Prada’s latest show got me thinking about the relationship between the archive and the algorithm. “Chaos” is a word being thrown around to describe Prada’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection. Co-creative directors Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons discussed how the show was a conversation about the algorithm's impact on our lives and the sameness it imposes. The show notes mentioned "chance," and you could see that in the eclectic mix of elements that came together on the runway. Some critics described it as a "toddler dressing for school—unselfconscious, expressive, and entirely unedited." Its uniqueness made it human.

What's fascinating is how Prada pulled from their archives to create this collection, reimagining old pieces with fresh perspectives. It made me think about how an archive isn’t all that different from an algorithm. We often think of archives as being about preservation, while algorithms are about generation. Yet, when we decide to archive something, we're assigning it importance, cultural significance, and relevance—much like how algorithms learn from our interactions and preserve those patterns to generate future recommendations. This is where Prada’s collection pushes back: by digging into the archive, they highlight the importance of individuality, the kind that algorithms struggle to replicate.

Both archives and algorithms collect and categorize, but an archive’s value lies in its ability to shape culture while resisting the uniformity imposed by algorithms. By designating something as unique or significant, you’re inviting others to draw inspiration from it. Prada seems to be asking an interesting question: Can we use the past to disrupt the present and create a more nuanced future?

The notion of authorship also surfaced at Fashion Week in a broader sense. Take Marni, for example. Creative director Francesco Risso included a collage of Botticelli’s "Portrait of Dante" in the show. Not only did it match the show's palette of blacks, whites, reds, and blues, but it also brought up the idea of authorship—the mark of the artist, whether through paint, words, or symbols. In a world increasingly influenced by AI creations, art isn't just about the end product; it's about the author, their history, and the references they bring into their work, the archives!

This idea of "the mark of the author" is becoming more prominent in fashion, almost as a form of resistance against AI’s encroachment on creativity. AI can generate, but it can’t replicate the lived experience, the history, and the unique mark that an artist leaves on their work. That’s why more artists are gravitating toward a celebration of authorship. Fashion Week is another stage where creators make their mark, reminding us that art isn’t about what’s produced, but about who produces it and why.

This ties directly into the work we're doing at Living Assets. We're creating a space where creators can protect their work and imbue it with a sense of lasting authorship and value. In an era where AI can generate endless content, we believe that what truly matters is the human touch—the unique vision that comes from the creator’s archive of experiences, memories, and influences—the making of. By preserving this "mark of the author," we allow creators to safely share their work, knowing that it remains discoverable yet protected.

Living Assets provides tools for creators to archive their work, not just for preservation, but as a statement of its significance. Our platform is about empowering creators to assert the worth of their work, to let it live, evolve, and inspire.

Fashion Week's celebration of the archive and authorship is a reminder of the enduring value of what we create. At Living Assets, we're here to let creators do what they do best—create—and ensure that their work retains its uniqueness, value, and voice in a world increasingly dominated by algorithms.

Watch the full runway coverage by art and culture creator @melzonart here.