Wearable technology has been contested by fashion editors from its inception, with too gimmicky high-tech accessories not faring well with the latest styles. For these type of connected products to truly proliferate, they need to evolve to complement—or exist within—everyday apparel. Today, fashion itself is fueling the next stage of wearable tech, and rightly so. PSFK Labs‘ research for our newest report, The 2017 Forecast, examines the future where our digital interfaces blend seamlessly into our “dumb” ware.
We examine the new manufacturing techniques bringing greater interactivity, adaptability and movement to fashion.
As the technology itself matures, companies will continue to look to partnering with established and/or innovative designers to realize new forms and functionalities. With names like Diane Von Furstenberg and Levi’s behind the trend, wearable fashion is underway of a serious makeover.
Below are three companies rethinking how technology-equipped apparel can integrate with fashion trends and create a second or third screen for brands and consumers to interact.
Blastosphere: Digital Art Becomes 3D Fashion
Multi-media publishing platform NewHive, music platform REIFY, and creative community Print All Over me collaborated to create an art installation at the Ace Hotel entitled Blastosphere: Digital Art Becomes 3D Fashion. Each piece takes a playful approach to blurring the lines between art and fashion, digital and physical realities, or static and dynamic visuals. Many of the garments in the collection were also encoded with augmented reality so each piece consisted of a static design that came to life when seen through AR.
EasyJet Airplane Crew Uniforms Embedded With Safety Features
UK Airline EasyJet and fashion tech company CuteCircuit redesigned uniforms for flight and ground crew members by embedding microelectronics that assist in crew performance and safety tasks. The flight attendant uniforms are equipped with extra lighting around the shoulder-pads and hemming, as well as built-in microphones to improve communication. Ground crew uniforms incorporate LED lights in the cuffs to assist with take-off and landing while lights in the hood illuminate work areas freeing both hands to complete tasks.
Caress of The Gaze Shawl Changes Shape Based On Where People Look
Caress of The Gaze is an art piece consisting of a dynamic shawl covered with natural-looking, feather-like quills that expand and contract to the contours of the body as onlookers shift their gaze. A microcontroller connected to a camera guesses the age and gender of onlookers and responds differently depending on who is looking. The project addresses the emerging field of shape shifting structures and designs.
Source: psfk.com
