Hello Lovelies, 💓 Hot girl summer is just around the corner. Are we excited? ☀️ Yes yes yes!! Well, the girlies and I will have you looking HOT HOT HOT! let me tell you about this amazing new technology called "Anrealage," which is poised to revolutionise the fashion and technology sector. Rebecca has spoken about it I her blog titled ‘Fabrics of the future’ “Anrealage” is a Japanese fashion company renowned for its cutting-edge use of technology in its creations. They just announced "Shader," a novel material that alters colour based on the lighting, as their most recent development. Bro, this gives me lockdown vibes where everyone and their granny were tie-dyeing their clothes 😂 The models walk on to the stage and a tiny light-sensitive beads that are woven into the cloth are how Shader functions. These beads change colour instantly when exposed to light, producing a captivating visual impact. The effects of Anrealage's utilisation of this technology in their most recent collection are astounding! (Parkes, J. 2023) You might be wondering how this will help the future of fashion. One benefit is that it will provide designers with an entirely new set of tools and ideas. They may design their clothing using this technology so that it has more dynamic and adaptable patterns and colours that alter based on the surrounding conditions. This may result in some truly bizarre clothing!! The Designer Kunihiko Morinaga had this to say to Italian Vogue - "I think that there is both a science technology and a human technology in technology. I am interested in making clothes by crossing over these two different technologies. I think that in any age, it is important to maintain a close relationship with the technology of that specific age. Combining the technology made by man's hands and the high technology made by the latest machines may be our future task.” (Agnew, M.E. 2023) However, this technology could have other uses besides merely being aesthetically pleasing to the eye. 😉 Hear me out, think about a shirt that changes pattern to help you blend in with your surroundings or a jacket that changes colour to make you more apparent at night. Kind of like camouflage but more advanced. It can be used for sports, military people, and anybody else who has to be very conspicuous or covert, this type of technology might be a game-changer for the future. We will soon all be undercover spies. 🕵️ 🌈Nike air forces👟 Hey, do you know about the brand-new Nike Air Force 1 UV trainers? These items, which change colour when exposed to the sun, are destined to rule the runways everywhere! MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory experts. These researchers developed a dye that allows colour-changing shoe users to alter the colour(s) of their clothing, shoes, and accessories. This sprayable ink, also known as ‘PhotoChromeleon’, is a blend of photochromic dyes that mimics the chameleon's ability to adapt to its surroundings. Furthermore, when exposed to UV rays, each photochromic colourant in the pigment combines with a distinct ray wavelength. (Wordsmith, L. 2022) This unique substance reacts to UV light, which is how it works. They begin to change colour as you go outdoors, and the sun touches them, it's honestly like magic! The colours are also quite eye-catching and brilliant, which ensures that you will stand out from the crowd. (Nicodemo 2021) You might be wondering, Nia how this will help the future of fashion? One benefit is that it will allow for a completely new degree of customisation for all the sneakerheads out there, especially my little brother🙄. Based on how much time you spend in the sun, you may design your own distinctive hues with these UV trainers. You may also change things up whenever you like because the colour change is reversible. However, it's not just about looking cool; these kicks can also come in handy. Imagine, for instance, if the colour of your shoes changed to indicate when you need to reapply sunscreen. Or if they changed hue to go with your attire or the surroundings. The way we view clothing and accessories may be completely altered by this sort of technology. This technology is such a SLAYYY💃 Signing off peeps!x 💜 Nia x Reference list
