How Technology is Changing the Fashion World

Fashion and Technology, two of the most lucrative industries in the world have joined forces over the last decade and conceived some of the most innovative creations ever seen. 

3D printing, for example, has been used by creative director of Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, to create intricate and unusual accessories. Lagerfeld isn’t the only member of fashion royalty using tech to achieve innovator status, remember the Met Ball Gala in 2016, with the futuristic Manus x Machina theme? Specifically, Claire Danes’ glow in the dark dress that completely stole the spot light?! Literally.

Created by Zac Posen, this glow in the dark dress was a revolutionary masterpiece. With specialised fabric from France and lined with fibre optic LED lights and 30 battery packs sewed into the Cinderella gown, Zac told Good Morning America "I’m interested in that place, where the past and the future meet, because that’s universal and that hits a chord around the world…just recognizing beauty and a magic moment between fantasy and technology.” Nothing short of magical, this gown was made by 6 people and taking over 600 hours to complete, Posen’s dress was a revolution in not only creativity, but also in construction,design and functionality. 

The hybrid of fashion and technology is not confined to the couture rooms of luxury fashion houses. Innovative leaders such as Nike, have introduced self-lacing sneakers. In 2016 The ‘HyperAdapt 1.0’ trainers that adjust automatically when the wearer puts them on, were available in a limited quantity on the Nike app. Despite the brand not directly targeting those with disabilities, the possibility exists for such a market. 

Not only are these creations highly innovative, but they can also pioneer a new wave of wearable technology. Apple watches may just have hit the market, but what if a jacket made from ‘smart fabric’ – which yes, is already in development – can monitor your heart rate and body temperature? It may seem like a ridiculous notion now, but what about in the next decade? The likelihood of these types of fashions seems far-fetched, but nobody thought flat-screen and HD televisions would ever be possible, yet they trickled down from the top and now no boxy TV’s are in existence! 

Technology may have disrupted the fashion industry, but it needs to be embraced by brands and designers alike to move forward and avoid stagnating. Of course, there are many instances where technology may not be able to do the same job as a couture atelier at Dior, nobody can rival that life-long talent. But, as a new breed of designers and developers emerge, innovations such as VR/augmented reality, 3D visualisation, 3D printing and GPS can be just as fashionable and lucrative as a pair of Manolo’s or a Birkin tote.