Right now, we are living the worst possible version of artificial intelligence (AI) that our future selves will ever use. Think about it. Everything that happens tomorrow will be better than what is available today.
So, I thought it might be fun to put together a wish list of 20 ideas for the industry around the notion of AI and see what might shake out. Maybe some of this stuff exists in some version, but not at the levels, I will suggest.
Bonus points — what’s your take on this?
AI-powered automated design generation
Fun fact: I discussed this with a group of shop owners a week ago. In this scenario, websites and online ordering platforms don’t use buttons. Instead, everything is ordered using voice-activated systems.
Customers simply state what they want: “A neon-colored tiger design with ‘Spring Break’ at the top on a black T-shirt.” A moment later, four mockups of the design are instantly sent to the customer for approval.
The customer chooses the third one by voicing their choice and adding the year 2035 to the art. The artwork is instantly changed. Their account is charged with the approval. The garment is decorated and on its way to the customer the same day.
If this seems far-fetched, we already use voice commands on our phones, and AI design generators like Midjourney use word prompts to create images.
Prepress & file optimization
In the future, AI systems will automatically separate colors, adjust ink densities, and optimize artwork for different print methods (screen printing, direct-to-film printing, direct-to-garment printing, sublimation, etc.) and different substrates.
The beauty of this process is that it will reduce human error, speed up the prepress process, and ensure art files are optimized for print without excessive manual adjustments.
Smart ink mixing & color matching
If you have tried printing the same design on multiple substrates, fabric types, or shirt colors, you know what a challenge it can be. Currently, digital color profiles shift when printers are used, and adjustments must be made to restore the approved color gamut to its original state.
In the future, color adjustments will be made on the fly as the devices will have a built-in color spectrophotometer. This device will read and calculate for ΔE and use AI to adjust the color management settings to build in consistent color matching.
Sales & customer support assistants
Imagine one of your sales team is on the phone with a customer. They are at an impasse for the order. But luckily, your shop has an AI-driven support system installed.
While on the phone, the AI sales support pushes a few key scenarios and sales closing tips to your computer screen. The system is connected and understands the conversation. Performance metrics are automatically tracked.
The obvious benefit was increasing the sale conversion rate, but the system could also track all critical sales KPIs. Measuring what’s working and what’s not working can help leaders implement meaningful change.
Fully automated print shops
Let’s face it: Running a shop and sticking to a schedule can be tricky. There are so many factors involved that it doesn’t take much to throw everything off track.
Enter AI. AI can predict what needs to happen based on what is getting completed now. This is how it will control and optimize the entire production floor, from scheduling jobs to real-time print adjustments.
To accomplish this, shops must fully integrate with data-measuring devices, motion cameras, and sensors. Connectivity will make this happen.
Smart inventory & supply chain management
Since shops will have a system built that tracks and schedules orders using AI, it won’t be difficult for the AI system to predict demand, automate inventory replenishment, and suggest the best suppliers based on pricing, delivery speed, and quality metrics.
The impact will be tremendous, as this will reduce labor, eliminate stock shortages and overpurchasing, and genuinely impact profit margins.
Today, we already have online stores that can auto-order inventory when something is triggered. The future version of this will complete the circle and predict what’s needed based on sales and other metrics.
Personalized apparel recommendations
In the future, everyone could have a personal avatar that knows their garment sizes and preferences. This information is automatically transferred when shopping or signing up for an event.
Different options can be instantly curated for the buyer based on body type, personal preferences, and design parameters. The system might even show an upsell garment, such as a hoodie, as a choice.
Using a customer’s purchase history, body metrics, and curated taste choices, the system could offer hyper-relevant products built on the fly. Everything is bespoke to the customer, which eliminates massive inventory problems.
Adjustable equipment
The equipment we use will be more sophisticated in the future. Machines for all decoration types will self-calibrate based on fabric type, design, and environmental conditions.
Cameras and sensors will keep track of registration and color profiles, while other adjustments will be made on the fly. All without human intervention.
Order management will tighten up as quantities per size will be automatically tracked, and performance numbers will be charted with an AI-generated KPI dashboard.
The benefit will be a massive reduction in human error, quality consistency, and minimizing training time for staff.
Quality inspection
As mentioned, equipment manufacturers will embed quality control systems into all production equipment in the industry.
Cameras and sensors will use AI to analyze every print, every stitch in embroidery, and every placement for heat-applied transfers. All misalignment, color shifts, sewing issues, or inconsistencies will be resolved on the fly in production.
Self-adjusting equipment will eliminate costly errors and misprints and ensure higher customer satisfaction.
Predictive equipment maintenance
One constant struggle that many shops face today is remembering to handle equipment preventative maintenance chores.
In the future, machine systems built-in with AI will monitor usage and detect wear patterns, predicting when parts need replacing before they fail.
As Murphy’s Law dictates, machines break down right before something important is due. With AI systems, the part can be automatically ordered in time to be replaced before it becomes a problem.
Augmented reality mockups & virtual try-ons
Well, we are already here for this one. Currently, you can use your phone and live images of yourself to try on eyewear and clothes at many online retailers.
