Yves Nanon Petit

The Master, The Machine and Me

As technology intertwines with creativity, it challenges the role of human artistry in design.

The Master, the Machine, and Me explores this tension by comparing the work of three “designers”:
Cristóbal Balenciaga, an AI program, and myself, a fashion design student.

The Machine, which references the AI program, creates four of the project’s eight garments. Two are
partially AI-generated, while two are fully AI-produced. While The Machine is equipped with the same
“design elements” — as the other two designers, the question that it raises is, can The Machine’s cre-
ations evoke the same creativity and emotional depth as human-made designs?

The Master, Cristóbal Balenciaga, symbolizes the pinnacle of human craftsmanship. Renowned for be-
ing one of history’s greatest couturiers, his designs are celebrated for their architectural precision and
timeless elegance. His legacy sets a benchmark against which the AI and I are compared, prompting
another question: can technology or an emerging designer like me ever compete with such mastery?

Finally, The Me, aims to bring a more personal and relatable element to the project. As a student going
through my creative journey, I balance limited experience with growing passion and instinct. By collabo-
rating with elements such as The Machine (AI programs), I am confronted with questions about author-
ship and value. Does AI enhance or dilute my identity as a designer?

But this project isn’t just about comparing designs; it’s about challenging perceptions. Can audiences
tell who created what? Does the creator’s identity matter, or is the outcome all that counts? The Master,
the Machine, and Me examines the evolving nature of creativity and the role of human touch in an ever
evolving digital world.
AI-generated model/image
 Who was Chrisobal Balenciaga

Cristóbal Balenciaga, a name that has become synonymous with timeless elegance and craftsmanship in
the world of fashion, began his journey into the world of couture at the tender age of four. Even at such
a young age, he displayed an uncanny aptitude for sewing. His first creation was a collar embellished
with pearls for his pet cat, a piece so exquisite that it captured the attention of the Queen of Spain’s
great-grandmother. This unexpected patronage marked the beginning of Balenciaga’s illustrious career.

By the time he turned 24, Balenciaga had already opened his first boutique in the beautiful city of San Se-
bastian. His unique designs and exceptional tailoring skills didn’t go unnoticed, quickly attracting the at-
tention of the Spanish royal family. Despite facing a temporary setback during the Spanish Civil War when
he had to close his business, Balenciaga demonstrated remarkable resilience. He reopened his fashion
house in Paris, the heart of the fashion world, and expanded his empire, earning a reputation as a prolific
creator akin to Picasso and Charles Schultz.

One of the keys to Balenciaga’s success was his unique set of skills. Notably, he was ambidextrous, a rare
trait that allowed him to cut and sew with either hand, providing him with an unparalleled advantage in
his craft. His second collection, which was patronized by the Duchess of Windsor, and a significant order
from Saks Fifth Avenue for his third collection, catapulted him into the limelight, cementing his status in
the fashion industry.

Balenciaga was known for his relentless work ethic and unwavering dedication to his craft. He took im-
mense pride in completing all his designs himself, working with an intense concentration that was reflect-
ed in the quality of his creations. The company’s archives bear testament to this meticulous attention to
detail and handcrafted artistry, drawing parallels with other master craftsmen like Enzo Ferrari, whose cars
were also handcrafted.

Despite amassing considerable wealth and properties over his successful 70-year career, Balenciaga nev-
er forgot his roots. His mother’s old Singer sewing machine held a place of honor in his residence, serving
as a poignant reminder of her significant influence on his life and career.

Even as the fashion world gravitated towards new designs in the 1960s, Balenciaga remained steadfast
in his commitment to designing timeless pieces. His creations from this era are now some of the most
admired, collected, and copied pieces in the world of fashion. Upon his abrupt retirement, he made the
difficult decision to shut down his Paris house due to the lack of a suitable successor. He returned to his
native Spain, where he passed away in 1972. Today, his dresses from the 1950s and 1960s are considered
museum-worthy pieces and cherished heirlooms, unlikely to ever be recreated. They stand as a testament
to Balenciaga’s enduring legacy and his unmatched contribution to the world of fashion.

Dorian Leigh in a evening gown by

Architectural
Minimalist
Innovative
Sculptural
Seamless
Timeless
Elegant
Volume

Design elements
 Look one
Design inspired by AI. Pattern created in Clo-3d by me
Environment created in blender. Model created with AI
Edited in photoshop
 Generated ai image Enhenced image

All the models were created using the live AI image generator from Krea. The process starts with
crafting a detailed prompt, describing exactly what you want to see on the screen. As you type, the
scene begins to take shape in real-time. It’s crucial to make the prompt as detailed as possible for Prompt: ‘‘A highly realistic black-and-white photograph of a 1960s fashion photoshoot inspired by
accurate results. Afterward, you can upload a reference image to fine-tune the lighting and mood Cristóbal Balenciaga’s minimalist aesthetic. The image features a single model standing elegantly
of the scene you’re trying to recreate. in a full-body pose, wearing a short dress with elegant short hair. The setting is a minimalistic room
with clean. Soft, directional lighting creates dramatic contrasts and shadows, adding depth and
Once that’s set, you begin generating images. Throughout this project, I’ve created over 10,000 sophistication to the scene.’’
images. When you find an image you’re happy with, you can save it and use Krea’s enhance feature.
This tool transforms the image from something that clearly looks AI-generated into a hyper-realis-
tic result that’s nearly indistinguishable from a real photograph. I’ve used the enhance feature 411
times during this process to perfect my results.
by Cristóbal Balenciaga 1957
 Look Two
First AI image design is inspired by and clo-3d renders Design inspired by AI. Pattern created in Clo-3d by me
Environment created in blender. Model created with AI
Edited in photoshop
 Look three Design by Cristóbal Balenciaga
Design by Cristóbal Balenciaga. Pattern created in Clo-3d by me
Environment created in blender. Model created with AI
Edited in photoshop
 Look four
Design by Cristóbal Balenciaga. Pattern created in Clo-3d by me
Environment created in blender. Model created with AI
Edited in photoshop
Look one recreated in real life by me. Model Ève Bérard
 Look five
Design by me. Pattern created in Clo-3d by me The blender scene just before the render
Environment created in blender. Model created with AI
Edited in photoshop
 Head Legs

Left arm Right arm

Look six
Head, arms and legs taken from these four AI generated images for look six Design by me. Pattern created in Clo-3d by me
Environment created in blender. Model created with AI
Edited in photoshop
 Look seven
Fully generated with live AI image generation in krea
Image enhance in krea
Edited in photoshop
 Look eight
Fully generated with live AI image generation in krea
Image enhance in krea
Edited in photoshop
Look one recreated in real life by me. Model Ève Bérard
 The master, the machine and me
Yves Nanon Petit collectionbook hypercraft 24/25