Fashion has always been at the forefront of innovation—from the invention of the sewing machine to the rise of e-commerce. Like tech, fashion is forward-looking and cyclical.

And today, fashion technology is growing at a faster pace than ever.

Robots that sew and cut, AI algorithms (算法) that forecast style trends, clothes that are worn in virtual reality—a collection of innovations show how technology     1     the fashion design process.

To seize the opportunity to produce more income     2     and business models, fashion companies try to     3     with technology providers, grab startups, and even build their own tech.

Meanwhile, as the industry faces an overdue count of its environmental and social impacts, it is reexamining processes across the value chain in an attempt to reinvent itself.

For example, artificial intelligence will reshape brands’ approach to product design and development, with a focus on the     4     of what customers will want to wear next. But algorithms aren’t taking the place of human designers any time soon. If there’s anything that fashion houses’ experiments have shown, it’s that human involvement is     5     to commanding the new ideas provided by AI and translating them into appealing, wearable clothes for now.

Tech companies are pouring in. One IT giant has already tested the water of user-driven AI fashion design with Project Muze. The project trained a system to understand     6     colors and style preferences, based on trend data     7     from an online fashion platform. From there, Project Muze used an algorithm to create designs to tailor to customers’ real needs.

As a new player, another e-commerce giant, with the project Lab 126, is trying to learn about a particular fashion style and then create similar     8     . Without designers or past experiences, it’s like creating from scratch. If that sounds like “fast fashion for sale,” it’s because it probably is. The company has already     9     a manufacturing system to make on-demand clothes-making a reality.

Of course, the outcomes of these AI designs aren’t always runway-ready. Many designs created for users of Project Muze were unwearable drafts and some people consider the designs of the Lab 126     10     .

The Lipstick Effect

In 2020, the world was plunged into an economic downturn as the COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread closures to businesses. Under these circumstances, millions of people     1     found themselves facing financial insecurity. During such times of economic hardship, one may naturally expect that consumer markets will see a decline in expenditure, as people everywhere feel     2     to making only “essential” purchases. However, a curious phenomenon known as the “lipstick effect” can often be observed.

The lipstick effect refers to the phenomenon of consumers spending on small luxury goods even when an economic depression occurs. This phenomenon was     3     the “lipstick effect” in 2001 by Leonard Lauder, chairman of luxury cosmetic company Estée Lauder. He had not only witnessed the phenomenon at work but also realized that it was especially     4     in the case of lipstick and other cosmetic products.

So, how exactly do consumers who are short of cash     5     making such purchases? First and perhaps most     6    , consumers may simply wish to give themselves treats now and again to provide distractions from their financial insecurity. Another     7     has to do with labour markets. Specifically, during the economic depression, job seeking tends to become more competitive. Thus, people     8     employment may perceive a need to spend money on certain products to improve their physical appearance. By using products such as lipstick, they may feel more confident during job interviews.

Whatever the causes of the lipstick effect, this phenomenon is no short-lived     9    . During the global depression of 2007-2009, sales of cosmetic in the United States increased by around 5%. Based on such data, it seems that even in the current insecure economic     10    , the luxury cosmetics industry is one that will be sticking around.

You Deserve a “Brighter” Future

WOOOOOSH! The drone (无人机) flew over our heads. Students     1     with delight and dashed around the courtyard, all heads turned skyward. Misty mountains and the green forest surrounded us, with fields caved into the wilderness. I was in the Yunnan countryside with an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) to     2     free glasses to nearsighted children.

While the children seemed quite pleased to witness a drone lift off for the first time, the sad reality was that perhaps only half could see the drone at all.

Many layers of obstacles     3     this problem, the first being access. The eye doctors are concentrated in cities, but so many urban students need eye examinations.

In addition to access, information is another     4    . If a rural student is nearsighted, there is almost no way for them to know unless their teacher notices and acts. Even if students discover they need glasses and can access an eye doctor, they face the financial challenge of paying for glasses. Many parents in rural areas, who have never worn glasses themselves, don’t understand the     5     and see no reason to spend the extra money. Some even fear that glasses will further harm their eyesight. How     6    !

When you walk the streets of cities in China today, you will find that the     7     is even more alarming. Heavy homework loads, increasing screen time on smartphones, and less sunlight from outdoor activities all     8     to worsening nearsightedness among urban students. If this problem     9    , the consequences will be more serious than you can imagine. This may lead to the county’s running out of personnel in certain fields or occupations which require good eyesight.

To give students a "brighter" future, the government has     10     a grand plan to control the country’s rising number of nearsighted children and teenagers. Before it takes effect ,why not put down your smartphone and get back to nature?