Walmart’s new trend sensing design tool uses AI and Genai to bring trendy, affordable items to retailers faster than ever.
Trend-to-Product is a new, unique technical solution created to support Walmart designers and merchants. Trend-to-Product uses AI and generation AI to analyze and integrate global data and trends, extract information from the Internet, and promote the Walmart fashion team to create high-quality items on trends at speeds and low prices.
Walmart said that in the traditional fashion industry, designers are also researchers, so designing and creating clothing collections takes around six months.
“They scrutinize the world for cool cool, from runways to social media to trending services and learn what’s there.
Walmart said the tool uses Generate AI to create a time-consuming mood board with a wealth of collection names, colors, textures and ideas. The designers and merchants then refine the mood board, look at the sell-through data, leaning towards their own experiences and creating the final pieces that form the collection.
In the final step, Trend-to-Product generates a fashion technology pack for the collection and instructs the supplier on how to create each item.
The entire process takes an hour and the collection will be on shelf and online within 6-8 weeks.
“From concept to completion, we shortened the process of launching new clothing for about 18 weeks. People led and driven the technology.”
“From trends, products can help private brand design and product development associates to follow trends less time and do what they love most. “We are excited by the early outcomes of this new technology and the power to change the way our customers operate.”
Andrea Albright, executive vice president of sourcing at Walmart, added: “We recognized the possibilities of technology for our customers and saw it as a way to make the most of the trend towards the first mile.
