Latest news with #digitisation
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
How AI is influencing the future of luxury fashion
A couple of years ago, around the dawn of Covid-19, an intense conversation emerged across management and business sectors about Artificial Intelligence's (AI's) potential to transform various industries. As the world adjusted to reduced human interaction and fewer in-person experiences, both essential and non-essential companies pivoted rapidly — producing face masks and embracing digital platforms. It marked a turning point in the broader wave of digitisation, one that has since reshaped many sectors, including fashion. Jacquemus' giant Le Chiquito bag, placed in the middle of the road, for instance, broke the Internet and set the tone for a wave of fashion and travel brand marketing. Around the same time, luxury brands were debuting their seasonal collections via Zoom links, offering virtual runway experiences. Even regional labels like Saiid Kobeisy embraced the shift by producing AI-generated images of their couture worn by digital models, signalling a new era in visual storytelling. In 2023, we witnessed the start of AI Fashion Week in addition to the usual quarterly shows. When you work in fashion long enough, you learn that change doesn't always enter with a bang. Sometimes, it slips in quietly, sits around the corner, and listens before making its move. As with most shifts in fashion, change didn't arrive with a bang. It crept in quietly like an invisible layer beneath the surface. From Balenciaga to Valentino, major houses have begun using AI to conceptualise campaign imagery and experiment with digital narratives — not to make fashion feel futuristic, but to make it feel timeless in a new medium. How AI Is Being Used The beauty of AI lies in its capacity to sift through the vast expanse of publicly available data to pick up on emerging micro-trends. These can often be traced to influencers, celebrities, or niche communities. AI can monitor these key figures and social groups, identifying upticks in certain styles or items. This information is invaluable for brands as it provides real-time insights into what is gaining traction, allowing clients to pivot quickly and capitalise on these micro-trends before they hit the mainstream. Then there's the way heritage is being handled. For maisons like Dior or Chanel, archives are gold. AI is now helping to sift through decades of sketches, textiles, and silhouettes, making it easier for design teams to revisit and reimagine pieces from the past. It doesn't cheapen the process; if anything, it sharpens it. Dior has gone one step further with Astra, its AI-powered platform that looks at customer data to better predict what clients actually want. It's still Dior, still exclusive, still bespoke — but with a slightly smarter engine running in the background. And let's not forget names like Iris van Herpen, who's been ahead of the curve for years, blending machine-led design with couture-level craftsmanship. Her work proves that technology and handcraft can coexist without compromising on either. AI is poised to transform fashion design as we know it. With its ability to generate unconventional, out-of-the-box ideas, the creative process is no longer limited by human bandwidth alone. One designer recently demonstrated this shift through a custom-made dress — initially drafted using AI and later brought to life with the help of skilled tailors. The final piece was a near-perfect replication of the AI-generated concept, signalling a future where design and production could be seamlessly fused through technology. 'AI is set to transform fashion design, enabling more out-of-the-box creativity and faster execution. I've already seen it with a custom piece I created — the AI draft and final design were nearly identical. We no longer need to do photo shoots all the time for content creation. Ghost mannequin photos will be easily done, especially if we already have the picture. We can just replicate it through AI and make endless creative content with that,' says Kanessa Muluneh, serial entrepreneur and founder of MULU Fashion Academy. Intermingling Of Both Máire Morris, CEO of the Dubai-based Morris Global Consulting, chimes in the discussion: 'AI can greatly support the business side of couture — from streamlining internal processes and marketing to researching archives or simulating fabrics. 3D body scanning could also enhance fit precision. But couture is, at its heart, about handcraft and human connection. No machine, however advanced, should replace the artistry or the lifelong trust between a maison and its client. Some things, like couture, deserve to remain sacred.' With excitement and hope, Muluneh says: 'I think AI can revolutionise the world of luxury fashion. Especially when it comes to visuals and content. It can already fully replace humans and create endless creative possibilities…' On a deeper level of seaming and tailoring, and design ideating, she thinks there's a lot of potential for AI in the space. Motif generation from text prompts for visualisation purposes has become a real time saver. It also aids in exploring archival collections and simulating designs on various base fabrics, allowing for quick experimentation with scale and colour. Additionally, the fast conversion of hand drawings to vector files significantly reduces the time previously spent on these processes. Indian fashion designer Manish Malhotra adds: 'AI can be a remarkable ally in motif visualisation by accelerating the journey from inspiration to intricate design. It allows