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What happens when fashion legends attack the transformative power of artificial intelligence? For more than fifty years, fashion designer and entrepreneur Norma Kamali has pioneered a bold industry turnaround, creating the iconic silhouettes worn by celebrities including Whitney Houston and Jessica Biel. Now, she is embracing a new field that blends creativity with algorithms and artificial intelligence to redefine the future of its industry.
Through the online “Application Generation AI for Digital Transformation” course completed by MIT Professional Education in 2023, Kamali explores the potential of AI as a creative partner and ensures the longevity and evolution of its brand.
Kamali’s AI introduction started with a conference in Abu Dhabi, where it was inspired by the Walmart series, where industry experts suggested developing an AI-powered fashion platform. Kamali was cautious about the concept of the concept of “download brain” and instead envisioned a system that could extend her 57-year archive – a closed-loop AI tool trained only in her work. “I think the AI might be my Karl Lagerfeld,” she said.
To bring this vision to life, Kamali seeks a deeper understanding of Generative AI – so she heads to MIT Professional Education, a member of MIT, who has taught and inspired professionals around the world for over 75 years. “I’m not sure how much I can really do,” she recalls. “I have all these preconceived ideas, but the more I learn, the more I think.” She was initially frightened by the technical aspects of AI, and she persisted in jumping into tips and training data and exploring its creativity. “I’m determined,” she said. “And then suddenly, I’m playing.”
Kamali tried AI to reinterpret one of her iconic styles through a proprietary AI model created by Maison Meta – black clothing adorned with silver studs. By iterating over the iteration of its existing outline, she witnessed unexpected and exciting results. “That’s magical,” she said. “Art, technology, and fashion clash in ways I’ve never thought of it.” Even the so-called “illusion” of AI (usually seen as a mistake) has become a source of inspiration. “Some of the best editorial fashions are ridiculous,” she said. “The abnormalities generated by AI create entirely new art forms.”
Kamali’s approach to AI reflects a widespread shift across the industry where technology is not only a tool, but also a catalyst for reinvention. Bhaskar Pant, executive director of professional education at MIT, highlighted the shift. “While everyone is speculating on the impact of AI, we are committed to promoting AI’s role in helping industry and leaders achieve breakthroughs, higher levels of productivity, and unleashing creativity in this context. Working hard can enhance their work and re-determine Norma’s journey. Out of curiosity and ambition.”
This experience also deepens Kamali’s view on the role of AI in the creative process. “AI has no heartbeat,” she asserted. “It can’t replace human passion. But it can enhance creativity in ways we’re only beginning to understand.” Kamali also addressed industry concerns about work displacement, believing that the technology has reshape the fashionable workforce landscape. “Sewing talent is hard to find. Designers need new tools to adapt.”
In addition to its creative applications, Kamali also sees AI as a tool for sustainability. Her long-standing advocacy for reducing dry cleaners, a practice related to chemical exposure, envisions AI streamlining fabric choices, minimizing waste and enabling on-demand production. “Imagine a system where you can design a wedding dress online, and a robot constructs a piece of clothing at once,” she said. “The possibilities are endless.”
Abel Sanchez, research scientist at MIT and lead lecturer in Applied Generation AI for Digital Transformation Courses, highlights the transformational potential of AI across industries. “AI is a force that reshapes the foundations of every industry, including fashion. Generated AI is unlocking unprecedented opportunities for digital transformation, enabling organizations to rethink processes, design, and customer engagement. Norma is at the forefront of this transformation, exploring how AI can move the fashion industry forward, inspire new creative fields, interact with new creative fields, and interact with design. Designers interact with design.
Kamali’s experience in the course sparked an ongoing exchange with Sanchez, further exacerbating her curiosity. “AI is growing so fast, I know I need to go back,” she said. “MIT gave me the foundation, but it’s just the beginning.” For those who are reluctant to accept AI, she offers an amazing analogy: “Imagine in a small town, in a foreign town where you don’t speak language, don’t know food and are completely lost. If you don’t learn AI, that’s it.
With the AI-generated design on her website, Kamali now shows technology and creativity on her website that are not contradictory – they are collaborators. As she continued to push the boundaries between the two, she remained unwavering: “Study is a risk in life. Why stop now?”