Did Google just drop the most powerful AI Fashion tool in 2025? Or is Nano Banana just an over-hyped toy?
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
The Fashion Guild Podcast
Introduction
If you’ve seen the hype around Google’s newly rebranded Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (formerly “Nano Banana”), you may be wondering if it's just another AI gimmick, or if it has any practical use in Fashion?
We put it through real fashion workflows—CLO/Style3D previews, flat-lays, graphic appliqué, look-dev and more, and judged it with a designer’s eye.
Spoiler! It’s fast, often stunning, occasionally stubborn, and free in Google Studio (with light daily rate limits).
We filmed the whole test, so you can skip the head-scratching and jump to what works and what doesn't. So kick back, grab a coffee, and chill with us whilst we talk about all things Fashion and AI image-generation with this latest tool from Google.
Where it shines (for real-world teams)
CLO/Style3D to “campaign-ready"
We turned a quick preview render from Style3D into a convincing fashion model shot in seconds, then dropped her into complex environments (restaurant lighting, reflective floors) with realistic shadows and colour harmony.
Flat-lay to on-model (and full length!)
Took a creased dress on the floor, mapped it onto a model, then asked for a full-length view - shockingly good for sample-light e-com or rapid social content.
Graphics as embroidery
We fused a vintage “Sailor Mickey” style graphic onto a rugby shirt as an embroidered appliqué on the first try. For concept buy-in, that’s gold.
Design comprehension
We rapidly produced tech-pack-style flat line drawings from a photo. (They’re raster, not vector - but still a time-saver for ideation decks.)
Watch-outs (so you don’t waste hours)
Micro-tweaks can be flaky
Resizing the embroidery graphic by “50%” didn’t work, and a pose change we asked for subtly straightened an asymmetric hem. We fixed the hem by re-prompting, and could probably do the same with the graphic after more time and attempts. Some things don't work as expected first-hit.
Head swaps struggled
Silhouette edits (e.g., tighter cuff on a puff sleeve) were fine, but full identity swaps were hit-and-miss. Asking it to replace one model for a new model just didn't work. Again, maybe needed more attempts. And top tip - try starting a new 'chat' and just prompting the same request, sometimes this actually works!
Safety filters are… quirky
Swim/lingerie prompts sometimes triggered safety filters. We got further by applying garments to a generic model rather than a specific person. This version of image generation tech is very over-sensitive and blocks requests frequently! Hopefully will be fixed in later versions.
Not a vector machine
Great flats, but you’ll still need Illustrator for editable lines and production-ready tech.
Tips to get results fast
Be precise, not poetic. This model understands more, so no need to be as descriptive as you might have been in something like Midjourney.
Front-load references. If you want to reference several things that you want combining into new photo, then try putting them all in a single reference image and then prompt to bring them all together.
Iterate like a designer. Treat each output as a pass; nudge, don’t rewrite.
Blend tools. Consider taking a Midjourney image you love for its styling, then edit it using Gemini Flash 2.5. Make final tweaks in Photoshop if necessary.
License likenesses. If you use a real model’s face/body, set clear royalty terms.
Watch the full video above for details how to access Nano Banana FOR FREE.
👋 About The Fashion Guild
The Fashion Guild is a global consultancy and innovation hub committed to advancing creativity, efficiency, and sustainability in the fashion industry. Co-founded by industry veterans Peter Gallagher-Witham RCA MDes and Jon Smith, we help brands remain competitive by integrating the best of AI and 3D technology.
