Growing up in the Midwest, my father, an ER doctor, instilled in my sisters and me a love of science, technology and math — but more than that, he taught me to always be curious.
My modeling career started when I was only 15 years old, but I have tried to be a student of the world, even though my path became non-traditional.
Nearly seven years into my career, I decided to take a coding class — learning Ruby, HTML, and CSS. I was intrigued by the language that powers our daily lives, so ubiquitous and yet so unknown.
That coding class changed the trajectory of my career and ignited a lifelong passion for how technology can be used creatively to solve real problems, transform lives, and address our world’s biggest challenges. But I noticed one thing: the people who created this technology were overwhelmingly men. I knew it was incredibly important to have diversity at the table of those who build the technology that powers our every day. What kind of global, life-changing applications or solutions would we have at our fingertips if more underrepresented groups were encouraged to pursue their STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] interests and supported in those efforts from a young age?
The following spring, I offered to send some girls to the same class I did through a post on my YouTube channel and Instagram. The response was overwhelming and I received thousands of applications. This led me to found Kode With Klossy in 2015, which hosts free summer camp sessions that teach young women and non-binary youth the basics of coding.
Karlie Kloss with new coders. Credit: Courtesy of Kode with Klossy
The researchers who have participated over the years have amazed me with their ingenuity in developing impactful projects. One group built an app that uses machine learning technology to teach people how to correctly recycle everyday items, and another created a social network that connects women and other gender minorities who want to pursue careers in technology. To date, Kode With Klossy has educated over 12,000 researchers, who prove year after year that given the right tools, young people can build the world they want to see.
While modeling is still my “day job,” spending most of the past decade working in both fashion and technology has helped me envision how digital technology can help solve some of the biggest issues. in fashion. For example, technology is already opening up so many opportunities to expand creative expression and design. It can also help address some of the industry’s biggest challenges, from its role in the climate crisis to its lack of size inclusion.
I believe that designers in the future will not only sew, but also code.
Community innovation
Over the past few years, fashion has flourished with technological innovations. Digital designers, for example, are using 3D modeling and AR to dress up avatars and humans alike.
The potential to change the way fashion is made, worn and accessed is limitless. And it’s been amazing to collaborate with creators building on this innovative front.
A few years ago, I launched a new line with Adidas and we collaborated with digital fashion house, The Fabricant, to design a virtual version of a jacket from the collection. We then made that digital garment available to artists to create their own interpretations. So many people put their own unique spin on the outfit and the top 20 entries were auctioned off as NFTs. Profits were split equally between the creators and Kode with Klossy.
This summer, I worked with the immersive gaming platform Roblox and its talented community of creators to host a digital pop-up store called the Fashion Klossette Designer Showcase. Digital fashion designers in the community were invited to create and showcase their avatar outfits, which attracted two million unique players in just two weeks. Virtual clothing sales from the store went directly to the creators, affirming the value of their creativity.
Yourius/Roblox
These new designers are already revolutionizing the way people express themselves online, dressing the millions of Roblox community members who update their avatars every day.
The designers I worked with for the Fashion Klossette Designer Showcase come from a variety of backgrounds and are building their own brands, collections and careers. Some have already been approached by top fashion brands for collaborations. Their creativity is enabled by space, technology and new digital tools that allow easy access from anywhere, unfettered by the financial and other constraints of the physical world.
My goal is to help further narrow the gap between them and the established fashion industry. This first experience was just the beginning of what we’re building at Roblox, and I’m excited for everything that lies ahead.
Lovespun/Roblox
The need for sustainable solutions
Boundary-pushing talent and innovative ideas will always be some of my favorite things about the fashion industry. But there is still much to be desired in terms of sustainability and inclusiveness.
Physical fashion produces a lot of waste and is one of the biggest polluters in the world. Digital technology will be the best weapon to help combat this and make the fashion industry more sustainable. Advanced technology — such as AI, AR, 3D modeling and RFID tagging — are already creating efficient tools that reduce industry’s carbon footprint and environmental pollution.
Take Bods, for example. It’s a virtual fitting tool that uses a digital duplicate of a shopper’s body to help them find the right size before ordering clothes online. I decided to invest in the company because these types of innovations mitigate one of the industry’s rapidly growing problems with returned goods, which often end up in landfills even if they are still suitable. The inherent uncertainty involved in online shopping also results in an embarrassing excess of inventory that never reaches the people who want or need it.
Cher Horowitz’s virtual closet in the 1995 film “Clueless” may be one of the best projects for digitized fashion. It’s been a source of inspiration for my closet and for many Code with Klossy researchers — whether they’re creating apps to specifically showcase fashion looks and trends, or translating layout to visually present information in a fun and engaging way. simple.
Today, new innovations like the digital tracking of physical garments after they leave the store have even greater implications. The use of embedded RFID tags can help move fashion towards a circular design pattern.
Eon, a company I have also invested in, provides real-time environmental impact reports using this technology. As garments move through their life cycles, Eon provides brands with accurate data on their impact and gives consumers transparency into every item in their closet. Information that is usually difficult to find and decipher, such as how clothing is made and how it can potentially be recycled is at everyone’s fingertips with this technology. Resellers will be able to weed out counterfeit clothes and command better prices for authentic second-hand items, creating a healthier and more reliable second-hand market.
But fashion needs more people with the skills to make these lofty goals standard practice.
A way forward
Young women and gender non-conforming people have historically faced higher barriers to becoming programmers or software engineers. It is rare for STEM fields to be presented as a realistic path for young women. I was confident and curious enough to enter this industry, but only as an adult with a successful career already secured. Many marginalized groups don’t have that privilege and that’s why I’m so passionate about equipping them with these skills and opportunities.
This year we completed our 7th Summer of Code with Klossy Camps, with 4,000 young female and gender non-conforming coders from 99 different countries participating. I have seen our scholars recognize their power and potential. This kind of self-actualization pays dividends, even beyond the career path. The diversity some of them will bring to the workforce could change fashion and the world.
As Jacqui Palumbo told CNN
