In Milan, during Fashion Week, Tod's introduced "Artisanal Intelligence" as a response to the growing spread of artificial intelligence in the fashion world. However, those who believe this is the right way to address the issue are mistaken, as these belong to two completely different realms.
When I started working in 3D, I looked up to artisans—true masters who, by dedicating countless hours to their craft, create extraordinary works. I believed that the best way to achieve believable 3D was to faithfully replicate the real world. Even today, I strongly maintain that the art of tailoring must be protected, nurtured, and passed on to new generations. Unfortunately, in Italy this tradition is in decline: the children of artisans often choose entirely different career paths, and investments or startups in the field are nearly non-existent. Projects aimed at creating jobs in this sector generally prove unprofitable.
Thus, the best way to revive craftsmanship is to transition it to the digital realm, formalize it, and share it with all of humanity. This may be the only way for it to survive, because a protectionist and conservative stance will simply lead to its demise.