Event

PI Apparel’s Fashion Technology Show: Turning AI into Action

April 14, 2026

Inside PI Apparel’s Fashion Technology Show in London

The DeSL team recently attended and sponsored PI Apparel’s Fashion Technology Show in London, one of the fashion industry’s leading events for product development and technology leaders.

Held at The Brewery on March 30–31, the event brought together global brands, retailers, and solution providers focused on digital transformation across the fashion lifecycle. A key focus throughout the event was the growing role of AI in fashion product development and how brands are turning strategy into execution.

AI for Fashion: From Concept to Competitive Advantage

Across the event, the conversation around AI has clearly shifted. It is no longer about experimentation, it is about execution.

Fashion brands are actively embedding AI into product development, sourcing, and compliance workflows to improve speed, accuracy, and decision-making. The adoption of AI in the apparel industry is accelerating as teams look to manage increasing complexity while reducing time to market.

As digital processes expand, from 3D design to data-driven sourcing, AI is becoming the layer that connects systems, eliminates manual work, and turns product data into actionable insights.

This reinforces a key industry priority: moving away from fragmented tools toward integrated platforms that support real-time collaboration and decision-making.

How DeSL Supports This Shift

DeSL’s cloud-based PLM platform is built to support this transformation. As an AI-powered PLM, it enables brands to manage everything from concept and design through to sourcing and compliance within a single environment.

This approach allows teams to automate manual processes, improve data accuracy, and accelerate product development without adding system complexity.

AI initiatives only deliver value when built on structured, connected product data. This is where PLM becomes critical.

Key Themes and Industry Insights

Several sessions highlighted how leading brands are applying AI and digital tools in practice:

H&M shared progress on integrating AI with 3D design to streamline development workflows
JD Sports discussed rebuilding product development processes with a focus on speed and data visibility
Pentland Brands explored how AI-driven sourcing can simplify compliance and reduce operational complexity

These sessions reinforced a consistent theme: brands are investing in connected systems that support faster decisions and greater control across the product lifecycle.

Richard Mason, Positive Business Director at Pentland Brands

Conversations from the Show Floor

Throughout the event, the DeSL team met with customers, partners, and leading fashion brands. Conversations focused on practical challenges, including reducing development timelines, improving supplier collaboration, and supporting sustainability initiatives.

Across these discussions, one message was consistent: brands are actively investing in AI and digital platforms that deliver measurable business outcomes.

Why It Matters for Fashion Brands

What resonated most with attendees was the strategic impact of AI-powered PLM:

Breaking down silos between design, sourcing, and compliance teams
Creating a single source of truth for product data
Improving governance and visibility across workflows
Enabling faster, more confident decision-making
Accelerating speed to market

Rather than incremental improvements, brands are focused on building scalable product development models that support growth, margin protection, and regulatory readiness.