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Tag Archives: fashion and technology

Tekkie-fashion footwear: the future of walk-about

23 Wednesday Mar 2016

Posted by meappropriatestyle in accessories, fashion and technology, fashion innovation, gender neutrality, gender non-specific fashion, shoe designers, shoes... glorious shoes, signature piece

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

accessories, fashion and technology, footwear, footwear with navigating features, gender neutral fashion, Lechal footwear, tech-fashion, tech-shoes, technological innovations, unisex clothing, wearable technology

 

Tech-fashion is no longer

an anticipated phenomenon of future

but rather, is a welcomed reality of present.

It is the fruitful union of

technology and fashion resulting in a product-piece

of innovation, function and wearability.

 

…

 

 

Within this mixed genre of fashion, technology and the ‘what’s next factor’ is

Lechal footwear.

Originally designed, (by Anirudh Sharma)

to assist the sight-impaired,

Lechal shoes guide the wearer to a desired destination:

a ‘GPS-fit’ -type footwear.

 

The shoes are gender-neutral, sport-lux, sleek-look.

 

 

 

…

 

In addition to Lechal shoes,

the navigational feature also comes as in-sole only,

which can be easily placed in any shoe.

 

 

…

 

Supported by the Lechal app and able to communicate with any smart device

(Android phone, iPhone/iPad, Bluetooth)-

Lechal is ‘smart’ footwear.

Sporting a navigational component (the Lechal app)

boasting a hands-free, device-free, map-free, getting-about experience-

Lechal shoes (in-soles) can chart out a route

to parts familiar or to parts wholly unknown.

Through light vibrations:

to left foot for a left turn

to right foot for a right turn, and so on –

the wearer can focus on appreciation of surroundings

rather than checking directions on a hand-held device or map.

 

 

 

 

 

Where the future leads

Lechal ‘smart’ footwear

 

 

 

grey suede with orange trim/stitching

tech shoes, casual suede, grey, mens lechal men venki

 

 

 

…

red suede with black details

tech footwear, lechal, red suede, ladies, lechalcom samma

….

brown / black ballerina

tech footwear,  leather ballerinas black_brown, lechal.com sur

…

Lechal in-soles

tech footwear, insoles, unisex, lechal.com

(images from lechal.com)

…

For further product details visit

http://lechal.com/technology.html

…

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Pharrell Williams “flashes” in short trouser suiting at the Grammy Awards, 2015

09 Monday Feb 2015

Posted by meappropriatestyle in design inventive, fashion and technology, men's suiting, menswear, ready to wear, short trouser ensembles, sportswear, urban wear

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

'Happy' by Pharrell Williams, Adidas, fashion and technology, Grammy Awards 2015, men's short trouser suiting, Pharrell Williams, red carpet fashion

 

Held at the Staples Centre, Los Angeles

the Grammy Awards ceremony honours

outstanding talents in the music industry.

In addition to presentation of showstopping musical performances,

the ceremony is also an occasion for showstopping red carpet fashion.

…

Recording artist, music producer and fashion maverick

Pharrell Williams

did not not disappoint and was not disappointed

at last evening’s Grammy Awards, 2015.

 

…

For the red carpet walk,

Mr. Williams and his wife, Helen Lasichanh

wore garments from his collaboration collection

with sportswear brand Adidas.

…

(image from ibtimes):

pharrell and wife helen, grammy 2015, adidas wear

Mr. and Mrs. in Adidas-wear

…

Hers was a grey, one piece, track suit.

His was a grey short trouser suit made from

a reflective fabric which presents white when exposed to light-

definitely, a flash style statement.

…

(image from instyle.com):

pharell Williams, short trouser glow suit, Grammy Awards 2015

Short trouser aglow suiting

…

Continuing in the mode of short trouser suiting,

Mr. Williams donned a bell-hop inspired look

for the on-stage performance of his mega-watt song hit

Happy.

…

(image from cbc.ca):

pharrell, performs in bell hop suit, grammy 2015

…

Happy he was too, receiving the award-

Best Urban Contemporary Album for his album

G I R L.

…

(image from footwearnews.com)

pharrell accepts grammy award, 2015

Looking Happy

a smile on his face

a Grammy Award in hand!

