Designer Robots: How technology plays a role in the fashion industry

Each version of any upcoming release focalizes on some sort of advancement: may it be stitching pattern, material or social theme. The use of technology has become prominent and intertwined as each decade passes. From the use of biodegradable materials in our everyday wear to mechanized shoes, it is a inevitable relationship that we have created for our self’s. The use of technology is showcased in a variety of ways. May that be the new “Gore-Tex” breakthrough or the creation of slip on sneakers. Not every piece of technology will be as flashy but rather a solution to our first, second or third world problems. There is a notion that technology and innovation will always be directed for good use but as we know, this is not the case whatsoever. There is a huge market for “who can cut the most corners” and the winners of these markets goes on to profits millions from this. Cutting edge technology has a use for all purposes whether that may be good or bad.

Material transformations

Back in 2015 Adidas announced a partnership with Parlay revealing a concept shoe using Ocean Plastics. Parlay and adidas reported manufacturing 11 million pairs of these shoes in 2019. This trend of major fashion companies segueing into environmentally conscious concepts gave birth to a wave technological innovations. Prada’s Re-Nylon, Hermès’s MycoWorks, Levi’s Water<less® and the list goes on. The concept of transforming materials has been around us for a very long time. A prime example of this would be the use of Gore-Tex. It was first created in 1969 and integrated into our everyday fashion a couple years later. Mainly showcased in outdoor jackets and footwear. This new found material that had great waterproofing tech along with being breathable marked a new milestone for fashion.

To Profit or not to profit…

While the use of technology is advertised as innovative and beneficial for the most part. Hidden among the shadows are the corner cutters. Using technology to maximize profits while using the least amount of materials. This can be presented in different ways. There is a big obsession for higher Grams per square meter (GSM) clothing. Manufacturers know this and will created the illusion of such. From adding chemical finishes to altering textures of fabric (air textured). We live in a market where the illusion of quality runs wild.

The everyday solutions

When we think of fashion innovations, one might think of the new Nike Mag self tying shoe or the thermo-reactive jackets from stone island. But our every wear may not be seen as innovative. The slip on shoes were a game changer for those who suffered from various disabilities. When the Velcro tech was first introduced, it allowed for easy wear for everyone from children to adults. The incorporations of this tech spread to a variety of different outerwear which not only allowed for new designs but a wide range of accessibility. Good faith technology has helped us in so many ways we might not even think of.