The Next Black: Merging technology and fashion
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The 45 minute documentary, which focuses on the future of wearable technology in fashion, premiered earlier this week. The film revolves around several innovations in the fashion industry, such as painted cultures bacteria, 'slow' fashion and dying textiles without the use of water.
The
Next Black researches the future of fashion
German general electricity company, AEG, produced the documentary in order to promote the next steps in the fashion industry. “Research into the future of fashion is our thing. Above all else, we aim to be an innovative company,” said Frederique Pirenne, brand manager of AEG.
Whenever the discussions about the future of fashion emerge, the conversations tend to include the merger of fashion and technology. Tilbury herself is dedicated to changing industry by merging technology and fashion together, and her bubble blowing dress designed for Lady Gaga is one of the designs highlighted in the documentary.
Another design featured in the film is from sportswear label Adidas. Matt Hymers, project manager, showcases shirts that can measure the heart rate of the athlete wearing themselves. “Sooner rather than later, you will see more and more sensors in more and more clothes. And not just in sports, in everyday life as well,” commented Hymers.
The field of wearable technology appears to have taken flight over the past year. Former Chief Executive Officers at Yves Saint Laurent and Burberry, Paul Deneve and Angela Ahrendts respectively, have already traded their careers in the fashion industry to work for the technology giant Apple. Rumors have it that the two are busy working with the Californian company to develop the latest wearable gadgets.
Innovation
does not need to be present on all levels in fashion
However, not all industry insiders are invested in the future of fashion and technology. Trend guru Lidewij Edelkoort is “unsure” about the future of wearable technology. During her semi-annual presentation of fashion trends for fall/winter 2015/2016, Edelkoort revealed that she was “not sure that this innovation needs to be on all levels”.
“Design objects with several functions just do not seem to work in the industry. In a way, fashion is a very traditional industry.” She believes that consumers are not interested in innovation in all aspects of their lives and that consumers do not have the appetite for designs with multiple purposes.
Other designers continue to invest in wearable technology. Pauline von Dongen and Lianne Toussiant are currently working on thesis based on the future of wearables. Anneke Smelik, Dutch researcher, is supervising the PhD students work. “My personal view is that we will develop a more intimate relationship with technology. Marketing technological fashion has its difficulties though,” revealed Smelik last year in an interview with FashionUnited.
One of the main reasons Smelik believes that wearable technology has yet to be embraced by consumers lies in the design and aesthetic aspect. The wearable products being produced are simply not attractive enough. “The garments created must look farther than the technological aspect and become more aesthetically pleasing. Besides, current wearable items that are on the market are impractical for both producers and consumers; production is too complicated, the garments do not fit well and cannot be washed in a washing machine.”
AEG can relate with Smelik concerns. “This documentary was developed to investigate the changes in the clothing industry in order to be able to predict how the laundry needs of consumers will change. AEG's history is characterized by innovations and to be able to stay innovative we need to know what the future of fashion will look like.”