Much like technology, fashion is always moving forwards. What started as a basic necessity to keep bodies warm and covered from harm has grown into a worldwide societal means of communicating social and beauty standards. It has taken an important part in people’s psychological stability. It has become one of the biggest avenues for art and self-expression. And fashion continues to grow.
Fashion-related technological advancements being seen today are nothing short of amazing. There are virtual reality mirrors that can help you check how you’d look on a dress without having to wear one. There are AI voice assistants that can help you choose what to wear.
AI algorithms can now predict fashion trends that can help stylists and designers come up with the next hit. Machines can now cut and sew fabric by themselves. But more than all of these, certain clothing articles prove how fashion is undergoing an era of technological revolution. And here are some of them.
Athletics and Health
Clothes were originally designed to protect the human body from the cold and other harmful entities in the environment. Fast-forward a couple of millennia, and clothes are now designed to get data like blood oxygen levels, temperature, heart rate, and muscle usage from a person’s body. But it doesn’t end there.
Medically helpful clothing articles like Neviano swimsuits and Siren socks are also on the market. Swimsuits designed by Neviano are integrated with waterproof, ultraviolet sensors that can send an alert to your mobile device when the UV levels increase too much for the amount of sunscreen you have applied.
This feature is somewhat similar to what Siren’s diabetic socks have. However, Siren’s socks focus on measuring and sensing temperature fluctuations in a person’s feet. Whether it’s inflammation or an injury, people who have numb legs and feet due to diabetes-induced nerve damage can be notified immediately if their legs are in danger with the help of the microsensors woven into the cloth.
There are also smart clothes designed to help in keeping bodies in shape. Nadi X Yoga pants use haptic technology to check the accuracy and effectiveness of your yoga poses. It can be connected to the company’s app, and there you can get guidance on how to improve your poses and even build your routine.
Activewear like Athos’ compression shorts and long-sleeve shirts are also popular with athletes and their coaches due to their built-in Electromyography (EMG) sensors that measure muscle response and nerve stimulation in large muscle groups of the body. These measured muscular and neural activities will then be sent to an app in a full biometrics analysis that can help with an athlete’s training and recovery.
Fashion can also help in elevating an athlete’s performance in real-time. Bogner Of America ski pants boast state-of-the-art, wind-and snow-proofed fabric to minimize aerodynamic drag. This makes it easier to maneuver the slopes, and it makes it faster to catch momentum, giving the wearer the boost needed to win.
Nike’s ZoomX VaporFly Next% 2 is known as the fastest super shoes ever designed. It has full-length carbon-fiber plates in its midsole that gives added propulsion to the wearer, along with the patented ZoomX foam that gives comfort and breathability.
Functionality
Multipurpose clothing articles are also cleverly designed now. Steven Anthony’s flask tie is engineered to have a collapsible vacuum-sealed rubber funnel that can discreetly store 8 ounces of liquid. With a nozzle small enough for you to sip on while eliminating chances of spills and squirts.
Dakine’s BC vest with a built-in backpack also gets a place on this list. The vest-backpack hybrid boasts multiple pockets for outdoor tools and utensils, weighing less than two pounds on its own. The placement of the wearable storage spots is efficiently selected near the strong points of the body, making it easier to carry the items. Not only does it lessen the strain on the wearer’s back, but it also converts the load into comfort through its warmth-inducing fabric.
Advanced fashion sciences have reached great heights, as proven by; Fabrican Spray-on clothing and Snapchat smart glasses. Snapchat’s Spectacles 2 not only protects the eyes from ultraviolet rays but also records videos and photos that you can easily access through paired smartphones. It comes with two microphones for sound recording and an enhanced image rendering capacity for both cameras.
The Fabrican Spray-on clothing proves how fast the world has progressed. With this, the construction and fabrication of garments have been accelerated. By using sprayable material, Manuel Torres has created clothes without seams. Since laboratory-created fibers and binders are used, animal-derived leather and fur are starting to become old news. This makes fashion more sustainable without compromising its beauty.
And most importantly, it opens doors to medical opportunities. With its efficacy known in the fashion industry, the next big step is to apply the science in medicine such as spray-on casts and bandages for broken bones, wounds, and burns and even face masks to promote safety during the pandemic.
Fashion is not just for fashion anymore. With the current pace of technological advances the world sees, fashion is becoming more relevant than ever. In a few years, staying in style won’t just be a preference but a responsibility.