us to input a mood, a cultural reference, or even an emotion, and watch it evolve into visual possibilities — motifs we may not have imagined through traditional sketching alone. For a designer rooted in storytelling like myself, this opens doors to re-interpret heritage with contemporary fluidity. AI doesn't just replicate patterns; it reimagines them, merging archives, textile histories, and geometry into one frame. It's intuitive, iterative, and inspiring.' The Crossroads But luxury has never been about mass-producing garments simply good enough to wear on a night out, has it? In fact, I'd argue that luxury is about how it makes you feel. It taps into your inner self-image and mirrors what you want to project. Some may invest in a piece for the design, others because they believe in the brand's vision, some to support craftsmanship, and others to own a timeless ensemble that can be passed down. 'AI will probably play a significant role in developing and creating elements of design, such as motifs, structure, and sourcing unique elements to include in the final product. But for haute couture to remain true to what its moniker stands for, the human element cannot be replaced,' says Dipesh Depala, founder of Dubai-based luxury fashion PR company The Qode. He continues: 'I don't believe that AI will revolutionise haute couture. Which, by its very nature, requires the human element — the genius and creativity of an individual, not an app. A haute couture customer traditionally has a relationship with the creator. That is a crucial part of the haute couture process, which can't be replaced by AI. What we may well see is a hybrid, where AI helps to enhance rather than replace.' AI certainly has helped fashion evolve — it has made the industry more accessible, more visual, and easier to engage with across generations. But if you've spent any time around those who truly understand and invest in luxury, you'll know this: they're not looking for shortcuts. They don't want fast, easy, or generated. They want intention. They want something that takes time, thought, and craft. AI might help with reach and positioning, but it will never replicate the quiet power of something made with real hands and a clear vision. The true luxury consumer isn't buying into convenience — they're buying into legacy.
Globe and Mail
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Sharjah Ruler signs $6M agreement to digitise UNESCO global archive
Issued by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau PARIS , May 22, 2025 /CNW/ -- His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah , witnessed the signing of an agreement to digitise UNESCO's global archive with a $6 million grant from the Sharjah Book Authority. The signing took place Wednesday morning at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris , in the presence of his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi , Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, and Audrey Azoulay , Director-General of UNESCO. Agreement Signed Officially The agreement was signed by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi , Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), and Jennifer Linkins , Assistant Director-General for Administration and Management at UNESCO. The project, based on directives from the Ruler of Sharjah , aims to preserve global heritage, protect important documents, and ensure digital accessibility. It will span five years and include the digitisation of books, manuscripts, audio recordings, documentaries, and various archival materials. Archive Tour Conducted His Highness conducted a tour of the UNESCO Library and Archive, examining significant collections including global documents, books, and manuscripts. He was also informed about the essential functions of the library in supporting the organisation's objectives and utilising its cultural. Preservation Importance Highlighted During the visit, His Highness viewed a number of aging historical documents, some of which had been impacted by deteriorating conditions. This emphasised the importance of the digitisation agreement. A Comprehensive Historical Archive The UNESCO archive stands as one of the largest and most important institutional archives globally, which includes nearly 80 years of historical records. The collection features more than 2.5 million pages of documents, 165,000 rare photographs, and thousands of hours of audio and video recordings, These materials capture pivotal moments in global cultural and educational history. Digitisation Urgently Needed Only 5% of the archive has been digitised, highlighting the significant value it holds, yet constrained by limited resources and various logistical and technical challenges. This underscores the critical necessity for assistance to expedite comprehensive digital transformation and protect the archive. Sharjah's Strategic Initiative Approximately 95% of the archive remains undigitised, making Sharjah's initiative a significant move towards converting this global legacy into accessible digital content for researchers, academic institutions, and cultural communities around the world. Sharjah's Vision Confirmed Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi remarked, "This grant exemplifies Sharjah's commitment to preserving human heritage and protecting the world's memory, highlighting knowledge as a fundamental element of sustainable human development. UNESCO's global archive stands as a vital centre for the preservation of heritage, intellect, education, and culture, emphasising that its preserving is a shared moral