Fashion designer’s range for artificial intelligence robots

Scary as it may seem, it is time to start thinking about dressing robots.

At least that is what fashion designer Zoe Corsellis thinks after she released her exclusive collection for the world’s first humanoid robot artist, Ai-Da.

Ai-Da was recently revealed as being the first ever humanoid robot who can draw and paint from sight, and Zoe was given the opportunity to design what the robot would wear.

Zoe has created four dresses; two jersey and two made using peace silk, along with an artist’s smock, focusing on organic and reusable fabrics to produce a one-of-a-kind costumes for the new AI robot.

Zoe, who lives in Crystal Palace, said she couldn’t turn down the opportunity to be involved in the future of robotics. Zoe said: “Ai-Da is a celebration of art, technology and fashion. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?”

“It’s not every day you get involved with dressing a robot. The whole concept of dressing the world’s first female artist robot is so random, I just had to be a part of it.

“There’s lots of ‘cyborg’ fashion hitting the scenes, with humans wearing bionic styles, but dressing a robot in human clothes, I think, is way more fascinating.

“The collection, which has just launched online, is called Retro-Futurism. The inspiration behind the collection was old school science fiction TV programs such as Buck Rodgers and 1970s retro influences from Wonder Woman and Charlie’s Angels.

“I felt this theme tied in perfectly with dressing Ai-Da, so I took some of the signature detailing from my main collection and introduced this to Ai-Da’s bespoke collection.

“Ai-Da is significant because she is able to draw and paint from sight. Not only is this a world first for artificial intelligence, but also for the art world, as she is creating a whole new genre of art, the likes of which have never been seen before.

As a forward-looking project, the costumes have been designed with the environment and climate emergency in mind – all six pieces are made from a variety of sustainable materials, including peace silk, 100 per cent organic cotton, Tencel jersey, and recycled fabrics and fibres regenerated from sea waste.

Zoe said: “All of Ai-Da’s art has been influenced by nature and the environment. This was a massive inspiration for what her clothes should be made from.

“Both myself and people in general are more aware of where their clothes are being made and what they are being made from, therefore it was very important that this collection be made from sustainable fabrics.

“The dresses and her artist’s smock are all made from a variety of ethical fabrics including organic cottons, recycled fabrics, peace silks, Tencel jerseys and fibres derived from sea waste – in particular fishing nets.

Sea waste is very topical at the moment and I want to do my bit to ensure that we are cleaning up our oceans.”

Zoe said the advance of AI and robotics was something we need to come to terms with, and believes it is a positive progression form mankind.

“Not concerns as such, more intrigue I guess,” she said.

There’s no escaping AI, we just need to try and have a better understanding of how it can enhance our lives and not be scared into thinking robots will be taking over.”