Agnew, M.E. (2023). Anrealage: UV Fashion At Paris Fashion Week. [online] Eternal Goddess. Available at: https://www.eternalgoddess.co.uk/posts/anrealage-uv-fashion-at-paris-fashion-week [Accessed 11 Apr. 2023]. ANREALAGE (2023). ANREALAGE AUTUMN/WINTER 2023-24 COLLECTION ‘ = ’. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR9QOnDIRiA [Accessed 10 Apr. 2023]. ANREALAGE OFFICIAL ONLINE SHOP. (n.d.). ANREALAGE OFFICIAL ONLINE SHOP. [online] Available at: https://www.anrealage.com [Accessed 10 Apr. 2023]. Nast, C. (2023). Anrealage Fall 2023 Ready-to-Wear Collection. [online] Vogue. Available at: https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/fall-2023-ready-to-wear/anrealage [Accessed 10 Apr. 2023]. Nicodemo (2021). The new Nike Air Force 1 UV that changes color in the sun. [online] hypeclothinga.com. Available at: https://www.hypeclothinga.com/en/magazine/the-nike-air-force-1-uv-that-changes-color-in-the-sun [Accessed 10 Apr. 2023]. paradoxig (2023). Anrealage - UV Light Fashion. [online] TechvangArt. Available at: https://techvangart.com/2023/03/04/anrealage-uv-light-fashion/ [Accessed 10 Apr. 2023]. Parkes, J. (2023). Anrealage debuts colour-changing clothes at Paris Fashion Week. [online] Dezeen. Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2023/03/10/anrealage-colour-changing-clothes-paris-fashion-week/ [Accessed 10 Apr. 2023]. Trinetra, P. (2023). Anrealage’s collection changes colours under UV light at Paris Fashion Week Fall 2023. [online] Lifestyle Asia Singapore. Available at: https://www.lifestyleasia.com/sg/style/fashion/paris-fashion-week-anrealage-reveals-garment-colours-under-uv-light/ [Accessed 10 Apr. 2023]. Wordsmith, L. (2022). How Do Color-Changing Nikes Change Color? [online] Money Inc. Available at: https://moneyinc.com/color-changing-nikes/ [Accessed 10 Apr. 2023].
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Yo my lovlies, On today’s agenda Of course is fashion tech however I will be talking about fashion tech in the movie and tv world. The first one I want to talk about is Barbie's wardrobe in the Netflix show "Life in a Dream House." This isn't your average closet, it's straight out of the future! To start, the wardrobe is HUGE! Bigger than my entire apartment complex and it’s entirely automated. Just speaking a command causes it too magically open. And inside, all of Barbie's stylish clothing, footwear, and accessories are neatly arranged and exhibited on these futuristic shelves. They're automated, meaning they move on their own and bring clothes to Barbie. No more reaching and searching for the perfect outfit, it comes to her! 🤩 That's not all, though. The wardrobe also contains a tonne of amazing features, like this really clever holographic display that allows Barbie to choose the ideal appearance for every occasion by showing you how each garment would look on her. Barbie may also consult a virtual stylist called 'Closet' for wardrobe tips, which is completely insane. It is the sassiest AI I've ever seen.💅 It can identify the "mathematically proper ensemble" using its advanced central processing unit. Moreover, he has total command over all electronic operations in Barbie’s House. Closet has the artificial intelligence and can take over the entire Dreamhouse with the flip of a switch behind a mirror in Barbie’s closet. (Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse Wiki.2023) Moving on to another ICONIC person and her wardrobe is Cher Holowitz’s from the movie ‘Clueless’ It is one of my all-time fav chick flick. Honestly, It's impossible to forget Cher's Closet from Clueless! It's the most epic thing I have ever seen. In essence, it's this huge walk-in wardrobe that is completely stocked with designer clothes and accessories. And when I say "designer," I mean the top brands like Calvin Klein, Alaa, and all the other upscale ones. She goes to her Closet to get dressed for all of her major occasions, including parties, dates and even school. She has a complex computer software that helps her in choosing and putting together her clothes. (Holmes, E. 2018) The computer would put up a killer outfit for her if she searched for clothes by colour, style, or occasion. And get this—she could even view how the outfit appeared on a computerised model! Yet, there's still more! Cher could view all of her options in the closet thanks to a crazy clever device that rotated her garments on a conveyor belt. That was like the fulfilment of a fashionista's dream! (Bobila, M. 2020) Cher's high-tech closet from Clueless was, all in all, pure fire. Every girl in the 1990s must have been utterly envious of it since it was the peak of fashion statements. I’m dying to have this in my house right now. 