In a stunning glimpse of fashion to come, robot humanoid and robot dog drew stares at Shanghai Fashion Week, patrolling the catwalk for NMTG’s latest line. It was an historic moment with the fashion universe embracing the advance of robotics and AI so freely, as models not human stepped onto the catwalk with human models in stride.
Unitree Robotics’ Cutting-edge Presence
Unitree Robotics designed humanoid robot Unitree G1 and its robotic dog companion. Unitree G1 walked down the runway in a metallic top, highlighted with maroon and cream fringes that moved with its stride, adding to the mechanized look of the walk. The robot dog also dressed up in a similar way, covered with a frilly lace material wrapped around its body, mirroring its humanoid companion’s outfit.
Take a look:
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Audience Reactions: Futuristic or Unsettling?
The show was met with varied responses, as people were dismayed by the technological change in modeling. While some people appreciated the innovation, others remained critical, wondering about the fate of human models. One user quipped sarcastically, “Are the models gonna lose their job too?”
Another commented on Unitree G1’s stiff movement, facetiously saying, “Has that robot just got off a 10-day horse ride?” Another joked, “Obviously hasn’t learned the Gisele Bündchen walk yet!”
emphasizing how AI is still behind the poise of human models.
This was a standout moment because it was the first time a humanoid robot was the center of attention on a runway instead of being a passive element in a show. Earlier instances have had robots participating in live runway shows but not as main models.
Not the First AI Encounter in Fashion undefined Although this was the first ramp walk for an active humanoid robot, it wasn’t the initial encounter for AI with fashion. In the earlier part of March, in a Giuseppe Di Morabito show, supermodel Yasmin Wijnaldum worked alongside Ameca, the latest humanoid robot of the world, in a live performance. The coming together of fashion and AI just keeps going stronger, leaving some to wonder what the future holds for modeling and the growing importance of robotics within creative industries.
