Maurice SkinnerAlgorithmic Couture is aiming to automate the creation of zero waste fashion to provide ethical customized clothing. This project is now laying down the foundation to promote sustainability in the fashion world with the aid of designers, machine learning engineers, and digital fabrication specialists. Under the direction of Synflux, Algorithmic Couture aims to change the traditional form of creating clothing to pave the way into a zero waste fashion age.
Current fashion techniques waste around 15% of fabric, which is not sustainable in the long run. The Algorithmic Couture project aims to reduce this percentage to zero by utilizing technology. This project uses three main concepts: sustainability, digitization, and customization.
Through sustainability, Algorithmic Couture’s goal is to use all fabric in order to make its designs. This means none of its materials are going to waste. Next, we have digitization, which allows fashion designers to digitize traditional haute couture techniques in order to create an automated fabrication production system. Lastly, customization allows the creation of garments by using original parameters that can help make a perfect fit for each customer.
Algorithmic Couture is a system which produces clothing that helps create a customizable fit depending on an individual’s body type and is done by using 3-D scanning technology and computer-aided design (CAD) software. Furthermore, customization according to the user’s preference is also a possibility. Customers are able to freely select the design, material, color, and pattern through the project’s web template. These patterns are made by utilizing an algorithm that draws by combining hyperfine triangles and squares.
Synflux, a research collective, has already began making waves with their new technology. At April’s Global Change Award, which is sponsored by the non profit H&M Foundation, Algorithmic Couture was the only Japanese winner to take the podium.
Algorithmic Couture team includes fashion designer and project lead Kazuya Kawasaki, designer Kotaro Sano, and machine learning Engineer Yusuke Fujihara. Each of these members also make up Synflux, a research collective focusing on research and design for sustainable fashion industry.
