Getting Started with AI in Fashion
- Jun 4
- 4 min read
How AI tools are opening up new creative possibilities in fashion design
AI can sound intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be. Many of today’s creative AI tools are simple, fast, and designed to help you explore ideas, solve problems, and communicate your vision more clearly.
You don’t need to be technical. You just need curiosity and a starting point.
At CAD for Fashion, we help designers, educators, and teams build confidence with creative digital tools. This guide is here to show you what’s possible, wherever you're coming from, and help you take your first step with AI.
What can AI do for fashion?
Turn your sketches into high-quality visuals:
Speed up ideation and variation
Present your ideas more clearly
Reduce physical sampling and early waste
Save time so you can focus on creativity
Encourage experimentation, play, and critical thinking
Useful AI Tools to Explore
Many of these tools are free to try, and some are completely free for academic use, making them perfect for schools, colleges, and universities.
Text-to-Image
Adobe Firefly (Free with Adobe ID, includes education access): Great for generating prints, textures, and creative fashion elements
Adobe Express (with Firefly AI integration) (Free tier available): Use AI-generated assets in marketing content, social posts, and presentations
Canva AI (Magic Media) (Free plan available): Use natural prompts to create visuals inside layouts
Bing Image Creator (Free with Microsoft account): Quick and easy, prompt-based generation
Dream by Wombo (Free mobile app): Fun for exploring different styles and themes
Midjourney (Subscription required, but popular and creatively engaging): A powerful and highly visual tool that is fun to use and produces impressive fashion imagery
Sketch-to-Image
NewArc.ai (Free for academic use): Upload hand sketches and turn them into detailed fashion visuals
Vizcom.ai (Free for academic use): A powerful sketch-to-fashion platform designed for educators and students
Scribble Diffusion (Free browser tool): A very simple tool for playful sketch-to-visual experimentation
Vary.ai (Free beta access): Upload sketches and adjust outputs for garment-level control
Print & Graphics
Adobe Firefly (Free with Adobe ID): Create repeating prints, graphic motifs, and textural elements using generative prompts
Dalle 3 in Bing or ChatGPT Pro: Generate conceptual graphics or placement prints from description
Kittl AI (Free and paid plans): Create graphics, illustrations, and typographic elements suitable for fashion branding
Patterned.ai (Free trial available): Generate seamless patterns and repeating prints with editable outputs
Vectary (Free and paid tiers): Turn AI-generated images into vector elements or 3D-inspired motifs
Video & Animation
Runway ML (Free plan available, upgrade for advanced features): Animate fashion images, edit videos, or generate AI video content
Adobe Premiere Pro (with AI-powered editing tools) (Free trial available): Offers auto-captioning, smart reframing, and content-aware editing features
Adobe After Effects (with generative AI tools) (Free trial available): Use for motion graphics with AI-assisted automation for animation and effects
Luma Labs (Free trial option): AI-generated clips from images or text prompts
Kaiber (Free trial available): Create animated sequences from still fashion designs
AI-Powered Photoshoots
Vizcom (Free for academic use): Includes virtual garment try-on and photorealistic model generation tools to bring sketches to life in styled fashion shoots
Raspberry AI (Sign-up required): Offers on-body visualisation, 3D avatar to photorealism, and styled scene generation for marketing visuals
Adobe Photoshop (with Generative Fill and Remove tools) (Free trial available, student pricing offered): Easily manipulate images, remove backgrounds, and generate content-aware fills
Remove.bg (Free online tool): Instantly removes backgrounds from images
Canva Background Generator (Free access with Canva account): Place your designs into scenes or contexts for stronger storytelling
A Guide for Students & Emerging Designers
AI helps you bring your ideas to life, even if you don’t have access to expensive software or rendering tools.
Where to start:
Upload your sketch into NewArc to create a finished visual
Use Adobe Firefly to experiment with prints or textures
Try Runway or Pika to create short videos or animated looks
Use Canva to build boards, lookbooks, or presentations
Tips:
Start with simple prompts
Expect surprises, and use them as inspiration
Combine AI results with your own design input for more control
AI gives you more freedom to experiment and more ways to present your ideas with confidence. See our range of Skills Updates on demand for more on these tools.
A Guide For Educators
Introducing AI to your classroom doesn’t mean overhauling your curriculum. It means giving your learners more tools to explore and communicate creatively.
Why it works in the classroom:
Encourages play and experimentation
Supports critical thinking by prompting evaluation and iteration
Builds confidence in visual communication
Allows more inclusive exploration for students with limited resources or digital access
Classroom ideas:
Sketch-to-image exercises using NewArc or Vizcom
AI prompt-based textile or print development
Visual storytelling activities using Canva and Runway
Portfolio building with AI-enhanced visuals
We offer tailored training and resources for schools, colleges, and universities. Reach out if you'd like to know more.
A Guide For Industry Professionals
AI is becoming a key tool in the fashion development process. It is especially useful for brands looking to reduce sampling, speed up design approvals, and support better creative decisions earlier.
Where AI adds value:
Stronger visuals earlier in the process
Faster concept development and range building
Better communication with stakeholders and suppliers
More sustainable workflows by reducing sampling waste
Tips:
Build internal readiness by encouraging curiosity and experimentation
Focus on mindset over mastery. A willingness to explore new ways of working is more important than knowing it all
Integrate AI tools into existing workflows where they can speed up or clarify decision-making
Create small test projects or pilot tasks to explore use cases without risk
Recommended tools:
Use NewArc or Firefly to visualise early ideas and develop range options quickly
Runway or Kaiber for short-range presentations or mood animations
Use AI-powered photoshoot tools like Vizcom, Raspberry AI, or PhotoRoom AI to generate on-model fashion images and styled content
Use tools like Krea.ai to enhance 3D renders and make them look photorealistic without the high rendering costs
Better visuals earlier = better decisions, less waste, and increased time to market. Book a call with us to explore how we can help your organisation reap the benefits of AI.
Ready to explore?
You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to start.
AI tools can support your creativity, speed up your process, and make fashion more accessible and sustainable for everyone.