responsibility." Knowledge Access Promoted Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi stated, " Sharjah has always held the belief that access to knowledge should be fair and inclusive, and that protecting human memory is vital for fostering creativity and progress. With this initiative, we are creating a new avenue for international collaboration aimed at building a future that respects the past while providing future generations the chance to learn from history and draw inspiration from its lessons." Ongoing Cultural Leadership This agreement demonstrates Sharjah's ongoing leadership, under the direction of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah , in fostering knowledge and humanitarian initiatives. It reinforces the emirate's position as a global hub for cultural preservation, heritage protection, and the promotion of Arab representation in international intellectual and scientific organisations. SOURCE Sharjah Government Media Bureau
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
'Zombie spider' fungi among Kew archive specimens
"Zombie spiders" and Darwin's HMS Beagle collection are among the fungi being digitally archived by scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Kew's Fungarium, an archive beneath the west London garden, is one of the world's biggest and most important collections of fungal diversity. It contains more than a million specimens collected over the past 175 years. Teams have been creating high resolution images, transcribing the data and uploading it onto Kew's portal, which grants researchers worldwide remote access to the collection. Operations manager of the Fungarium digitisation, Shaheenara Chowdhury, said fungi "have been overlooked by the scientific community for so long, and yet they are amongst the most wonderful and mysterious organisms on the planet". The specimens are georeferenced and span decades, meaning experts can observe how a species' range has changed over time, helping to inform conservation plans. Kew scientists have also been tapping into the genetic information stored in the Fungarium's 50,000 type specimens. The project, which is a partnership with the National History Museum and is backed by government funding, aims to sequence about 7,000 of these fungi, making the data publicly available online in the coming years. The hope is that this will accelerate the discovery of new chemicals and medicines. Scientists estimate there are 2.5 million fungal species in the world but only 166,000 have been described. Among the species digitised by the Kew team is Gibellula attenboroughii - or David Attenborough's "zombie fungus" - named after first being spotted on an episode of BBC's Winterwatch in 2021, having infected an orb-weaving cave spider. The parasitic fungus species belongs to a group that infects their invertebrate hosts and takes control before killing them as part of their spore-spreading mechanisms. Another was Cyttaria dawinii, a small globular parasitic fungus collected by Charles Darwin in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in South America during the HMS Beagle voyage between 1831 and 1836. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Mysterious plants and fungi named new to science
Times of Oman
12-05-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Tax Authority, Omantel sign agreement to implement electronic invoicing system
Muscat: The Tax Authority signed an agreement to implement the electronic invoicing system with Omantel. The agreement, signed in Muscat on Monday, forms part of the Sultanate of Oman's ongoing efforts to modernise the tax system and to keep pace with global trends towards comprehensive digitisation. The agreement was signed by Nasser bin Khamis Al Jashmi, Chairman of the Tax Authority, and Eng. Sami bin Ahmed Al Ghassani, Chief Tech and Digital Officer of Omantel. The step represents a milestone in the governance of the tax sector. Besides enhancing operational efficiency, the e-invoice platform helps regulate public revenues. Drawing on its accumulated expertise in the technology sector, Omantel operates as an innovative digital design centre for the e-invoice system. The company gains impetus from its digital transition initiatives and its support to the strategy of sustainability.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sub-post office reopens with postal only services
A sub-post office within a convenience store in the Manx capital is offering postal services only following a refurbishment. The facility in Governor's Hill, which had been shut since 23 April, will no longer be providing agency services such as MiCard pension and benefit payments, bill payment services or foreign exchange. It comes after Treasury's announcement that it would terminate the MiCard service in December 2025, as it was "no longer viable". However, postage services at the store, which is operated by Mannin Retail, will be available for longer hours from 08:00 until 21:00 BST seven days a week. The move also comes amid a government push to digitise the delivery of many of its services. The Isle of Man Post Office said it "acknowledges the substantial impact" the termination of MiCard and digitisation of vehicle licensing would have on demand for counter services, which together accounted for 75% of non-postal transactions last year. For those who require non-postal services, the nearest sub-post office was the Spar outlet in Willaston, it added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. Cash pension and benefit payments to stop in 2025 Isle of Man Post Office Spar - Governor's Hill
