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Fashion Observed


Trend observations with a sociological eye from afar...

by Darryl S. Warren  

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Expression Dimensions

The sophistication of the populace is reflected in the technology that is being engineered.  If that is so, then we are fast gaining a level of technical erudition that would have once been limited to the confines of science fiction. Yet these changes are a fact of our world today that cannot be ignored.

From the level of AI algorithm sophistication that is coming closer to mimicking the intricate understandings of the human mind to the race for incorporating technology into everywhere our clothes, accessories and even our bodies can accommodate, we are seeing amazing technological marvels that also serve to create unease as the pace of its growth and evolution is far outstripping our normal ability to adapt to change.

The technological evolution is even transcending from wearables to embedded technology, such as Motorola’s experimentation and patenting of tech incorporated into tattoos for augmentation of its wireless tech for conversational clarity. Culturally, this sophistication is finding inspiration with other sophisticated expressions. For example, amidst the current buzz concerning 3D printing, dimensional play with plot and story structure was recently undertaken by a Doug Dorst/JJ Abrams collaboration for a book.

The fashion industry of course has been inspired by the marvels of everything 3D. In the mid-90s laser etching on PVC brought some interesting holographic treatments to the fore. As 3D television was experimented with in the very late 90s, the more 50s conventional 3D was played with by Stephen Sprouse, who utilized Mars rover images with 3D treatment as prints.

Although 3D television was pushed to the masses and 3D films proliferated in theaters , that alone did not affect design as much. It was the emergence of 3D printing being redesigned for the masses in recent years that, on the heels of our entertainment going 3D that has pushed us towards the obsession with dimension, something covered in prior articles (“Comin’ At Ya!”, January 21, 2012; “What Our Beacons Reveal “, January 27, 2013; and “It Depends Where You’re Looking”, July 6, 2013).

Our technological prowess has afforded us the ability to explore working with more complexity, from 3D body-scanning for clothing fit that was flirted with as early as in the mid-90s by Cyberware to recent efforts by Matt Hornbuckle and Kirk Keel to crowdfund a design approach for custom fit shirts via the same tech.

Indeed, the fashion industry itself is soon facing an evolution of its own as 3D printing becomes more sophisticated. Of course Iris van Herpen has been all over the technology to create incredibly complex 3D printed garments. But already 3D printing is moving towards the masses, such as with Neiman Marcus selling 3D printed jewelry. More recently, Tamar Giloh’s brainchild Tamicare came out with a new 3D printed textile to roll out disposable undergarments for mass production next year.

Futurists are predicting the end of conventional manufacturing as we know it within a few decades as such advances coupled with accessible technology render orthodox processes obsolete as eventually people will be able to produce and recycle their own clothes with more sophisticated printers

Ironically, the very industry that could find itself rendered obsolete has taking the design approach to by playing with dimension as well. While the more conventional manifestation has been to pay with texture, something more prominent in designs these days, dimension has also been played with by layering in conjunction with sheers, solids and cut portions to play with and illustrate the focus on dimensional appreciation. Architecturally structured materials add to this as we appreciate dimensional form in design as recent collections demonstrate an understanding of our interest in the direction design has taken in the face of new technology and the creativity it has spawned.

The eventual transformation of manufacturing of course will not mean the end of fashion. How the industry chooses to evolve is a chapter that has yet to be written, but you can be sure smarter designers are looking to see how to fit within this inevitable advancement of fashion itself. It may be made at home, but so much can be from other minds that we draw upon, all in a multi-dimensional collaboration in the name of personal expression.

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