…

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Imperfect perfection: meet emerging designer Noa Raviv

10 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by meappropriatestyle in design experimentation, design inventive, design philosophy, emerging designers, fashion and art, fashion and technology, graduate collection, inspiration, patterns, ready to wear, womenswear

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Tags

'Hard Copy', design innovation, emerging designers, fashion and art, fashion and technology, graduate collection, Noa Raviv, womenswear

 

 

Tel Aviv- based designer Noa Raviv is a young, up and coming talent

whose recent graduate collection, completed at

Shenkar College of Engineering and Design,

has captured the attention of the international fashion community.

The collection, called ‘Hard Copy’,

was featured in a recent edition of Vogue Italia.

The magazine recognised Ms. Raviv as an emerging designer

to watch closely on the fashion industry radar.

 

…

(image from dianov-art.ru):

noa raviv, portrait

designer, Noa Raviv

…

(images from Vogue Italia):

noa raviv, graduate collection

…

‘Hard Copy’ is a collection ‘shaped’ by an interpretive of classical Greek sculpture

and an application of 3D software to create imprecise grid patterns

on tulle and organza fabrics.

The design objective was to produce

“an original object in an era of duplication and replication.”,

which Ms. Raviv successfully accomplished.

Her garments are unique pieces, authentic to an original aesthetic.

…

noa raviv, graduate collection

…

Hard Copy

 by designer, Noa Raviv

(images from noaraviv.com)

noa raviv, graduate collectionnoa raviv, graduate collectionnoa raviv, graduate collectionnoa raviv, graduate collectionnoa raviv, graduate collection, single should top, side viewnoa raviv, graduate collection, back view, single shoulderopnoa raviv, graduate collection, single shoulder topnoa raviv, graduate collection, black dress

…

For further background on designer Noa Raviv, visit her webstie:

http://www.noaraviv.com/

 

…

 

 

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Tech -fashion: the dress – design, dress – wear of things to come

21 Tuesday Oct 2014

Posted by meappropriatestyle in accessories, avant garde, design experimentation, design inspiration, design inventive, design philosophy, design work, fashion and business, fashion and technology, fashion innovation

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Amy Winters, fashion and technology, Fashionology - tech wear, futuristic, futuristic clothing, futuristic jewellery, Fyodor Golan, Pauline van Dongen, Rainbow Winters, Rebecca Minkoff, tech-fashion, Wearable Solar, wearable technology, Will.i.am, Ying Gao, Zaha Hadid

Fashion design is about being inventive:

constant contemplation of the next ‘what if’

to take an idea and translate it into a beautiful reality.

…

Technology has penetrated every aspect of existence.

Now fashion innovators have started to channel

technology into dress creations of style and function.

Clothing is set to be elevated to more than just body covering,

but means to communicate, respond to

various stimuli and react to certain environmental factors.

…

Chinese-born, Montreal-based designer Ying Gao is at the forefront of

fashion / technology- wear.

She has designed dresses which respond to the steady gaze of an on-looker.

If stared at for a length of time, tiny motors are activated and parts of the

garment begin to move, the ultimate in ‘eye-catching’ apparel.

Manufactured with photo-luminescent thread, the dresses also

glow in dimmed lighting.

…

(image from cnbc.com):

wearable technology, dress by Ying Gao

by designer Ying Gao

moveable parts and glow in the dark patterns

…

Wearable Solar, the brain-child company of Dutch designer Pauline van Dongen,

specialises in tech – fashion.

Her concept is the design of garments, which are able to harness solar power

and utilise this natural energy source to power smart devices.

The clothing is lightweight and can charge a smartphone to

50 per cent capability if worn in the sun for over 60 minutes.

…

(image from paulinevandongen.nl):

wearabable solar dress by pauline van dongen

The future is solar-powered bright!

Wearable solar dress

by designer Pauline van Dongen

…

During New York Fashion Week (NYFW)-  s/s 2015,

designer of luxury apparel and accessories Rebecca Minkoff,

introduced a jewelery line, which featured a gold chain – link bracelet

that alerts the wearer to texts and mobile calls.

The bracelet makes use of Bluetooth wireless technology.

The collection also boasts a leather bracelet,

which serves as a USB cable for charging mobile phones.

These jewellery pieces will be ready for this year’s holiday gift -giving season.

