributes $2.4 trillion to global manufacturing and employs approximately 300 million people across the value chain, making it one of the largest manufacturing industries in the global economy. Hence, it is also responsible for roughly 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions and urgently needs innovation to meet the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations by 2030.

Therefore, the fashion industry can benefit significantly from implementing new digital technologies. With this motivation, this thesis examined the integration of one of these technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI), in the fashion industry, focusing on its role in driving innovation and competitiveness and delving into its impact on sustainability within the industry. Furthermore, this research explored the various applications of AI in the industry, from general applications to design innovation, and how they can contribute to a business’s success. Along with the benefits followed by AI implementation, the research also examined challenges and risks brought up by businesses and their sustainability by Artificial Intelligence.