Digital Social Hour: “Joshua Vides: AI Changed Fashion Faster Than Anyone Expected” (DSH #1709)

Podcast: Digital Social Hour
Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Joshua Vides
Date: December 26, 2025
Location: Complex Con, Las Vegas

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, artist and designer Joshua Vides sits down with Sean Kelly to discuss how artificial intelligence is changing the fashion industry at an unprecedented pace. From AI-assisted design tools and the shifting sneaker market to the boom-bust cycles of collector culture and the survival strategies of streetwear brands, Joshua shares candid insights drawn from two decades in the business. The conversation captures the raw realities of today’s creative landscape and Joshua's practical adaptation to seismic technological shifts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Impact of AI on Fashion Design

• Rapid Acceleration: Joshua expresses amazement at how quickly new brands achieve high-level production, crediting accessible information and AI as game-changers.
  • Quote: “It took me a year when I was 19 years old to figure out how to print a T shirt… this dude’s making cut and sew shorts... It’s really cool to see, but also it’s like, shocking.” (11:06)
• AI as a Leveler: AI dramatically narrows the experience gap, allowing inexperienced designers to produce pro-level work with minimal time investment.
  • Quote: “AI’s leveled the playing field... People with 3% talent will now get bumped to 70, 80% because of AI.” (13:42)
• Creative Prompting: Joshua uses AI to iterate ideas and mockups instantly, even in his signature style.
  • Quote: “I literally will go like, can you show me a Joshua Vides chair?... took me three seconds to... figure out.” (12:23)

Changing Markets: Complex Con & Retail Trends

• Con Shows as Community: Joshua views events like Complex Con more as networking and exposure opportunities than pure sales venues.
  • Quote: “Honestly, like, for me, it’s just kind of like, coming and showing up... sparking a conversation.” (00:40)
• Face-to-Face Value: Serendipitous conversations can outweigh direct sales. Joshua relays how a single discussion at Complex Con led to a lucrative collaboration.
  • Quote: “Honestly, I had a conversation yesterday that pays for, like, five of these booths.” (01:12)
• Retail Woes: Retail closures and lagging payments are hammering streetwear brands. Joshua notes a major downturn but views these cycles as necessary market corrections.
  • Quote: “Retail is taking a huge shit right now... Stores are closing left and right.” (07:07)
  • Quote: “You have to rinse the market every few years… only the strong survive, really.” (08:33)

Sneaker & Collectibles Bubble

• Post-COVID Reality Check: The market’s oversaturation and post-pandemic correction have crashed values and brought tough lessons.
  • Quote: “The one shoe that was 20 grand… now it’s like 200 bucks. And people are like, what the is going on?” (04:36)
• NFT Lessons: Joshua passed on many NFT offers at the hype peak, seeing it as confusing and potentially reputation-damaging—regrets the lost income but avoids the fallout.
  • Quote: “I look back, I wish I would have done it—but at the time… I didn’t understand it.” (05:53)
  • Quote: “There’s some people who like, just didn’t do it right, you know, or overpromised something and now… it kind of seemed really scammy.” (06:24)

Survival, Brand Longevity & Personal Evolution

• Brand for the Right Reasons: Joshua contrasts those passion-driven with those chasing trends for fast money, observing how intention shapes longevity.
  • Quote: “You can kind of tell who’s got it and who’s here because they want to be here… You’re making bedazzled vintage T shirts right now just because you think you could sell some.” (09:11, 09:26)
• Adapting, Not Resisting: He encourages embracing new tools (like AI and social media platforms), rather than clinging to old ways.
  • Quote: “I don’t want to be the old guy that’s like, I’m not gonna try it. No, it’s happening. It’s here. I’m already late to it.” (13:50)
• Family & Mentorship: Joshua brings his kids to events, exposing them to the business and community side of the industry. He’s keen on passing on his learning.
  • Quote: “I brought my kids right now. So like, he wants to have a booth at Complex Con next year. So I’m like, this is how people do this.” (08:03)
• Facing Uncertainty, Accepting Ups & Downs: Even with a strong track record, Joshua shares that the business is never certain, and staying nimble is key.
  • Quote: “I’ve had years where I’m like, like, what am I doing?... we got a 10,000 square foot warehouse. We got expenses.” (15:29, 15:40)

Looking Forward: 2026 & Ongoing Projects

• Booked & Grateful: Joshua outlines a jam-packed calendar with creative projects, collaborations, and event roles, expressing gratitude for his stability and success.
  • Quote: “I got a really cool like baseball kind of project happening in December. January comes, I go to Tokyo for something cool. February, I’m the creative director of a really cool event chase... it’s like that until August.” (15:11)
  • Quote: “I’m 36 years old, man. I’ve been doing this since I was 19... I could support my family, my kids here, you know. Very thankful to be here.” (15:41, 15:47)

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• AI’s design revolution:
  • “I mean, dude, I could type in, like, make me a shirt design that looks like Hellstar, but I could produce for $10... now I have this, you know.” — Joshua (11:30)
  • “Show me a Joshua Vides chair... Oh, wow, that actually might be something I would maybe do.” — Joshua (12:23)
  • “People with 3% talent will now get bumped to 70, 80% because of AI.” — Joshua (13:42)
• On retail challenges:
  • “Retail is taking a huge shit right now... That affects every streetwear brand tremendously.” — Joshua (07:07)
• On the speculative bubble:
  • “NFTs, right? They came, they went. If you were in early, you came up, you know, and now it’s like, what’s an nft?” — Joshua (05:39)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• AI and Fashion Democratization – [00:00] to [00:23], [11:06] to [13:37]
• Complex Con Experience & Networking Value – [00:30] to [01:46], [08:03]
• Sneaker & Collector Market Downturns – [03:15] to [05:19]
• NFT Discussion – [05:35] to [06:32]
• State of Retail & Market Cycles – [06:40] to [08:33]
• Brand Authenticity & Survival – [09:00] to [09:39]
• Embracing AI & Future-Proofing Skills – [13:06] to [14:20]
• Upcoming Projects & Joshua’s Outlook – [14:24] to [15:53]

Joshua’s Socials & Closing

• Primary Platform: Instagram (@joshuavides)
• Experimenting With: TikTok, seeing mixed results but enjoying the process.
• Upcoming Appearances: LA Auto Show, a baseball project, trip to Tokyo, event creative directing (Feb–Aug 2026)

Tone and Takeaways

The discussion balances unfiltered honesty with pragmatic optimism, as Joshua shares both the exhilarating and sobering sides of being a creative entrepreneur in a rapidly changing world. Expect both real talk and inspiration—Joshua’s candidness about AI, market booms and busts, and the need to evolve offers a snapshot of current challenges and emerging possibilities.

“Only the strong survive, really... Fortunately, I’m here 15 years later, doing the same shit.” (08:33)

“It’s happening. It’s here. I’m already late to it.” (13:50)

For more information on Joshua’s work and upcoming projects, check out his Instagram or catch him at major industry events next year.