Threading the Future: AI, 3D Technology, and Human Skills in the Evolving Fashion Workforce

Abstract: Technology, particularly automation and artificial intelligence (AI), is fundamentally reshaping the future of work, impacting job roles, skill requirements, and the overall workplace environment. While some jobs may be displaced by automation, new roles are emerging, particularly those that require uniquely human skills such as creativity, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and complex communication. The human element remains indispensable. Navigating this evolving landscape requires commitment to lifelong learning, upskilling, and embracing a mindset that views human-machine collaboration as essential rather than optional.Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the fashion industry had already begun experimenting with sustainable practices in production, including recycling, eco-conscious packaging, and environmentally responsible manufacturing and cleaning processes. Abbate, Centobelli, Cerchione, Nadeem, and Riccio (2024) observed that the textile, apparel, and fashion (TAF) industry “contributes significantly to global environmental pollution” (p. 2837). In response, both global brands and independent designers began adopting practices aimed at reducing environmental harm while also raising consumer awareness. Sung and Woo (2019) described slow fashion products as not only environmentally friendly but also socially and ethically responsible. Despite these efforts, fashion-related higher education programs have been slow to adapt their curricula to meet these new sustainability and technological standards.In recent years, and particularly since 2020, the fashion industry has rapidly embraced 3D digital technology as both a sustainability solution and a means of increasing efficiency. The shift toward digital fashion accelerated during the pandemic as businesses scrambled to maintain production with minimal human contact. 3D fashion design software, such as Browzwear and CLO, has revolutionized the design process by reducing the need for physical materials and eliminating wasteful prototyping. Designers can now build garments in a 3D environment, fit them on virtual avatars, and make instant alterations, allowing for quicker approvals and reduced shipping and sample costs. Dou (2024) points out that digital tools are optimizing not only prototyping and design reviews but also production and online merchandising, drastically shortening development timelines.As a result, entirely new job categories are emerging at the intersection of fashion and technology. Designers now need to master digital design tools rather than traditional sewing machines. This transformation is creating opportunities in AI-assisted design, virtual fitting, and sustainable tech innovation within a $3 trillion global industry. There is a growing demand for hybrid roles that blend creative, technical, and digital expertise. As fashion businesses transition deeper into the AI landscape, the integration of human-centered technology will be crucial, not just for productivity, but also to ensure ethical design practices and sustainability goals are met.The fashion industry's future will be shaped by how well it balances automation with human ingenuity. To remain relevant, educators, professionals, and companies must invest in forward-thinking, tech-integrated, and sustainability-driven practices that prepare the next generation for a rapidly changing workforce.ReferencesAbbate, S., Centobelli, P., Cerchione, R., Nadeem, S. P., & Riccio, E. (2024). A systematic literature review on sustainable practices in the textile, apparel and fashion industry. Journal of Cleaner Production, 433, 138257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.138257Dou, Y. (2024). Digital transformation in fashion: The role of 3D technologies in sustainable product development. International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education, 17(1), 45–58. https://doi.org/10.1080/17543266.2023.2265487Sung, K., & Woo, J. (2019). Consumers’ value–behavior gap in sustainable apparel consumption: An exploratory study of Korean consumers. Sustainability, 11(19), 5381. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11195381

Keywords: AI, 3D, Future of Fashion

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006920

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