Growing up in the Midwest, my father, an ER physician, instilled in my sisters and me a deep curiosity for science and technology. That curiosity followed me even as my career took an unexpected turn toward modeling at the age of 15. While the fashion industry captivated me, I remained fascinated by how technology shaped our everyday lives. This curiosity ultimately led me to take a coding class seven years into my modeling career, where I learned Ruby, HTML, and CSS. That decision didn’t just expand my skill set; it transformed my career and ignited a passion for tech’s ability to solve real-world challenges.
Breaking Barriers in Tech for Underrepresented Groups
One of the first things I noticed during my coding journey was the lack of diversity in the field. I realized that most of the people creating the technology that powers our world were men. This sparked a deep desire to change that by empowering young girls and nonbinary youth to pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). In 2015, I founded Kode With Klossy, a free summer camp that teaches the fundamentals of coding to young women and nonbinary individuals. Over the years, I’ve seen our 12,000 scholars build innovative solutions, from machine learning apps to recycling tools and social networks.
A New Era of Fashion
Fashion and technology are no longer separate worlds. Tech is revolutionizing fashion, pushing the boundaries of creativity, sustainability, and inclusivity. From 3D modeling to augmented reality, designers today are using tech to reimagine how fashion is made and accessed. In fact, I believe that designers in the future won’t just be sewing—they’ll be coding.
A Fusion of Fashion and Technology
My work in both industries has allowed me to envision how tech can address some of fashion’s greatest challenges, such as sustainability. In collaboration with The Fabricant, I designed a virtual jacket that was later interpreted by digital artists, with the proceeds benefiting Kode With Klossy. More recently, I partnered with Roblox to host the Fashion Klossette Designer Showcase, an immersive digital fashion pop-up that drew millions of players. These experiences have shown me how digital fashion is paving the way for new forms of expression, uninhibited by the limitations of the physical world.
Sustainability: Tech as Fashion’s Best Ally
The fashion industry is notorious for its waste and pollution, but technology is providing solutions to make fashion more sustainable. AI, 3D modeling, and RFID tagging are helping reduce waste and lower the industry’s carbon footprint. One example is Bods, a company that helps customers find the right size using a digital duplicate of their body, significantly cutting down on returns and excess inventory. Similarly, Eon, another company I’ve invested in, uses RFID tags to track the lifecycle of garments, offering transparency about their environmental impact.
A Call to Action for the Future
While progress is being made, there is still much to do. For fashion to fully embrace the future, we need more diverse voices in the room—particularly from underrepresented groups. This is why I’m so passionate about continuing to equip young women and gender nonconforming people with the tools to succeed in tech. The diversity they bring to the workforce has the potential to change both fashion and the world.
Fashion’s future is digital, and the designers of tomorrow will not just be sewing—they’ll be coding. I’m excited to see how this new wave of innovation will shape the industry and the planet for the better.
Editor’s Note: Karlie Kloss is an American supermodel and entrepreneur. She founded Kode With Klossy in 2015 to empower more young girls and nonbinary youth with skills in tech. All opinions expressed in this article belong to the author.
