Designer Kate Barton is set to redefine the runway experience at this Saturday’s New York Fashion Week. In a strategic collaboration with Fiducia AI, Barton is launching a multilingual AI agent powered by IBM watsonx on IBM Cloud, allowing attendees to interact with the collection through virtual try-ons and real-time product discovery.
Technology as a Creative Portal
For Barton, the integration of artificial intelligence is not about replacing human artistry, but rather expanding the narrative of her designs. She views the AI-driven set design as a “portal” into the collection’s world, designed to spark curiosity and create “double-take” moments for the audience.
Orchestrating the AI Runway
Ganesh Harinath, founder and CEO of Fiducia AI, explains that the technical backbone of the presentation relies on IBM watsonx and IBM Cloud Object Storage. The system features a visual AI lens capable of identifying specific garments, answering complex queries via voice or text in multiple languages, and delivering photorealistic virtual try-ons.
“The hardest work wasn’t model tuning; it was orchestration,” Harinath noted. This project marks a significant evolution from Barton’s previous season, where she first experimented with AI models in partnership with Fiducia AI.
The Future of Fashion and AI
While many fashion brands are currently utilizing AI for internal operations or basic chatbots, they often remain silent about these implementations due to perceived reputational risks. Barton compares this current hesitation to the early days of the internet, when brands questioned the necessity of having a web presence.
Looking ahead, the industry expects a shift in how AI is perceived. Harinath predicts that AI will be fully normalized in fashion by 2028, becoming an essential component of retail operations by 2030. Dee Waddell, Global Head of Consumer, Travel, and Transportation Industries at IBM Consulting, emphasizes this potential: “When inspiration, product intelligence, and engagement are connected in real time, AI moves from being a feature to becoming a growth engine.”
Human-Centric Innovation
Despite the rapid push toward automation, Barton remains firm on the necessity of human input. She advocates for clear discourse, ethical licensing, and a recognition that human creativity is an asset, not an overhead cost. Her vision for the future is clear: using technology to heighten craft and deepen storytelling without erasing the people who make fashion worth wearing.