Scandinavian MIND

AI in fashion brand building (with Stefan Ilkovics)

Scandinavian MIND

Show Notes

In this episode, Konrad Olsson speaks with Stefan Ilkovics, an AI and creativity expert working across fashion, beauty, and luxury. Stefan is currently Creative Director and AI & Innovation Lead at Puig, and co-founder of the generative AI studio Naughty Society. Over the years, he has worked with brands including Cartier, Hermès, A.P.C., Chanel, Saint Laurent, Dior, Nike, and H&M.

The conversation explores where AI stands in spring 2026, how it is changing creative work, and why the real challenge for brands is not speed, but direction. Ilkovics argues that AI should not be treated as a creative force in itself, but as a tool that can extend human vision, if used with discipline. He also reflects on the growing risk of sameness, the future role of creative teams, and why strong brand understanding matters more than ever in an era of unlimited content production.

In this episode, we discuss: •Why AI should be treated as a tool, not a substitute for creativity •How fashion and beauty brands can create value with AI rather than simply cut costs •Why strong creative direction matters more in an age of abundant content •How brands can stay distinctive as generative AI becomes more widely adopted

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from Scandinavian MIND

Sep 24, 2026

Konrad Olsson sat down on stage with Asger Storebjerg, Group Director of Media and Performance at Boozt, to cut through the AI hype and explore what's actually moving the needle in fashion retail. The conversation revealed a company applying AI strategically and measuring results with discipline.

Mar 11, 2026

In this episode, we speak with Per Ljungberg, Head of D-Congress, about the evolution of the Nordic region’s largest tech trade show for fashion and retail.

Feb 9, 2026

We speak with Lisa Bergstrand about why sustainability has slipped down the priority list for many brands, what actually happened with EU regulations, and why traceability has become the central issue for the industry.

Jan 24, 2026

Jacob Lovén is a Swedish tech writer, co-founder of the advisory firm The Perspective, and host of the Retail All-Stars Podcast. In this conversation, we revisit NRF Week in New York and the ongoing industry debate around agentic AI.

Nov 28, 2025

This is the third episode of Retail Eye-Openers, a three-part podcast series produced in collaboration with Impulso. The series explores how data sharing and retailer partnerships drive sell-through and reduce overstock.

See all episodes →