FASHION TECHNOLOGY A NEW WHY TO COMMUNICATE FASHION
Carolina Olofsson Istituto Europeo di Design 2010
Fashion and Technology
FUTURISTIC FASHION Imagine a day without your B l a c k b e r r y, I p h o n e o r computer. Would you feel trapped? Yes! Now days technology is one of the most i m p o r t a n t elements in our society and our way of living is dependent on the technology world. We can see technology everywhere around us; it’s in your pocket at the café, at work, in the grocery stores and last but not least at your home. With this we may believe that technology can’t take over any more markets, but think again.
itself in to your wardrobe. Wearable technology represents a new and unknown area in terms of manufacturing, marketing and design. It means that the more advanced technology solutions of today is making it possible to integrate electronics directly into c l o t h i n g. Both of the systems can now interact with each other, enabling the most innovative applications in fashion wear.
Technology and fashion gives a whole new experience
The new revolution that is coming up is that technology now is taking
The interesting part of connecting technology and fashion is that it gives a whole new experience to the customer.
and Technology FASHIONMONTHLY Fashion
Fashion designer Diana Eng is one that is cutting edges with her innovative tech-designs. Her ambition with the new design is to bring geek chic back into Vogue. Diana describes herself as a nerd who became a fashion designer and her goal is to integrate technology and fashion in a way that people can relate to. The designs are for people who wants to express themselves with something extra, something that makes others look at them and think twice. You are suppose to look at a shirt or a dress and think “oh that is interesting, I have never thought about it in that way before” Diana’s latest collection, The Fairytale Fashion Collection is a
magical creation that consists of fashion that illuminate, changing colors and transform shapes based on environmental factors like sound and movement. In her work to create the designs Diana asked around to get an understanding for how people see the connection between technology and fashion. The inspiration for the collection comes from everyday people and their inspirations and ides when they here technology and fashion. Diana herself, express peoples precipitation in her designs like this; “YOU will be leading the d e s i g n ! Fa i r y t a l e Fa s h i o n depends on your participation. How do you participate? I will use your ides to create the Fairytale Fashion.”
The collection consists of nine looks everything from self lighting dresses that pick up sound and changing colors, to a deployable hoodie whose hood expands and collapses as a result of its origami structure. My personal favorite is the EL Wire Dress that feels like a glint from the Mediterranean ocean. The fabric of the dress is silk chiffon. The dress comes in a Aqua color that has been shaped in to lots of d r a p i n g, coupled with electroluminescent wires that are integrated a t t h e e d g e s. T h e d r e s s ’ illumination is controlled by an accelerometer and the thin lighting wires follows the material and creates an whole new dimension of elegancy.
Fa i r y t a l e F a s h i o n depends on your participation.
There is just one thing to say when you see all this amazing c re at i o n . Te ch n o l o g y a n d fashion is here to stay and will absolutely be a part of our wardrobe.
DIANA ENG Name: Diana Eng Born: In Jacksonville, Florida 1983 Profession: Fashion designer History: Attended Stanton College Preparatory School and Rhode Island School of Design. Attended as a contestant in season two on ProjectRunway. Worked in Victoriai’s Secret Research and Development department. A co-founder of NYC Resistor hacker group. Author to the book Fashion Geek; Clothes Accessories Tech Current: The Fairytale Fashion Collection that is about imagining the possibilities.