Attire Club places a great accent on the development of new ways of approaching fashion. We focus not only on new design concepts, but we also concentrate on the latest innovations in terms of wearable technology, new fabrics and other innovative processes.
In each issue of the InCompany by Attire Club magazine, we feature the endeavors of people of creative to take the clothing world one step further. Each issue features at least a “Fashion Ahead” spread and an interview focusing on these topics.
Thus, we garner a good overview of how clothing can help us have a better living experience and how it can play more roles in our lives than before.
As we were discussing in the July 2016 issue with researchers and scientists Deepika Raj and Dr. Jung Ha-Brookshire from the University of Missouri, USA, in the future, WT (wearable tech) will become in a cultural way a part of nature.
Wearable tech
A lot of focus today is placed on wearable technology. In the July 2016 issue of InCompany by Attire Club, we also featured Sensoree, a brand that develops clothes which have the ability to scan one’s body and reflect through colors what they detect: they can scan the brain and the heart and convey the wearer’s state or emotions.
Similarly, but with a more medical approach, Hexoskin, the company led by Pierre-Alexandre Fournier, who was featured in the January 2018 edition of the magazine, creates clothes that scan the wearer’s body and provide him with valuable information on his tablet. The clothes by Hexoskin can give precious insights into one’s sleep, heart rate and other parameters.
Sometimes, WT can help the wearer navigate easier or make decisions about where to go. In this sense, the Bright BMBR jacket by Rochambeau, featured in the December 2016 issue of the magazine, helps the wearer carry the internet with him and obtaining information through his jacket.
Fabrics
As nanotechnologies develop, so do clothes. In this sense, scientists from all over the world have created fabrics from the most surprising materials with incredible and unexpected outcomes.
For example, in the July 2017 issue, we discussed with Pauline Guesne who is one of the people behind a fabric that does not stain. The long-awaited fabric on which you can spill anything from coffee to wine without leaving any stain is now a reality thanks to Le Lab.
One of the most impressive is Anke Domaske of QMilk’s fabric made from milk protein. Her fabric is not treated chemically and is just what people with skin issues need. Moreover, the fabric has healing properties.
In the October 2016 issue, we introduced our readers to the work of Aniela Hoitinik from Neffa. Aniela’s work revolves around creating materials from mushroom roots. If you get a hole in one of those pieces, you can just grow it back and, when the garment is not wearable anymore, it will simply decay, not harming the environment.
Sometimes though, science has some entertaining results. Australian “creative scientist” Gary Cass discussed in the December 2015 issue about his dresses made from wine, beer and even champagne. While these are not necessarily meant to be worn on an everyday basis, they make for great exhibits. The wine dress for example, due to fermentation, changes its size. Talk about clothes that get to grow on you.
Custom experiences
When it comes to fashion and style, a big part of it is represented by the shopping experience, which is complementary to the clothes.
In the October 2016 issue, we presented the Magic Mirror, invented by ThisPlay. The Magic Mirror is a project that is quite amazing, but that has, in our opinion a lot of potential and can be taken to a whole new level in the future. The Magic Mirror works as follows: a person stands in front of it and sees him or herself in another set of clothes. They can move and turn and the clothes follow. We believe that in the future, such a concept could be integrated in an online shopping platform. Imagine this: when you are browsing through clothes online, you can try on clothes in the Mirror through the “Internet of Things” technology, see how you look and decide whether to order the item or not. It can be a game changer.
Also, in a world where we can enjoy so many advances, having custom clothes is very important. Especially in fields such as sports. Entrepreneur and innovator Frank Wautier of Kalypse has developed together with his team a brand that offers wetsuits created on the wearer’s body. The process works easily: the wearer’s body is first scanned and a wetsuit with the precise measurements is made. This helps the swimmer have an improved experience. In a competitive setting, such a detail can change a photo finish outcome.
3D printing
The new ways of making clothes and accessories has the potential to make the way we consume and look at clothes change in the near future. A big part of that is 3D printing. In the April 2017 edition of IC X AC, we presented the first ever 3D-printed at home collection, which was designed by Israeli (at the time) student Danit Peleg.
Moreover, in the January 2018 issue of our publication, we featured the beautiful works of Anastasia Ruiz, who creates bags with 3D-printed appliques. These are very soft and without the 3D printing technique would not have been very accessible.
Other techniques such as laser drawing are also very important. Elvira t’Hart’s work, featured in the October 2017 issue, is based on this technology is still quite new, but it is embraced in more avant-garde and artistic circles.
The world of textiles, wearable technology and fashion is definitely cornerstone in society today. InCompany by Attire Club has featured many types of captivating innovations: from bow ties with lichens to a leather-like fabric made from pineapples. The novelties of today are the mainstream of tomorrow and having an overview of what is going on at the top of the fashion world is definitely a great window into what’s to come. The trend is definitely moving towards not just electrical technology, but also towards a new way of merging with nature. In this process, it is our responsibility to remain humble and not to get over our heads.
These technologies are already available, so they’re not so much about the future as they are about the present – making the best of today will help you make the best of tomorrow.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
Further reading:
The problem with art, beauty & fashion
Fashion show changes: A comparison between the 1990s and the 2010s
A critique to fashion and fetishism
Is there a crisis in fashion blogging?
The double meaning of androgyny in fashion
P.S. We want to hear from you! Which of these technologies do you find most intriguing? Why? Do you have any WT? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!