Artificial Intelligence Generated Content Reshaping Transnational Costume Patterns: Opportunities and Challenges of the Bajau “Olos Sandang” and Lahu “Unity Flower”

Abstract

This study explores the potential of Artificial Intelligence Generated Content (AIGC) to reshape and reinterpret traditional textile patterns across cultures, focusing on the Bajau Olos Sandang from Sabah, Malaysia, and the Lahu Unity Flower from Yunnan, China. Although these communities are geographically and historically distant, their textile motifs share remarkable visual and symbolic similarities, reflecting common themes of social cohesion, unity, and harmony with nature. By employing AIGC-driven generative design, pattern reconstruction, and human-AI co-creation, the research demonstrates how digital technologies can both preserve cultural authenticity and foster innovative adaptations for contemporary design. The study also addresses challenges such as ethical considerations, cultural misrepresentation, and intellectual property concerns, proposing strategies including the creation of annotated pattern databases, human cultural validation, and ethical co-design frameworks. Findings suggest that AIGC can serve as a mediator between tradition and modernity, enabling designers to generate hybrid motifs, facilitate intercultural dialogue, and enhance global visibility of endangered crafts. Overall, this research highlights the transformative role of AIGC in sustaining intangible cultural heritage, promoting responsible innovation, and bridging the gap between local artisanal knowledge and contemporary creative industries in the digital era.