Norma Kamali Embraces AI to Change the Fashion Industry

By MIT News
April 22, 2025

In a time when tech meets art, Norma Kamali, a famous fashion designer, adds AI to her design work. She works with machines and her own style. With more than 50 years in fashion, Kamali—who made classic looks loved by Whitney Houston and Jessica Biel—has set out on a new path that mixes art and smart algorithms.

A New Frontier in Fashion

Kamali began using AI after a clear meeting in Abu Dhabi. In that meeting, a group asked her to test an AI-based platform built on her Walmart collection. At first, she doubted the idea of putting her mind into a machine. Still, she hoped to build a system from her 57 years of design work. Kamali said, "I thought AI could be like my Karl Lagerfeld," as she recalled the famous designer who loved his own archive.

Kamali then joined an online course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Professional Education. The course, called “Applied Generative AI for Digital Transformation,” ended in 2023. It helped her see how AI might work with her ideas and extend her brand’s life and growth.

Learning to Innovate

Kamali recalled her classes. She said, "I was unsure of what I could do. I held many old ideas, but as I learned more, new thoughts grew." She got past her fear of AI’s tech side by working close with prompts and training data. This work helped her find fresh art ideas. "It felt like magic," she said when art, tech, and fashion met in a way she had never seen.

One test saw her join with Maison Meta. This group built a special AI model that reworked her old black clothes with silver studs. She gave the AI variations of her known designs, and the results thrilled her. Kamali added, "Even AI errors—what some call hallucinations—gave me fresh ideas. Some great fashion looks are odd."

Industry Transformation Through AI

Kamali’s new method fits a growing trend. Many fields now use tech not only as a tool but to change how work is done. Bhaskar Pant, head of MIT Professional Education, agreed. He stressed that workers must learn to work with AI’s strong features. He said, "Norma’s path shows how lifelong learning works," and he stressed that curiosity and drive push new ideas.

Kamali found a fresh view of AI’s part in creative work. She explained, "AI does not feel; it does not have a heartbeat. It cannot take the place of human passion, but it can work with creative energy in ways we are only just beginning to see." She mentioned worries about job changes and added that AI can help with problems faced by designers—like finding skilled workers when the field changes.

Sustainable Fashion Reinvented

Kamali thinks AI may push sustainable methods in fashion. A long-time critic of damaging dry-cleaning, she sees AI with a role to choose fabrics well, cut waste, and make clothes only when needed. Kamali said, "Picture a system where you design your wedding dress online and a machine makes it piece by piece. There is no end to what can be done."

Abel Sanchez, an MIT scientist and lead of the AI course Kamali took, agreed with her view of AI’s strong changes. He said, "Generative AI brings fresh ideas to change how businesses work, make items, and talk with their customers."

Looking Ahead

Kamali’s classes opened a regular talk with Sanchez. This bond keeps her interest for AI sharp. She admitted, "AI changes very quickly; I will return soon. MIT gave me the base, and now I just start."

For those unsure about using AI in their work, Kamali gave a clear picture. She said, "Think of coming to a small town in another country. You do not know the language, do not know the food, and feel lost. That is the future if you ignore AI. The train has moved; you must join now."

Now, as she weaves AI into her work, Kamali shows how tech and art can work as partners. Her website now lists designs made by AI next to her old pieces. She wants to prove that tech and art are not foes but teams. She ends by saying, "Learning is life’s journey. Why stop now?"