NEW ADVANCED FASHION PERSPECTIVES A comparison of knowledge and practices in the digital age

The article presents two research projects which, although operating with different methodologies, work in a common field and with complementary tools. The aim is to illustrate how different approaches can interact and give rise to co-production processes, generating reasoning about the state of the art in the fashion sector and how it is evolving. The analysis focuses on the new skills required of fashion designers, the integration of artificial intelligence as a support tool, and the impact of innovations in the sector. In particular, it highlights how new technologies and digital devices not only encourage shared production among the various “players” in the sector, but also act as catalysts. New creative and productive scenarios are emerging that enrich, speed up, and innovate the design process of the Fashion System. While on the one hand it illustrates some of the methods for identifying professional figures, focusing mainly on some of the activities that take place in the style office, on the other hand it analyses the impact of AI in the contemporary scenario, with particular attention to its role in the development of the creative project. Through the description of distinct approaches and methodologies that emerged from the analysis of a joint case study developed during the doctoral programme, the aim is to stimulate new reflections in the scientific community on the role, relationships and tools of the designer. The objective is to outline the relationship between the fashion designer, emerging digital technologies and co-design activities. The dialogue between doctoral students on these recent issues opens up new perspectives and research ideas, encouraging the sharing of knowledge and practices that promote an increasingly collaborative approach. A co-creation environment capable of generating innovation in the fashion sector through the creation of extensive networks connecting institutions with businesses in Italy. Mapping has been used as an analytical tool to represent in a structured way the relationships between the various professionals working in the fashion industry, highlighting how the introduction of digital tools and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, affects the processes of defining, developing and managing a collection project. The success of the experiment opens up new perspectives for fashion design, raising critical questions about the impact of artificial intelligence in ethical and creative terms, as well as the transformations it brings about in manufacturing processes and in the dynamics of interaction between professionals in the sector. In a constantly evolving context, adopting a broad vision and investing in people and tools is essential for the future of Made in Italy.