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The Rise of AI in Fashion Media: When Technology Wears the Brand —

Artificial intelligence has moved beyond design labs and data analytics. It now plays a starring role in how fashion presents itself to the world. From AI-generated photo shoots to fully digital models, brands are experimenting with machine creativity to reimagine storytelling. Three recent campaigns from Mango, Valentino, and Guess reveal how fashion houses are using AI not only to innovate but also to challenge the industry’s ideas of authenticity, artistry, and ethics.

Mango’s “Sunset Dream”: Fashion Without a Photoshoot

In 2024, Mango launched its Sunset Dream campaign for its youth line, becoming one of the first global retailers to release a fully AI-generated fashion campaign. The visuals were created using generative imaging tools trained on real product photos. The result was a series of photorealistic images that looked like a professional shoot without using models, locations, or lighting teams.

Mango’s use of AI showed the technology’s efficiency and creative flexibility. It reduced production costs and time, allowing the brand to produce cohesive imagery quickly and at scale. However, the campaign’s reception was mixed. Some praised its futuristic look, while others criticized the lack of human touch and questioned the authenticity of computer-generated fashion.

Valentino x Vans: When Luxury Meets the Algorithm

Valentino’s Fall/Winter 2025 collaboration with Vans took a more artistic approach. Instead of replacing real people or settings, the brand integrated AI into existing runway footage. The videos were reimagined using AI tools that transformed the models and scenes into surreal digital landscapes. The result was a hybrid campaign where reality and technology collided, reflecting Valentino’s bold creative identity.

This experiment successfully merged luxury and streetwear within a futuristic visual space. It showed how AI could amplify a brand’s aesthetic instead of replacing its creative vision. Critics noted that while the visuals were captivating, the AI effects sometimes overpowered the clothing itself. Still, the campaign was widely praised for its innovation and its ability to generate excitement while maintaining artistic integrity.

Guess: The AI Model Controversy

Guess took a more provocative approach with its 2025 ad spread in Vogue, featuring a model entirely generated by AI. Created by digital artist Seraphinne Vallora, the ad appeared lifelike at first glance, with only a small note revealing its artificial origins.

The reaction was mostly critical. Many in the fashion industry and among readers felt uneasy about a fictional model replacing a human one. Critics raised concerns about creative labor, model representation, and unrealistic beauty standards. The lack of transparency made the backlash stronger, as audiences argued that AI-generated figures should be clearly identified in print media.

What These Campaigns Reveal

Together, these campaigns show both the potential and the risks of AI in fashion media. Mango used AI for speed and creative experimentation. Valentino used it as a tool for artistic expansion. Guess used it to test the boundaries of realism and ethics.

As AI becomes more involved in fashion storytelling, the question is no longer if the industry will use it but how it will balance technology with human creativity. These campaigns remind us that while AI can generate style, it still struggles to create emotion.

Works Cited:

All sources are on the boards, and the presentation was made on Canva.com.

[beyasewarton]

[beyasewarton]

Before Instagram, There Was Susie Bubble —

As a fashion design student who grew up in the age of Instagram, it’s easy to forget there was once a time when fashion was less accessible, when it lived mainly on glossy magazine pages or in runway shows behind velvet ropes. Then came Susanna Lau, better known as Susie Bubble, who opened those doors wide in 2006 with her blog Style Bubble. She wasn’t just documenting outfits; she was creating a space where creativity, individuality, and curiosity collided. Reading her articles now feels like looking into the roots of everything we take for granted in digital fashion media today.

Rise to Fame —

Lau began Style Bubble from her home in London as a personal side project while working in digital media. Her posts, full of bright colors, clashing prints, and intellectual commentary, quickly drew attention. By the late 2000s, she was one of the few independent bloggers invited to sit front row at international fashion weeks, a space once dominated by traditional editors and stylists. Her unique voice, equal parts analytical and playful, earned her recognition at publications like Dazed Digital and The Guardian. For me, what’s inspiring about Susie’s rise is that it wasn’t driven by fame or sponsorships, but by a genuine curiosity about how fashion functions as both art and identity.

What She Wrote About — Susie’s blog stood out because it wasn’t just about trends or designer labels; it was about storytelling through clothing. She explored the cultural and emotional layers of fashion, writing about emerging designers, local craftspeople, and even student collections. She combined detailed outfit breakdowns with essays that analyzed why fashion mattered. Her posts were long, image-heavy, and deeply thoughtful, almost like digital sketchbooks. As someone studying design, I see a reflection of the creative process in her writing: the same layering of thought, experimentation, and texture that goes into building a garment.

