Technology is no longer restricted to the domain of systems and machines. Today’s scientists and developers are taking technology to the next level.
The benefits of technological advancements can best be seen in the way they improve the functionality of products or services. What better place to see this than in the fashion and apparel industry?
Wearable technology is now a reality. From smart watches to temperature-based color changing clothing, both technology and fashion are seeing a revolution. The objective here is to push fashion beyond the conventional aesthetic role it performs. By embedding technology into clothing and accessories, businesses are now able to cater to the changing needs of the customers in real-time.
Evolution of fashion
Fashion is transient. What is there today will be outdated tomorrow. One of the best ways for businesses to get a head start in this highly competitive market is to incorporate technology into their products.
Wearable technology offers multiple benefits to both the users and the business. Technology such as smart watches and Fitbit help collect the user’s heart rate, blood pressure, and sleep patterns in real time. This information can be used by medical professionals to create customized treatment plans. They also help users take an active interest in their health and wellness.
Wearable technology doesn’t just help in the field of medicine. Motus Global’s compression sleeve which can be worn by a pitcher during a baseball game helps sportswear manufacturers calculate the workload of a pitcher’s arm. This will help them design sportswear that offers greater efficiency and comfort, improving the player’s performance.
Changing the way fashion functions
Fashion as a whole comprises of all the activities right from procuring the materials to the time a consumer uses the apparel.
Technology is changing the way materials are being used and the way clothing is being made. Apparel designers, some of whom call themselves material alchemists, are experimenting with clothing dyes and yarns. Lauren Bowker, one such material alchemist, has created an environmentally-responsive ink that changes the color of the cloth depending on temperate and humidity.
E-textiles is another thing which wearable technology has made possible. Microscopic sensors are built into the yarns. Conductive threads, textiles with integrated circuits, organic fiber transistors and other such technologies are being used to manufacture clothing. Many of these technologies, such as the LED and OLED-embedded textiles enhance the appearance of the clothing. Others conduct body heat, reduce sweating, monitor heartbeat, and help enhance the wearer’s sporting performance.
Apart from this, many companies are incorporating the lightweight ballistic-grade polymer into the heels of footwear to stop the wearer from experiencing pain. Technology is being used to calculate the optimum angle for stilettos, which will prevent heel pain. Olympics-worthy footwear is being 3D printed for athletes and non-athletes alike. An example is Adidas’s Futurecraft 3D.
Integrating technology into fashion allows companies to push past traditional boundaries. It gives them the opportunity to create something unique. This certainly makes for an exciting time in the fashion industry.
