When Fashion Met Technology

A rundown of Fashion-Tech inventions and creations that inspire me.

Various forward-thinking designers have dabbled with the art of incorporating technology with fashion in the last two decades. Memorable ones include Hussein Chalayan, Alexander McQueen and Iris van Herpen. Whether it be wearable art, a poignant spectacle or functional inventions that solve a specific problem, these creations have had an impact on society in different ways.

Crafting Fibers

Bella Hadid Spray-on Dress, Coperni ,2022

JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP via Getty Images

Fashion brand Coperni recently collaborated with Fabrican to create a spray-on dress that was demonstrated live at its S/S ‘23 show. The liquid fibers, suspended in a polymer solution condenses into a non-woven fabric when sprayed onto a surface. This innovation can be used to create, customize and repair clothes and has the potential to be used in the medical industry to create bandages and casts.

While the spectacle of creating a form-fitted dress from a can of aerosol spray to a live audience on a runway is awe-inducing, the innovation itself has far-reaching possibilities in relation to reducing the environmental damage caused by the waste produced by the fashion industry.

Of Artistic Robots & Robotic Art

Image Source: https://www.anothermag.com/fashion-beauty/9225/the-magnificent-impact-of-alexander-mcqueen-ss99

Another iconic creation in the history of fashion that uses technology as an intuitive part of design is Alexander McQueen’s 1999 spray-painted dress.The emotionally jarring spectacle of two robots violently spraying paint over a pristine white dress worn by Shalom Harlow was a reflection of the violence directed towards material and people in the fashion industry.

A moment remembered by many, it evokes strong feelings in people to this day. The genius concept of the powerless human being attacked, figuratively, by robots resulting in the creation of beautiful art brings to life the conflict every artist and designer grapples with while trying to stay true to their craft while fighting to make it in today's world.

Wings of Transformation

Image Source: https://www.yellowtrace.com.au/lauren-bowker-unseen-air/

AIR is a capsule collection designed by Lauren Bowker, founder of The Unseen, and was showcased during London Fashion Week in 2014. A material exploration studio, The Unseen collaborates with well-known brands to create breathtaking creations that blur the lines between science and art. In this collection, dyes and pigments sensitive to external stimuli such as pressure, pollution, moisture and sound react with the environment to create a hauntingly beautiful transformation of color on leather treated with the same.

This wonderful creation has inspired me to work with color-changing inks in my MA Project. While the collection AIR by The Unseen uses environmental factors as a stimulus for the change, I am working on providing the wearer with the ability to choose when the transformation occurs.

With each passing day, a new invention is unveiled. My very lucid dream is to wake up one day and unveil mine.