Her Loves and Aesthetics — Three things defined what Susie Bubble loved most: independent designers, eclectic personal style, and the stories behind fashion. She was one of the first voices to champion young designers like Simone Rocha and Christopher Kane, giving them visibility long before they became household names. She adored experimenting with layers, color clashes, and unusual silhouettes, wearing outfits that looked more like walking collages than coordinated ensembles. Above all, she embraced individuality. She never dressed for trends; she dressed for joy, creativity, and expression. That freedom to dress without fear is something I find deeply empowering as a design student trying to define my own aesthetic.

Career and Evolution — Over time, Susie’s blog transformed from a personal project into a respected media platform. She became a digital editor, contributed to Vogue and Business of Fashion, appeared in The New York Times, and collaborated with major brands, all while staying true to her original voice. Her Instagram and continued work on Style Bubble remain extensions of that early vision: fashion as conversation, not consumption. Her success showed that passion-driven storytelling could lead to a sustainable and respected career, blurring the line between critic, creator, and influencer.

Contribution to Modern Fashion Media — Susie Bubble’s biggest legacy is how she democratized fashion journalism. She proved that an independent writer with a unique perspective could sit at the same table as industry editors and even change the conversation. Her long-form, personality-driven writing set the foundation for the hybrid roles we now see everywhere: the influencer-critic, the designer-journalist, the creative director who also blogs or runs a Substack. The personal, image-rich, community-driven model she pioneered is still the blueprint for how fashion is discussed and discovered online.

Connection to Current Journalists — Today’s digital critics, from Vogue Runway writers to Substack essayists, owe much to Susie’s approach. They balance analysis with accessibility, just as she did. Her writing taught readers that fashion isn’t just about clothing, but about the ideas, histories, and identities stitched within it. As a student, I can see how her lens encouraged a more inclusive and imaginative way of looking at design, one that values authenticity over algorithm and storytelling over status.

Susie Bubble didn’t just blog about fashion; she humanized it. She demonstrated that style could be a form of personal freedom, that fashion writing could be both intellectual and emotional, and that one voice (honest, curious, and a little chaotic) could change the entire rhythm of the industry.

Works Cited:

Dot Dot Bubble Tea (@Wearedotdot) • Instagram Photos and Videos. www.instagram.com/susiebubble.

Lau, Susie. “A Look Back at Louis Vuitton’s Trip to Barcelona for Cruise 2025 - 10 Magazine.” 10 Magazine, 6 May 2025, 10magazine.com/louis-vuitton-barcelona-cruise-2025-10-issue-7.

Lau, Susanna. “Is London’s New Era Here?” The Business of Fashion, 2 Oct. 2025, www.businessoffashion.com/reviews/fashion-week/hm-conner-ives-simone-rocha-burberry-womenswear-spring-summer-2026.

Lau, Susie. “Susie Lau on Her Trip to Kyoto for Dior Fall 2025 - 10 Magazine.” 10 Magazine, 6 May 2025, 10magazine.com/susie-lau-trip-to-kyoto-dior-fall-2025.

“Susanna Lau - the Business of Fashion.” The Business of Fashion, 23 Sept. 2025, www.businessoffashion.com/authors/susanna-lau.

Wikipedia contributors. “Susanna Lau.” Wikipedia, 12 May 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanna_Lau.

Media can be found on Susanna Lau's Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/susiebubble/ and her outfit archives on the internet throughout other blog posts.

The presentation was made on Canva.com.

[beyasewarton]

Soshi Otsuki Lookbook: Quiet Power in Motion —

Soshi Otsuki’s latest lookbook celebrates refined tailoring and understated elegance. Every element is designed to let the garments shine, focusing on texture, structure, and craftsmanship.

Makeup and Grooming Women’s makeup highlights cheeks and lips only, enhancing natural beauty with soft, sun-kissed tones while keeping freckles and beauty marks visible. Men are clean-shaven with sleek, simple hair, presenting a polished, confident look. Avant-garde styles are avoided to keep attention on the clothing.

Cultural and Natural Hairstyles Hairstyles honor each model’s cultural identity. Indigenous models may wear braids to celebrate heritage, East Asian models draw from classic Japanese styles, and natural curls are embraced and defined. The result feels authentic while complementing the garments.

Lighting and Photography Shoot in natural sunlight before 12 PM for a soft, morning glow. Soft fill lighting and mirrors reflect light, highlight textures, and add depth. Harsh, backlit, or colored lighting is avoided. Poses suggest movement or anticipation, showing how fabrics drape and flow with the body.

Expression and Mood Models express quiet confidence and fulfillment through subtle smiles and smirks, reinforcing the empowering effect of the suits while keeping focus on the tailoring.

