Introduction With the unexpected fast speed of the decrease of resources and the increase of serious pollution in every espect during the past few years, the majority of both the government and the mass have become more environmentally counscious. Different people from different realms are devoting in helping this beautiful planet. The development of advanced technology has become a crucial medium to achieve sustainability in various ways, from the recently popular 3D print to the wearable tech. Sustainability is not a fresh idea, but it is the duty of every human being. It is not going anyone but will be integrated in our daily life in the future.
Influencers
Stella McCartney
Iris Van Herpen
Eileen Fisher
Suzanne Lee
Emma Watson
Although 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, has been existing for more than two decades, it is until recent three to five years that it came to a bigger audience and becomes popular. Originally 3D print was mostly used in industries for modeling. Then it became a big advance in medical use. Since 2010, the price of 3D printer has been dropped dramatically from $20,000 to $1,000 then, which accounted to the wilder usage of 3D printer among the general consumers. In 2013, 3D print was debuted to the fashion industry by the Dutch fashion designer, Iris Van Herpen, with her "VOLTAGE" haute couture show in Paris Fashion Show. Since the range of materials for 3D print becomes wider and the materials usually can be recycled and reused, in addition to the bioprinting to utilize cells to grow the foam and grow the model, it has become a possible solution for the resources problem as well as the landfill issue. While 3D print getting wildspread among the mass consumers, in a short period of time 3D-print apparel may become mainstream.
During the past few years, consumers have become more conscious about what they are purchasing and the content of the products. For the fashion market, consumers are not only concerned about what they are wearing but also thinking about what are the consequences of their purchases. To answer the concer of the safey for the wearers, some producers have been trying organic fabrics such as organic cotton, organic wool, and the previously new organic fiber that made of bamboo.
Recently, natural cellulose fibers such as hem, the fibers that regenerated from protein such as soy or corn, and recycled cotton, wool, linen, hemp, silk, or even recycled polyester are popular trials to decrease the harm to the environment. One of the regenerated fibers, Tencel/ Lyocell, has been recognized as one of the most sustainable fiber which is made from trees and the porcess of growing and producing are the least harmful.
To be sustainable is not necessary to be technology driven. Back to simple is a different touch. Being simple means an efficienct lifestyle and just use or purchase what you need instead of fulfilling the desires. While the contemporary fashion world is full of various styles that everyone has different taste and has the confidence and courage to try new bold things, people tend to wear dramatic to pop up from the crowd. After a several years noise for eyes, there is a trend of simplicity and minimalist in fashion. The nostalgia for old good life as well take people back to a boho lifestyle. With the limited resources and the environmental conscious of landfill problems in mind, keep a simple lifestyle is going to dominate the future.
Recently, due to the lack of materials and the landfill issue of apparel, the research and development on bio fabrics, especially the biodegradable ones, have become popular among the fashion industry. One of the pioneer on developing bio fabrics is Suzanne Lee, a London fashion designer who devotes in fashion and future technologies. Her devotion in the project of BioCouture, which is to use microbialcellulose to grow bio fabrics, was included in The Top 50 Best Inventions of 2010 of the annual roundup in Time Magazine. Although bio fabrics are still in devloping, to solve the material and waste problems, it is becoming more acceptable and wild-known around the world.
In the SXSW Interactive 2015 and CES 2015, wearable technology is a big star among the shows. With the release of Apple Watch at the end of 2014, wearable tech collaborating with the fashion industry becomes a hot topic among the market and consumers. The range of wearable tech includes the health-driven wristband and virtual reality glass such as Google Glass and Microsoft's HoloLens. Wearable tech is becoming the medium to generate sustainability, such as the air-purifying mask, solar energy backpack, air-pollution detecting application, and air-clearing BB.suite. Wearable tech has grown from health function toward a bigger picture of the environment facet.
Sustainable environment indeed is one of the top issues among the world, but having a sustainable and healthy body should not be ignored. Without health, even the environment is sustainable, people cannot survive. With the increasae of numbers of diseases without cure or hard to be treated caused by both the nature and the unhealthy living habits, the health conscious is growing in people's minds. Now people tend to eat healthier with less artificial things and more natural and organic food. The quality and essence of food become more important. Besides dining, exercising has become a huge trend within the past three years. With the wild choices from walking, yoga, training, hiking to running, people are more willing to exercise and do it in their own way. No matther what kind of sports, to keep a sustainable body is the key.
Light is a beautiful magic. The projection of light plays the trick to people's eyes to make it like wearing clothes. With the creativity and development of light, people can just wear under garments with light on it. Or people can wear the light-embedded-fabric made garments, which can decrease the use of dye for color and remain cool and fun at the same time.
During 2012, an Atlanta-based artist, Collen Jordan, created the wearable planter jewellry with 3D-print vase and tiny plants. Her original idea was to create something with long-lasting quality out of plastic. These cute and tiny planters may be limited with the essence of plants to clean the air for the wearers, but it can bring a delightful atmosphere not only for the wearers but also people around with the exposure of the little green lives. Though it may have little things to do with the environment, it can light up the mood of the wearers and create joyful minds.
Wearing natural and animal pattern may be less relevant to sustainability but it can be a way to remind people about the nature and wildlife. Flower print and animal pattern have never really left the fashion industry. They just change the form with the time of spirit. In the past, the most popular animal pattern are leopards or pythons, which usually gave people a "wild" image. To obtain a more natural look, the favor is switched to tender animals such as zebras and giraffs. By imitating the pattern of the nature, it provides people an image of living with nature.
The theme of black and white may has no connection to sustainability or technology, but it has always been classic looks that both designers and consumers keep playing with the portion and form of these two colors. No matter what season it is, black and white is always on the list of trend. Even it's not on the catwalk, it can be found everywhere on the street. Also, being never out-of-fashion, these two colors can stay in the wearers' wardrobe for a long peirod and decrease the landfill.
Images All images except the back cover are from the Internet.
Editor/Producer
Elsa M. Kao
Credits LXFM 740 Computer-enhanced Marketing Professor Oscar Betancur
April 13, 2015