In the dynamic world of fashion design, success often hinges on a combination of talent, diligence, and a dash of serendipity. However, with the rise of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, the fashion landscape has become increasingly predictable. California-based Jellibeans is at the forefront of this transformation, having developed a suite of software that analyzes current fashion trends and assesses market positioning for user designs. Additionally, it provides an innovative platform that facilitates collaboration among various stakeholders in the design process, connecting them globally.
Recently, Jellibeans caught the attention of high-street knitwear supplier Aussco, which invested $1 million in the five-year-old startup, recognizing the potential of its offerings.
The traditional fashion design approach can be labor-intensive, time-consuming, and geographically constrained. To challenge the status quo, Jellibeans introduces a tool that combines the best features of Slack and Trello, tailored for designers, buyers, and merchandisers. Instead of meeting in person, team members can remotely review designs through Jellibeans’ interactive platform, leaving constructive feedback in real time. As a result, collections that once required two to three months to develop can now be created in just a few weeks, according to CEO and co-founder Joanne Chow.
Jellibeans’ platform encompasses three key analytical features:
1. Trend Forecasting: This feature scours market insights and data from retailers, social media, and other vital sources to predict future fashion trends, analyzing specifics like popular materials and colors.
2. Benchmarking Tool: Utilizing AI alongside historical data, this tool evaluates comparative pricing strategies and similar products from competing brands.
3. Generative AI: Designed to assist rather than replace the designer's creativity, this feature facilitates informed decision-making, igniting ongoing discussions surrounding AI's role in the creative sector.
“A lot of people will criticize generative AI for lacking originality,” Chow explains. “Instead of solely relying on it for creating new products, I encourage users to leverage it for cross-checking their designs for potential plagiarism.”
For instance, if a designer is crafting a green turtleneck, they can upload their design to Jellibeans’ jelli.studio platform and access a comprehensive database of over 10 million fashion retail products. If their design appears too similar to existing items, the designer can use Jellibeans’ AI tool, based on Stable Diffusion technology, to refine their creation.
Jellibeans is particularly attractive to emerging designers. Even before starting their first sketch, designers can explore historical trends related to turtleneck styles. TikTok influencers launching their own collections can also benefit from Jellibeans' generative AI features, as the company's mission is to empower designers through data-driven insights.
The startup isn’t just focusing on small-scale designers; it also aims to attract larger clients. Aussco, which has invested in Jellibeans, provides knitwear for renowned brands like The Kooples, Kate Spade, Coach, Alexander Wang, Ted Baker, Maje, and North Face.
“By democratizing design and fostering collaboration across the design-to-production process within a single platform like jelli.studio, larger operations like ours can drastically enhance efficiency, conserving valuable time and resources while curbing waste,” said Grant J.E. Philips, senior vice president at Aussco.
“When I showcase this product to major brands, my emphasis isn't solely on AI,” Chow noted. “I explain to decision-makers that we offer extensive business analysis—information that would typically require a consultant—yet is readily available at the touch of a button due to our adept reporting capabilities.”
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