…
(images from fastcodesign.com):

wearable technology, rebecca minkoff, from fastcodesign.com leather bracelet3035049-inline-i-1-rebecca-minkoff-to-debut-fashion-tech-jewelry

Leather bracelet/ USB cable

by designer Rebeca Minkoff
 

…

wearable technology by rebeca minkoff

Incoming:  texts/phone alerts

Gold chain – link bracelet by Rebecca Minkoff

…

Key to tech-fashion is this interest in clothing that ‘do something’:

interacts, reacts, moves-  of its own accord.

Central Saint Martin’s graduate, designer Amy Winters

creates garments that do just that: respond to environmental stimuli of

sound, sunlight, water.

Her design company Rainbow Winters develops inter-active clothing .

…

(image from ecouterre.com):

wearable technology, rainforest dress, rainbow winters

Rainforest dress by designer Amy Winters

changes colours in reaction to sunlight and water

…

(images from rainbowwinters.com):

wearable technoloyg, rainbow winters, tulip dress, respond to light_water from rainbowwintersws3

Rainforest dress in full colour bloom

…

wearable technology, thunderstorm dress, rainbow winters

Thunderstorm: a sound reactive, 

holographic leather dress

which illuminates as volume increases

…

Design duo Fyodor Podgorny and Golan Frydman (Fyodor Golan)

have taken fashion-tech to the next level by creating a tiered skirt

made of mobile phones which shows static as well as live-feed images.

The images continually change.

For added impact, the skirt is equipped with a special app

which generates colour variations as the wearer moves.

…

(image from wired.co.uk):

wearable technology, mobile phone skirt by fyodor golan

‘Stay tuned-in’

fashion-tech skirt by Fyodor Golan

…

Yet, although these fashion-tech garments are well ‘tricked out’,

the challenge remains one of  aesthetics:

how to manufacture techno clothing and accessories with beauty appeal.

Karinna Nobbs, senior lecturer of Fashion Brand Strategy

at London College of Fashion, succinctly sums up this fashion/tech dilemma:

“In order for wearable tech to become accepted by the mass market, the design has to fit, but the tech also has to add value to the product and not be a gimmick, which many of the offers to date have been.” (quote from forbes.com)
…

Entertainer/entrepreneur Will.i.am is set to partner with

celebrated British architect Zaha Hadid to create a line of

fashion-tech wear called Fashionology.

…

Zaha-and-William-wired-Michael-Newington-Gray

 Will.i.am (l) and architect/designer Zaha Hadid (r)

(quote/image from wired.co.uk)

…

He has a clear vision of how to address the problem of fashion and tech aesthetics:

“Let’s not think what a technological company would do, let’s bake technology in, but come from the perspective of a fashion house. What would Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent do? What would Chanel do? What type of product would they put technology in to?”

In other words, the fashion should always be first considered

and the technology second in the creative/design process.

…

Although it seems as if there is still a bit left to be desired,

there is ever-increasing consumer interest in wearable technology.

A recent Washington Post article reports

“… 19.2 million wearable devices will be shipped worldwide in 2014, and the number is expected to climb to nearly 112 million by 2018.”

As modern life continues with rapid transitions, incorporating technology into

everyday, practical, useful and beautiful fashion is an inevitability.

Fashion and technology may once have been considered strange bedfellows

but are now readily united.

…

Fashion forward clothing has a new added dimension:  technology.

…

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Mark your diary! for the new Fashion and Textile Museum exhibition, ‘Knitwear: Chanel to Westwood’

30 Tuesday Sep 2014

Posted by meappropriatestyle in abstract art, art influence - fashion, design inspiration, design inventive, exhibitions, fashion and technology, fashion innovation, knitwear

≈ Leave a comment

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'Knitwear: Chanel to Westwood', art - influence on fashion, avant garde knitwear design, fashion and technology, Fashion and Textile Museum, fashion exhibitions 2014 - 2015, knitwear

The Fashion and Textile Museum, London presents its new exhibtion

Knitwear:   Chanel to Westwood

 

Displaying pieces from the the 1920s to the noughties,

the show chronicles the evolution of knitwear as

high fashion and avant garde creations.

All of the garments showcased are from the private collection of

vintage clothing dealers Mark and Cleo Butterfield.

 

…

Of additional interest is the examination of inspiration

from art movements such as Punk, Pop and Deconstruction

as well as insight into current innovative approaches to

knitwear design and manufacturing.

…

(image from underlinesmagazine):

FTM knitwear show, chanel to westwood from underlinesmagazinecom dsc_0667

…

Some of the designers whose works are featured include:

Coco Chanel,   the original “jersey girl” ; Kenzo,  conceptual perspective

Julian McDonald, Comme de Garcons, Vivienne Westwood and

emerging avant garde labels such as Sibling.