Can you imagine where this technology might be in 10 years? For example, stores could have a display like a mirror that shows you what you might look like wearing an outfit as you walk by. Who knows?
I like the notion that this will continue to improve and help reduce order errors, increase consumer confidence in purchases, and enhance the e-commerce experience.
Pricing algorithms
For the sake of argument, let’s say that your shop’s system knows every nugget of information regarding how things run and work. The combo of a live P&L with shop KPI metrics. It’s all in there.
It also has access to the marketplace. Competitor pricing, material costs, shipping, and even buying trends. All of that is put into a giant business blender and mixed for a complex, but incredibly rich AI-optimized pricing algorithm.
When customers order, pricing is based on a constant live-feed update. You set the net profit margin you wish to achieve, and the algorithm automatically sets optimal price points to achieve your goals. This is not spreadsheet-based but responsive to the outside world, so you consistently hit the margins you set. Adjustments happen in real-time without your involvement.
Hyper-personalized marketing
In the future, when your personal stats and metrics are known to everyone, AI will create hyper-targeted marketing campaigns based on an individual’s consumer behavior, needs and wants, and ordering history.
Marketing systems automatically adjust ad spending, create marketing assets, and send marketing outreach to current and potential customers. Except now, every marketing post or outreach effort will be based on a person.
Customer retention & loyalty programs
As all the data points regarding a customer’s purchasing history will be available, the AI marketing programs will track customer interactions and create personalized incentives to keep them engaged.
Everything is in the data set. Interactions, behaviors, win/loss sales for past outreach — the whole enchilada. The AI tool will know what works best for each person, and create strategies based on the person’s buying habits and information. This will increase repeat business and customer lifetime value.
Content for social media & websites
Again, there are amazing tools on the market that can help you create social media posts and other marketing assets. You probably know about them, but let’s not discuss them now.
Instead, in 10 years, websites and online stores will have AI hooked up to completely and automatically serve users a curated, personal experience. AI will power layouts, colors, themes, offerings, and other elements to give users an experience completely tailored to them. A different person might go on that site and have a unique experience tailored to them.
AI will use data, personal history, and other factors to build content that provides the best experience for each user.
Sustainability & waste reduction
As the world economy moves into more sustainable initiatives, AI will help industries push toward better ways of creating products and bringing them to market.
As AI can do wonders with data, industries will optimize material usage, recommend eco-friendly alternatives, calculate carbon footprints, and connect recyclers with manufacturers.
It isn’t a secret that sustainable businesses are often the most profitable. Ten years from now, AI will help connect the dots on how to build a more sustainable business, reduce waste, and improve everyone’s environmental impact without sacrificing profit.
Voice-activated production control
Currently, the equipment in our industry operates with control panels, buttons, switches, and screens that
the operator uses. That probably won’t go away.
But wouldn’t it be nice if you could voice-activate a setting or control in production with equipment?
- “Slow the speed down by one.”
- “Change the squeegee angle on the head four to nine degrees.”
- “Decrease the flash time by one second.”
Instead of stopping to change a setting and possibly having to walk around to the far side of the press, the equipment can be dialed in with voice-activated commands. AI-assisted controls could help streamline workflow and increase shop efficiency.
Consumer trend prediction
Here’s the improvement: AI could analyze market trends, social media, and historical sales data to offer predictions on what styles, colors, and designs are about to be popular.
Again, here’s another use for connecting data and metrics to make a difference for businesses in the industry. This will allow businesses to keep ahead of trends, iterate designs, and offer a better experience for customers by changing offerings to more popular ideas.
Bulk order management & customization
If you have ever produced shirts for an athletic league, you know how quick and complex keeping the names, numbers, and personalization details organized and ready for production is.
Ten years from now, the industry’s shop systems will be organized entirely, making this work easier with minimal manual intervention. AI will completely take over and set the orders up to be produced with minimal effort. The system will use the order information to create the names and numbers, create the art, print the DTF transfers, cut the sheets down, and prep production for on-time delivery.
This will reduce setup time, human error, and decrease the time it takes to produce these orders.
AI-optimized shipping
Our final point concerns shipping, as we are discussing using data and information with AI. The shipment data is already known at the time of order entry.
The size and quantity of the packages, weight, and package dimensions are all pre-determined. Post-production, shipping labels are generated easily without weighing cartons or selecting anything in the system. The information needed is already there.
AI will automatically select the best shipping method based on cost, delivery speed, shipping account, and order urgency. This will include drone deliveries for local routes.
AI will help reduce shipping expenses and improve on-time deliveries.
Final thoughts on AI for the decorated apparel industry
My crystal ball may be a bit cloudy in some of these areas. However, by 2035, AI will no longer be a novelty in the industry; it will be a necessity.
In the next 10 years, businesses that embrace automation, data-driven decision-making, AI art generation, enhanced AI customer experiences, and AI-driven tools in production will dominate the market, while those who resist may struggle to compete.
The time is now to start integrating AI at as many stages of your process as possible, from design and production to marketing and logistics. Don’t wait to try to catch up. Make your mistakes now and learn how AI can help you become faster, more efficient, and more profitable than ever before.
