Fashion students at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa are designing the future, literally. In the spring 2025 semester, students in Associate Professor Ju-Young Kang’s fashion design and merchandising (FDM) 338 class took a bold step forward. They didn’t just use 3D design software to create fashion, they teamed up with artificial intelligence (AI) to push their creativity further than ever before.
The class, part of the FDM program in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, has been producing 3D virtual fashion shows since 2015. However this year marked a first. Students used AI tools alongside 3D software to create lifelike fashion designs and videos. They learned how to guide AI in generating images and videos, then refined those results into complete digital looks.
“I’m so proud of our students for their commitment and the effort they put into their 2D/3D CAD projects, integrating 3D software with AI-driven virtual catwalks,” said Kang. “It was incredibly rewarding to help our students explore new and creative ways to use digital design software and AI technologies.”
Tech-driven design
The class projects were a mix of art and innovation. From realistic outfit renderings to full-on virtual runway shows, the results showed what happens when fashion and technology come together.
Fifty-four students shared their work at the 59th Lasting Legacies fashion exhibition on May 2, at the UH Mānoa Campus Center Ballroom. More than 190 guests came to see how students used both AI and software to bring their visions to life.
FDM student Samantha Maeda expressed her fascination with exploring new creative possibilities.
“Using AI platforms in the FDM 338 fashion CAD project gave me a sense of creative freedom, speed, and enhanced visual storytelling,” Maeda said. “The most motivating factor was being able to generate professional-looking visuals efficiently, which made the design process more dynamic, inspiring, and accessible.
FDM is housed in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience.