Every choice in makeup, hair, lighting, and posing is intentional, creating a lookbook that is serene, elegant, and alive, letting Soshi Otsuki’s craftsmanship speak for itself.

[beyasewarton]

NYC Study Tour : Soorty Denimkind —

During my visit to Soorty Denimkind’s NYC showroom, tour guide Melissa Urbina highlighted the brand’s message of “sustainable craftsmanship of the future.” Soorty operates as a vertically integrated denim manufacturer with global hubs in Pakistan, New York, Amsterdam, Istanbul, and Bangladesh, controlling every stage from fiber sourcing to garment finishing. Their LEED-certified factory in Karachi uses recycled fibers, organic cotton, and bio-based dyes, supported by blockchain technology for full traceability. Innovative laser technology and zero-waste cutting methods further reduce water, chemical, and fabric waste.

The visit inspired me to integrate sustainable practices into my own design process. For my Junior Studio I project, I plan to research Soorty’s production model and explore biodegradable fibers like ramie. This experience also deepened my interest in textile engineering and how responsible design can shape fashion’s future. Ultimately, I aim to revive Claude Montana’s legacy through a vision rooted in circularity, innovation, and social responsibility.

[beyasewarton]

This article's layout explores maximalism in New York City street style, presenting it as more than a trend and instead as an expression of individuality and confidence. The updated writing below captures the bold layering, textures, and accessories that define the style, while the layout design mirrors its eclectic energy through imagery, typography, and color. The goal is to show how maximalism transforms the streets into runways and functions as a statement of identity within contemporary fashion.

The Bold Art of More: UNLEASHED —

Maximalism is alive and thriving on the streets of New York City. It is not just a passing trend. It is a full-blown attitude, a declaration that fashion belongs to those who dare to take up visual space. Street style here is fearless, layered, and unapologetically personal, transforming sidewalks into living collages of texture and color. Oversized silhouettes collide with razor-sharp tailoring, velvet pants sweep the pavement beside glossy patent leather boots, and textiles dance together in an orchestrated chaos of movement.

Accessories are not an afterthought. They are the punctuation marks of every outfit. Fingers glint with stacked rings, chunky chains anchor necklines, mirrored sunglasses shield sharp stares, and oversized statement bags swing with purpose. Each avenue feels like a curated gallery, each subway entrance like a catwalk, where rules are not just bent but rewritten daily.

New Yorkers layer prints, clash colors, and experiment with proportions in ways that feel both rebellious and intentional. Leopard might meet neon plaid, metallics might sparkle against distressed denim, and somehow it all works. Every outfit is a story built in layers, a visual diary of personality, heritage, mood, and experimentation.

Here, nothing whispers. Everything speaks. Maximalism on NYC streets proves it is not about excess for the sake of excess. It is about ownership. Ownership of space, of presence, of voice. It is a philosophy that says: I am here, and you will see me.

Maximalism ROARS.

Hand-shot —

Shape & Texture Play: Incorporate ornate details to create contrast with mixtures of elements, adding depth.

Accessory Galore: Bold centerpieces to draw attention that ground the whole look.

Dimension: Different lengths and heights add elegance without causing unbalanced movement in an area.

Stacking Strategies: Thinness/thickness anchors and grounds the look. Could you pair it with dainty accessories to add movement?

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NYC Study Tour: Timeless Elegance Meets Creative Innovation —

Bergdorf Goodman stands out as more than just a retail space. It is a true fashion landmark with a luxurious aesthetic, carefully curated floors, and exclusive high-end brands that highlight craftsmanship and artistry over mass appeal. In contrast, Dover Street Market thrives on experimental, art-driven concepts that celebrate innovation and creative risk-taking. Together, they represent two distinct yet equally important sides of the fashion industry. For me as a fashion design student, Bergdorf embodies timeless prestige and heritage, while Dover Street Market reflects the bold creativity that pushes fashion forward.

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Coterie/Magic Trade Shows —

Visiting the Coterie/MAGIC trade show in New York City gave me a clear understanding of how different platforms serve different areas of the fashion industry. Coterie is a high-end, curated show focused on contemporary women’s fashion that caters to an older, more established audience, connecting brands with luxury retailers and boutiques. In contrast, MAGIC is broader and more trend-driven, showcasing apparel and accessories across categories at accessible price points, appealing to a younger demographic.

Seeing both shows firsthand allowed me to experience how fashion transitions from design to market, and how trade shows are vital for linking creativity with business. It also gave me valuable perspective as a Kent State fashion student on how brands position themselves for different audiences within the global fashion landscape.