4/5 (1)

Before AI, building a website required coding skills or paying a developer to build one. Recently, I have experienced firsthand how this process has changed. Two weeks ago, as part of a case during a job interview, I was tasked to build a website for remote workers with an AI tool called Lovable. Lovable is similar to ChatGPT however, where ChatGPT generates an answer based on a prompt, this tool creates a whole website. Instead of writing code, I was writing and perfecting my prompt in ChatGPT, after which I inserted it into Lovable. 

In my first prompt, I simply described what the website should contain, such as the content that must be displayed, as well as what the website should look and feel like. In this case, I specified that the website should contain several key topics related to the case described and should look professional but still be minimalistic. Within minutes, Lovable created a website that looked extremely professional and catered to almost all my specified needs. What surprised me was that where a developer could take hours/days to develop such a website, I only needed to craft a prompt.

What stood out to me the most was that the process felt more like a conversation with a very skilled and fast website developer. After my first prompt I noticed that some minor things were missed, I went back to improve my prompt, and within minutes, the website was finished. This is when I realized that instead of taking years to learn to code and build websites or hiring someone else, I could now pay a subscription fee for an AI tool that can build infinite websites and put them online immediately through another tool. 

Website creation or other digital creation is no longer exclusively to those who have a technical background but rather to those who have access to the internet. With AI tools like Lovable, anyone with internet and the ability to articulate an idea clearly can produce something previously unimaginable in hours. This begs the question: does the introduction of AI platforms such as Lovable mean that digital designers could one day become obsolete as tools like these continue to advance?

For those who would like to experiment with 5 free credits on lovable, below is the link:

https://lovable.dev

4/5 (1)

When we think of transformative business models, platforms like Uber and Airbnb often come to mind. In recent years ultra-fast fashion giants such as Shein have captured global markets and show equally disruptive potential but are often less discussed.

Unlike Zara and H&M, which often work in design cycles measured in weeks, Shein relies on AI-driven demand forecasting and small batch production. New models and styles are introduced in batches of as few as 100 units and are only produced if sales data justifies it (SHEIN group, 2024). This approach enables Shein to respond to shifting consumer tastes and demands in real time.

Shein has designed its app to resemble platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Each customer’s feed is personalized, shopping has been gamified through several features and influencer content (BrandVM, 2024). Moreover, all these factors have enabled Shein to make shopping an addictive and individualized game.

Another aspect that makes Shein special is their ecosystem. Shein’s network consists of thousands of small suppliers which they manage through digital dashboards enabling Shein to monitor speed and quality (SHEIN group, 2025). This in combination with leveraging a vast global network of influencers allows Shein to fuel demand. This ecosystem does not just sell clothes, it creates an environment where suppliers, technology and consumers all reinforce each other.

However, this model faces one critical challenge which is sustainability. Ultra-fast fashion produces enormous textile waste, questionable labor practices and a significant carbon footprint (Rajvanshi, 2024). Regulators in both the EU and United States are beginning to push for more supply chain transparency and circular practices.

Shein demonstrates significant disruptive power by combining data, agility and its ecosystems. Yet Shein also highlights an issue: when speed and scale are the priority, sustainability and ethics are at risk of being left behind.

This begs the question, can Shein alter its operations in such a way that it is less detrimental to the environment?

Sources:

SHEIN Group. (2024, November 6). Our on-demand business model. https://www.sheingroup.com/our-business/our-business-model/

BrandVM. (2024, November 4). Shein’s marketing strategy: How they dominated global e-commerce. https://www.brandvm.com/post/shein-marketing-strategy

SHEIN Group. (2025, July 14). Our supply chain: Empowering our supplier partners. https://www.sheingroup.com/our-business/our-supply-chain/#empowering-our-supplier-partners

Rajvanshi, A. (2024, September 19). How AI could transform fast fashion for better and worse. Time. https://time.com/7022660/shein-ai-fast-fashion/