The year 2020 might have been anything but good for the fashion industry. But in 2021, new trends are coming that people will surely gush about. The fashion industry is one of the most resilient, and it has embraced change and innovations to conform to the changing times. It has used new technologies to recover from the crisis and grow despite its obstacles in the previous year.
As the second quarter of 2021 rolls in, we are now seeing various technology trends fast becoming a vital aspect in everyday fashion. Some of these trends are below.
Wearable Technologies
Fashionable wearable technologies have been around since the 1970s. It started with the release of the portable music device called Walkman and the inception of the calculator watches. Back then, these technologies were not called wearables.
It was not until the 2000s that the term “wearable” was used to pertain to devices that people can wear around as part of their entire get-up. Some of the wearable devices that became popular include the iPod and FitBit. This 2021, wearable devices that are expected to rise in popularity include Smartwatches, fitness trackers, AR headsets, augmented reality, body temperature sensors, and breathing trainers, to name a few.
At-home Hair Care
With people required to stay at their homes to protect themselves against the COVID-19 virus, many are now doing their beautification regimen at home. These include cutting their own hair, coloring them on their own, and curling them.
Devices, such as the rotating hair curling iron, which can be easily bought online, are selling fast. Such devices help get shiny curly hair minus the expensive fees at a salon. Trendy hair accessories that help individuals look more presentable during online conferences are also rising in popularity.
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
With e-commerce becoming more popular nowadays, the retail industry has also taken its game to the next level. These days, fashion retailers are now making shopping more enjoyable and memorable for customers through virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). VR and AR are among the biggest trends in technology in this era, and the retail industry is making use of their functionality to boost sales.
VR allows customers to “put on” clothes they like virtually. It even allows them to experience being in a fashion show. On the other hand, AR allows customers to feel that they are in a real environment while putting on clothes virtually. Both AR and VR help customers experience and make purchasing decisions on the latest fashion trends without physically going to the stores to make the purchase.
3D Printing
The three-dimensional printing technology has been making grounds in several industries, with the fashion industry being one of them. This technology is widely used in the creation of tools that help produce garments and accessories. 3D printing allows designers to make intricate designs that do not only look elegant but are sustainable as well. This technology allows them to cut costs in the production of specific patterns. It also allows them to produce designs and prototypes that are friendly to the environment.
High-Tech Textiles
Designers and proponents of fashion are now using smart textiles or fabrics to create their new fashionable products. These fabrics add value to the wearer through the functionality they offer. Unlike normal fabrics, smart textiles are revolutionary in that they can do many things when worn. They communicate, conduct energy, transform, and even grow depending on the design of the creator. Smart textiles come in two classifications, namely, performance-enhancing and aesthetic.
Performance-enhancing smart fabrics can greatly impact several other industries apart from the fashion industry. They can be used by athletes and even the military to help regulate their body temperatures, control muscle vibration, and minimize wind resistance. When worn, these fabrics can help the wearers improve their overall performance.
Aesthetic, smart textiles allow designers to create fashion pieces that can change colors when worn. They use the energy gathered from the environment to harness the power of sound, heat, and vibrations.
Many companies in the fashion industry are already using these textiles to produce amazing products. Some use microorganisms, such as fungi, algae, and cellulose, to create wonderful clothes and other fashion accessories.
Technology already has a big impact on fashion. It will continue to do so as the rest of 2021 rolls in. More innovations are expected to rise despite the obstacles that every industry is facing this year.
