Speakers’ Corner gives you a preview of the voices you’ll hear at upcoming PI events, straight from the people shaping fashion and footwear.
In this edition, Torben Böhm, Manager of Technical Product Development & Digital Innovation at bonprix, shares his perspective on how AI is reshaping digital product creation — from automating stitching and pattern adjustments to challenging the misconception that 3D slows teams down.
1) What’s the most meaningful shift you’ve seen in digital product creation this past year?
Probably the use of AI for content creation. It saves time when making 3D simulations “beautiful” purely for presentation purposes.
2) Which emerging technology do you think will define the next phase of DPC?
AI will make a real difference to DPC soon. If tools like auto-stitching and dressing preparation start working properly, they will save a lot of time.
If we get pattern alterations right with AI, that will also create a major shift in workflows.
3) What new skills or mindsets do you think teams need to build today?
You need to be adaptable to change in all aspects. For the product creation side of DPC, I still see traditional skills as highly relevant — but perhaps more focused on developing blocks and standard patterns rather than individual styles.
4) What’s the most persistent misconception you encounter about 3D or digital design?
That “3D takes longer” or is less efficient. At our company, we still hear this.
But I think it’s wrong to compare A and B directly. The output of our DPC process delivers much more than the manual or physical sampling process. The product becomes better and more consistent for the customer when patterns and fittings are done digitally.
5) Do you think the future of product creation will be more human-driven or machine-driven?
I believe it will remain human-driven — but AI will become an important partner in daily business.
6) What advice would you give to a brand taking its first big step into DPC?
Start with the basics — fabrics, standard patterns, trims — and invest in educating the people doing the work.
The most important thing is to have no fear and to follow through, even if things don’t work perfectly on the first try.
7) A product you’ve created (or seen) that makes you proud of where digital fashion is heading?
I’m proud to see our lingerie products appearing more and more in 3D. That’s a significant step forward, as we’re overcoming technical boundaries in areas that were previously difficult to digitize.
Torben Böhm will be joining us at the Fashion Tech Show London (30-31st March), where he will sit on the panel on 'Connecting Fashion’s Digital Ecosystem'.
