ITAA - KSCT Joint Symposium

Ethics in the Loop: Fashion Industry Perspectives on the Ethical Challenges of AI

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Abstract

As artificial intelligence (AI) supports various actors of the fashion supply chain, ethical concerns around its use have intensified. Guided by the Value-Sensitive Design (VSD) framework, this study examines how fashion industry professionals perceive ethical challenges in AI implementation. In-depth semi-structured interviews with professionals in the U.S. and South Korea revealed two main concerns: threats against user autonomy and the amplification of bias. Sub-themes show that participants described how system complexity, limited compatibility (e.g., system fluidity) within workflows, and information asymmetry with technical partners threatened users' control over outcomes. They also noted that AI intensify preexisting, technical, and emergent biases, shaping unequal visibility and opportunity across supply chain actors. These risks were amplified by absence of policies and regulations, and overreliance on relational norms. This study contributes practical insights for human-centered AI governance in the fashion industry, and highlights the need for collective ethical approaches.

Keywords: AI governance, AI ethics, Technology adoption, Artificial intelligence

How to Cite:

Rhee, H. & Zhao, L., (2025) “Ethics in the Loop: Fashion Industry Perspectives on the Ethical Challenges of AI”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 82(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.21983