Fashion's greatest challenges 'inequality and AI', say Prada designers (www.theguardian.com)

At Milan Fashion Week, Prada's co-designers Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons highlighted two significant challenges in the fashion industry: inequality and the impact of artificial intelligence. This commentary comes amid a reported collaboration between Prada and Meta, focused on the development of "smart glasses" that integrate advanced technology, including cameras and voice assistants, into fashion. The duo's runway approach was also notable, featuring 15 women showcasing variations of the same outfit, emphasizing practical, real-life dressing over hierarchical fashion norms. The fashion world is witnessing a shift towards female leadership, particularly with influential figures like Miuccia Prada at the helm, recently acquiring Versace for $1.4 billion and maintaining close ties with its design talent. Simultaneously, the transition of power at Armani has begun, with Silvana Armani and Leo Dell’Orco inheriting the roles of creative oversight in womenswear and menswear, respectively. Their first collection hinted at a blend of preserving tradition while infusing a female perspective into the designs. Overall, these developments signal a transformative period in fashion, grappling with both technological integration and fresh leadership dynamics, all of which could redefine the intersection of culture, identity, and innovation in the industry.