…

Whether you have a specific passion for knitwear design,

fashion and technology or just a love of anything fashion –

this exhibition is a must see.

…

Knitwear:  Chanel to Westwood

Fashion and Textile Museum, London

until 18 January 2015

…

For additional information, visit:

http://ftmlondon.org/ftm-exhibitions/knitwear-chanel-to-westwood/

 …

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Your shout: fashion e-commerce, does it fit?

14 Thursday Aug 2014

Posted by meappropriatestyle in fashion and technology, fashion discussion, fashion helpful helpline, fashion innovation, fashion news

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

e-commerce, e-fashion, fashion and technology, fashion e-commerce, garment sizing, garments that fit, online shopping

New to meappropriatestyle will be articles in which

readers can weigh in on a topic.

This first subject concerns fashion, e-commerce and technology.

…

(image from dorm room biz):

onlineshopping from dorm-room-biz

…

Fashion e-commerce has become the go to shopping experience

for many consumers, and the numbers continue to rise.

For most it is the convenience factor:

– quick access to a myriad of online clothing labels

– ease of price comparison research

– stress free browsing, the not having to deal with crowded stores

– no waiting in endless queues

– the ‘save option’ for a later purchase

– early preview of sales

– special offers targeting online shopping only

– and all done from the comfort of home or office.

…

The benefits seem an endless happy list.

Yet, there is the unfortunate down-side:

the annoyance of having to return an item of clothing due to improper fit.

This has become the bane for e-retailers and e- shoppers alike.

…

(image from daily mail):

tight clothingarticle-1181997-04F2E97B000005DC-732_233x471

…

For e-retailers:  it’s the cost factor,

as most provide consumers with free shipping for returns.

After absorbing the initial cost for outbound shipping,

reports indicate  that between 30% – 50% of garments

are returned due to ill fit.

In addition, some items are returned in a condition,

which unfortunately prohibits resale.

…

For e-shoppers:  it’s the emotional factor,

as an anticipatory high of expecting a new purchase

is dashed by an disappointing low when the garment doesn’t quite fit.

In addition, there is the mild irritant (for some worse than for others)

of waiting in dreaded queues at the post office

to mail back the unloved / unwanted clothing.

…

Yet, wasn’t a few of the original intentions of the e-shop experience,

that of saving time, avoiding queues … a leisurely, stress free approach ?

…

How to guarantee a win – win for all concerned:

the e-retailer and the e-shopper.

The solution is in finding the correct answer to the customer query:

what is my size from everything4pagenats

…

Nothing screams,  “Poor styling!”

than poorly fitted clothes, which is to be avoided at all costs;

so as to avoid ‘all costs’ in later trying to set things right.

…

(image from prime magazine):

clothes fit prime magazinedont-wear-clothes-that-dont-fit

…

For the past few years, the fashion e-commerce community

has been working with technology experts to sort out

the clothes fit concern in effort to reduce loss revenue

and to maintain customer satisfaction and site re-visits.

…

Two years ago, the virtual tape measure was introduced.

This was then an innovative software created by London College of Fashion

in partnership with the University of Surrey.

“(A) web-based body-scanner would take detailed measurements of the body via webcam or smartphone, create a 3D image of the user, then advise on which size garment to buy whenever (an online shopper) visit the website of a participating retailer.”

Sounds good, right?

virutal tape measure dailymail.co.ukarticle-2236194-1625257F000005DC-928_634x410

(image/info from dailymail.co.uk)

 

…

Yet, two years hence, and the problem still plagues.

With fashion on-line shopping booming

a viable solution to the problem of

up with proper fit of garments and

down with multiple returns 

must be found.

…

The business of solving the problem

is fast becoming a thriving business in its own right.

Many new companies have been sighted on the techno horizon

“(s)ome, like TrueFit, which works with Macy’s and Nordstrom, leverage algorithmic solutions to analyse fit data and recommend which size a consumer should select. Others, like Metail and Fits.me, have developed digital fitting rooms that use virtual mannequins to mimic a shopper’s dimensions and display what a certain garment might look like when worn. Still others rely on shoppers to input their own measurements, matching this data with specific garments.”

