How CRUMP Used AI to Cut Market Research Time and Visualize Streetwear Designs Faster
0. About CRUMP
CRUMP is a sport-inspired streetwear brand deeply rooted in hip-hop culture. Launched under Relabel, it quickly gained popularity through HIPHOPER before expanding to major platforms like Musinsa and 29CM. Known for blending athletic functionality with urban aesthetics, CRUMP has grown into a leading streetwear brand, generating an annual revenue of 5 million USD in just six years.
1. The Challenge: Time-Consuming Market Research & Limited Visualization Methods
Streetwear brands like CRUMP face two major challenges in the design process:
1-1. Market Research Takes Too Long
💬 Q: What’s the first thing you do before designing clothes?
CRUMP: “The first step is setting the mood and style. I draw inspiration from my favorite brands and lookbooks to plan the direction. Before creating CRUMP’s collections, I studied early street fashion brands in Korea, like Brownbreath and Critic. However, collecting and organizing these references manually is time-consuming and slows down the creative process.”
1-2. Limited Ways to Communicate Design Ideas
Once design ideas are formed, effectively communicating them to the team becomes another challenge. Many brands, including CRUMP, rely on existing product images or hand-drawn sketches, but these methods can be restrictive and fail to fully capture new creative directions.
2. How CRUMP Used AI to Solve These Challenges
To streamline design ideation, CRUMP used Brand Training.
💬 Q: What sets CRUMP apart from other streetwear brands?
CRUMP: “I’d say our key differentiator is Sportism. My previous job involved working with sportswear and functional fabrics, and we bring those elements into streetwear. We use high-quality spandex from reputable manufacturers or add water-repellent treatments to improve performance. But when we try to visualize these ideas, sketches and static images don’t always communicate the texture, layering, or technical details effectively.”
3. AI-Generated Key Streetwear Pieces
Instead of relying on static product images or sketches, CRUMP used AI-generated designs to bring new ideas to life instantly.
💡 "AI helped us rapidly refine multiple designs, reducing concept development time by 50%."
✔ Round Long-Sleeve Jersey (Blockcore) – Sport-inspired jerseys with bold graphics and color blocking.
✔ Woven Zip-Up Training Set – Functional, water-resistant pieces designed for all-weather wear.
4. The Impact: Faster Market Research & More Effective Visuals
💬 "AI transformed how we research, ideate, and visualize our designs—making the process faster, clearer, and more innovative."
✅ More Precise Design Communication – AI-generated visuals improved internal discussions and manufacturer collaboration.
✅ Trend-Driven Yet Brand-Consistent – AI helped incorporate new trends while maintaining CRUMP’s identity.
5. What’s Next for CRUMP?
CRUMP is continuing to push the boundaries of creative streetwear design, integrating AI deeper into their workflow to further optimize creativity and efficiency.
Want to speed up market research and visualize design ideas instantly?
