AI Tool Reduces Walmart Fashion Lead Time by 18 Weeks

Walmart has introduced a new trend-sensing design tool that leverages AI and generative AI to deliver on-trend, affordable products faster than ever, all while maintaining quality standards.

Named Trend-to-Product, this proprietary technology is designed to assist Walmart’s designers and merchants. It utilizes AI and generative AI to analyze and synthesize global data and trends, drawing information from the internet to empower the Walmart Fashion team to create fashionable, high-quality items quickly and at low prices.

In explaining Trend-to-Product’s functionality, Walmart highlighted the traditional fashion industry’s lengthy process, which typically takes about six months to design and produce a clothing collection, as designers also serve as researchers.

“They scour the world for the coolest of cool, from runways to social media, trend services and beyond, to learn what’s in… It’s a ton of work – and it takes a ton of time. Which Trend-to-Product condenses,” the retailer noted.

The tool employs generative AI to create those labor-intensive mood boards, complete with collection names, colors, textures, and ideas. Designers and merchants then refine these mood boards, review sell-through data, and apply their expertise to finalize the pieces that will comprise the collection.

In the final phase, Trend-to-Product generates a fashion tech pack for the collection, providing suppliers with precise instructions on how to produce each item.

The entire process takes just one hour, with collections ready to hit shelves and online platforms within six to eight weeks.

“From concept to completion, we’ve shortened the process of launching new clothes by around 18 weeks: people-led, tech-powered,” Walmart stated.

“Trend-to-Product empowers our private brand design and product development associates to spend less time chasing trends and more time doing what they love most – creating and delivering high-quality, on-trend items for our customers for every season and occasion,” said Jen Jackson Brown, senior vice president for apparel brand and design at Walmart US. “We are excited by the early results of this new technology and the power it could have to transform the way we operate and serve our customers.”

Walmart’s executive vice president of sourcing, Andrea Albright, added: “We recognized the possibilities with customer-facing technology and saw Trend-to-Product as a way to bring the best of AI and GenAI to the first mile. Now, that vision is coming to life. And we’re not stopping with fashion. Imagine a future where Trend-to-Product helps designers create the next great lipstick color or a new flavor combination that sets the internet on fire. That’s where we’re headed.”