 

Clotheshor.se | Source: Clothes Horse

(image/info from the business of fashion)

…

The perfect solution, as in the perfect fit garment,
still seems in need of, well …  some adjusting.
Or maybe acceptance that the tried and true of
trying on in store before purchase,
is the only assured method.
Has technology hit the hurdle on this one?
…
Join in on the discussion:
‘Squeeze’ your opinion into the discourse.
If you’re a fashion online shopper, what suggestions / ideas
do you think might help the better fit/less return conundrum?
As is said,  the customer is always right!
…

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What’s next? : the in-store virtual changing rooms … is this the end of ‘garment courting’?

09 Wednesday Jul 2014

Posted by meappropriatestyle in fashion and technology, fashion debate, fashion news, technological innovation

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

fashion and technology, shopping culture, shopping innovation, virtual changing rooms, What's next?

The process of the in store clothing shop, as now experienced,

may  soon be a thing of old.

…

There is a multi-sensory progress to clothes shopping:

seeing a garment poised on its hanger;

appreciating the quality of craftsmanship;

touching a garment;

succumbing to the emotive pull of wanting to have it;

and finally, if the love conquers, committing to the purchase.

…

All this, in roughly three stages, takes time to develop.

…

1.  The initial allure:

the visual:  how a garment presents on its own,

what summons the initial customer interest …

colour

design

silhouette

…

(image homedit.com):

shopping clothes on hangers homeditcommarni-barcelona-clothes-shopping-interior-design1

…

2.   The  attraction deepens:

the touch:  how a garment feels upon light caress,

soft

smooth

easy

…

(image from earthtimes.org):

shopping touch earthtimesorggo-shwopping-ms-oxfam-landfill-waste_26412

…

3.   If other influences  align, such as:

size

price

uniqueness

then its off to the changing room to stand the ultimate test  –

the try on for body fit  and body feel

…

(image from loolk-fabulous.com):

shopping changing room look-fabulousdress-shopping

…

Yet,  the seemingly slow tempo of ‘garment courting’,

which crescendos into the decision of whether

to come hither, home with me or stay, where thee be,

is set to play out to a greatly different tune.

…

(image from sodahead.com):

shopping take.leave sodahead.comClothesShopping

…

Enter the world of virtual changing rooms

The idea for virtual changing rooms started several years ago.

It is now cropping up all over the globe,

in various stages of development and usage.

It will eventually change how we clothes shop

and perhaps influence, to some extent, the psychology of shopping –

the emotional connectivity to the experience.

…

An overview

The ultimate virtual changing room will be set

in stores with little to no tangible stock.

Uploaded images of clothing, available for sale, will be super-imposed on

the bodies of the buyers as they stand in front of specialized mirrors

and view themselves in

“60- inch screens [from which] they select clothing items they want to try on

and see themselves dressed in the products, within seconds.”

(from Business of Fashion, Daily Digest)

…

The virtual clothes move in sync with the customer’s movements,

generating a perception of how the garments will flow

when actually on the body.

…

Some of the benefits:

for a retailer/company-

1.   reducing and/or eliminating management of in-store stock

2.   almost complete emphasis on e-commerce

3.   potential for more buyer spending

given relative shop ease/speed of the experience

…

for the customer- 

1.   pick and self click purchase by scanning the garment bar code

2.   more incentive to ‘super-impose’ more clothing, for quick ensemble options

3.  quick/efficient, less time consuming shop

…

Change in the changing room and beyond

Obvious factors will eventually fast track

the virtual clothes shopping experience into the commonplace .

Given the fast pace nature of our techno-driven existence,

every aspect of life and living seems vulnerable to the demand

of quick time completion.

We seem to have spare little time to luxuriant in the lingering.

…

As yet, the in-store virtual changing room continues to evolve,

from imagined to real world.

Retail concerns continue to invest in the techno-knowledge

to transform the clothes shop experience.

The emphasis is on the provision of the next novelty factor.

Yet, with this innovation the

shop romance of ‘garment courting’

will slowly wane.

…

The merits of the visual shop.  Convinced?

(from Fitnect):

…

(from COITOR IT TECH):

…

For more reading on the virtual changing room, have a look at:

http://www.businessoffashion.com/2014/07/japan-urban-research-experiments-virtual-changing-booths.html

…

online site:  The Business of Fashion (BOF) Daily Digest

article:  ‘In Japan, Urban Research Experiments

             with Virtual Changing Booths

publication date:  Monday, 7 July 2014

…

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