Since its founding, FTC ® has stood for high-quality knitwear made from the finest cashmere fibers and sustainable production. For its latest collection, the Zurich-based company has for the first time drawn inspiration from artificial intelligence.
The idea of using AI to create looks emerged during after-work drinks in winter 2022. The design team considered how AI could be used in the design process and decided to use AI-generated images from the Midjourney platform as inspiration for selected cashmere styles.
To do this, the creative team entered additional specifications for a photorealistic representation into the text-to-image generator, always using the same prompt: "A woman is walking a fashion show in 3032 in the desert." The AI's suggestions were then implemented and further adapted in the design process. The result is five innovative looks that were brought to life using 100% cashmere and special cashmere blends. The use of AI at FTC® goes far beyond design inspiration, as the technology has also been integrated into the product management process to make production decisions and minimize environmental impact.
However, the optimization potential is not only evident in saving patterns, but also in the image creation for marketing content: high-quality images are already created by AI before the product physically exists. Nevertheless, human guidance is crucial for generating relevant and manufacturable models. FTC®'s specialized knitting technicians and designers are required for the final production, thus combining craftsmanship and innovation.
"The rapid development of Open AI and media coverage prompted us to question various status quos within our company. One of these is the design and product management process, where we can learn from AI and pursue even more creative approaches. Other important issues include copyright infringement and the difficulty of distinguishing authentic works. Therefore, it is crucial for us to experiment with these new technologies to continue to play a pioneering role."
Jana Knezovic (Head of Product at FTC®)
