Spreeai has big plans for transformation in 2025 with new product features coming soon and major retail and luxury brand partnership announcements this spring, including collaborations with luxury fashion label Sergio Hudson and London-based contemporary brand Kai Collective.
The tech company’s announcements timed with the 2025 Met Gala’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which honors Black designers, is hard to ignore. Both Hudson and Fisayo Longe, founder of Kai Collective, are celebrated Black designers with forward-thinking mindsets for fashion innovation. Underscoring SpreeAI’s growing role in the fashion world, John Imah, founder and chief executive officer of SpreeAI, attended the Met Gala in a custom look from Sergio Hudson.
Notably, Imah attended the Met Gala as the first invited CEO of a fashion tech in AI start-up. In creating SpreeAI, Imah’s vision and goal have been to support the fashion industry by revolutionizing the customer experience, bringing his own passion for fashion and gaming as well as experience in senior strategic partnership roles at Meta and Snap Inc.
When asked what it means to him to be attending the Met Gala as someone with a background in technology, Imah told Fairchild Studio that it is “an incredible honor,” adding that “attending an event as iconic as the Met Gala is both exhilarating and deeply meaningful.”
“I’ve spent years in Silicon Valley, and now I get to stand on fashion’s grandest stage, bridging two worlds I’m passionate about,” said Imah. “In many ways, it symbolizes the evolving synergy between fashion and technology — a recognition that the future of this industry will be shaped hand-in-hand with innovation. Being at the Met Gala as a technologist shows how far we’ve come — it’s a celebration of creativity in all forms, and I’m proud to bring a fresh perspective to the conversation.”
Moreover, Imah said that he is thrilled to be wearing Sergio Hudson, applauding the designer for being a visionary “known for his empowering silhouettes and impeccable tailoring.”
“Collaborating with him was nothing short of inspiring,” said Imah. “From our first meeting, he took the time to understand not just my personal style and tech background but also my cultural heritage, and he wanted the outfit to reflect classic elegance, futurism and have deep personal meaning. As a first-generation Nigerian [American], this moment carries profound significance for me.”
Honoring the legacy of Imah’s late mother from Delta State, Nigeria, Hudson’s design includes details of her memory. The lining of the jacket features an embroidered pattern inspired by traditional motifs from Imah’s family’s region.
The design also includes his journey in tech and his broader vision for fashion’s future with subtle tech-inspired details throughout the design such as discreet accents in the tailored jacket, which catch the light like futuristic circuitry. “To [ensure] perfection, we leveraged SpreeAI’s technology during final fittings — a seamless blend of my tech world with his fashion artistry,” said Imah.
“We really wanted to create a look for John that incorporated his personal style, his career and his culture,” said Hudson. “It was easy because John is somewhat of a dandy already. We just identified what style of dress we were going to go into and how we were going to incorporate not just tech but also his culture. It’s one of my favorite looks I’ve had the chance to work on.”
Beyond collaborating for the Met Gala, SpreeAI’s partnership with the Sergio Hudson brand is an experience that shoppers can see firsthand by visiting Sergio Hudson’s website. The initiative brings SpreeAI’s photorealistic try-on technology to the Sergio Hudson label, allowing consumers to effectively step into ready-to-wear pieces digitally. Imah explained that in practice the technology is a personal fitting room experience that allows someone anywhere in the world to see how a Sergio Hudson dress or suit would look on their body in real time.
“This collaboration marries the allure of high fashion with cutting-edge convenience, allowing Sergio to reach a broader audience without compromising the exclusivity of his brand,” said Imah. “Sergio understands that giving clients an interactive way to engage with his designs can enhance their connection to the brand’s craftsmanship and vision.”
To that end, Hudson told Fairchild Studio that in partnering with SpreeAI, “there is so much potential for future growth and making the shopping experience easier for clients.”
“In the luxury market clients are more intentional and circumspect, so when they see something they like online that they can’t try on, they’re less likely to buy it,” said Hudson. “With this technology, it’s going to make it a lot easier for them to feel comfortable making that purchase. Fashion has always been a forward-leaning industry, and we must continue to move forward because people have to wear clothes and technology will only continue to grow. It wouldn’t make any sense for us not to work together.”
SpreeAI’s partnership with Kai Collective similarly infuses advanced tech into the brand’s predominantly digital platform. The digital boutique experience connects the brand with shoppers around the globe who can virtually try on bold prints and silhouettes before purchasing. Imah said that the collaboration with Kai Collective highlights how technology can empower emerging designers by offering supporters an even richer experience.
Imah said that “both collaborations underscore a bigger point: Whether it’s a renowned house like Sergio Hudson or a modern indie label like Kai Collective, every fashion brand can benefit from innovation tailored to their identity.”
“We’re showing that tech can be customized — it’s not one-size-fits-all,” said Imah. “For me, it’s hugely rewarding to see our technology bringing value to such different corners of the fashion world. It reinforces my belief that the intersection of fashion and tech isn’t just a trend – it’s a transformative shift that’s touching all levels of the industry. Today, technology is one of the most powerful forces shaping our lives, so it’s natural — even essential — for fashion to embrace it.
To learn more, visit spreeai.com.
link