🥲 In conclusion, these iconic wardrobes might sound so far fetch to us but in reality, Artificial intelligence is predicted to completely change the retail sector within the next ten years. However, we are starting to see it become the norm😱 From smart textiles and virtual reality to artificial intelligence and gadgets, technology is ready to innovate not just how we wear but also how we purchase. The most well-known example is the Amazon Echo Look, which generated a lot of interest when it was unveiled back in 2017. The $200 device acts as a style assistant to aid with outfit selection. (Yurieff, K. (2017) Could you imagine in the future a computer or other device that not only knows your spending limit but also your measurements, what's in your closet, what events are on your iCalendar and what's hot off the runway. It then uses this knowledge to create the kind of precise suggestions that we didn't think a machine would be able to provide. To put it another way, this technology could very well be able to determine what to wear for you more precisely than you could. There you have it fashionistas! This is definitely somethingwe will be looking forward to having in our homes for the future. I’m not sure if i could completly trust AI with fashion sense but hey it could surprise me. That is all folks, Nia Gall is signing off 👋💜 Reference list
Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse Wiki. (n.d.). Closet. [online] Available at: https://lifeinthedreamhouse.fandom.com/wiki/Closet [Accessed 4 Apr. 2023]. Bobila, M. (2020). An Oral History Of Cher’s Closet In ‘Clueless’. [online] Nylon. Available at: https://www.nylon.com/fashion/cher-closet-clueless-an-oral-history. Holmes, E. (2018). That Famous ‘Clueless’ Wardrobe Program May Soon Be a Reality. [online] Glamour. Available at: https://www.glamour.com/story/artificial-intelligence-fashion-brands. O’Neill, H. (2021). The wardrobe organiser apps to digitise your clothes like Cher in Clueless. [online] IMAGE.ie. Available at: https://www.image.ie/style/the-apps-to-digitally-organise-your-wardrobe-like-cher-in-clueless-256400. www.youtube.com. (2012). BarbieTM Life in the Dreamhouse - Closet Princess 2.0. [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/QJIhVWBKKFs [Accessed 4 Apr. 2023]. Yurieff, K. (2017). The future of getting dressed: AI, VR and smart fabrics. [online] CNNMoney. Available at: https://money.cnn.com/2017/11/13/technology/future-of-fashion-tech/index.html [Accessed 4 Apr. 2023]. Fabrics aren’t immune to the revolutionary transition the fashion industry is going through! We’ve seen so many examples of insane fabric features like colour changing, spraycan materials and even clothes that light up! Can’t wait to know more? Let’s go, straight in no kissin’ As part of the Spring-Summer 2023 edition of Paris Fashion Week. Bella Hadid finished Coperni's show with a sprayed-on dress, yes you read that right! The supermodel walked down the runway in basically the nip before the inventor of the patented spray-on technology Fabrican, Manel Torres and other scientists applied a misty liquid that turned into a wearable dress in less than 10 minutes. Charlotte Raymond, the label's head of design, then stepped onstage to manipulate the ensemble as it was still setting. The dress was seamless and had no hems and resembled a jersey material, as she moved effortlessly across the runway. (Samantha Tse, 2022) Because the substance can be cleaned, re-used, or even dissolved for re-spraying, Fabrican is really doing its bit for the planet. Fabrican has no ozone-unfriendly compounds, and the approach shrinks the industrial supply chain, causing it to be less wasteful, and minimises dependency on international component suppliers, lowering the carbon footprint. Fabrican is a Green Queen! Fabrican's technology enables companies to easily modify shape, size, texture, and colour to meet the needs of each customer. Commercialization of products and manufacturing processes is already underway, and the technology has been licensed to big-big brands! Fabrican is at the cutting edge of material science innovation, creating smart fabrics with nanotechnology, Spray-on fabrics free designers from the limits set by standard fabrics' need for cutting to size, sewing, and fitting. (Fabrican, 2022) Fashion designer Gaurav Gupta designed an Indian sari gown in collaboration with IBM's cognitive technology, Watson. They used white fabric with embedded lighting that covered the full dress to produce a cognitive dress. The lighting system uses AI technology to adjust the colours based on the mood of the wearer. This was made feasible by IBM Watson's tone and emotion recognition algorithms. (Shweta Gandhi, 2019) Kunihiko Morinaga's designs include material with colour changing photochromic properties that are manipulated by light. Morinaga was able to Incorporate the method into faux fur, velvet, lace, knits, jacquards, and satins, and that he wasn't previously capable to create shifting shades of colours like yellow, red, and purple. Morinaga used the philosophical idea of Umwelt (for you uncultured swine’s who didn't ace leaving cert German like me, that means ‘environment’) our perception of our environment is defined by our ability to perceive and argue that things are not always what they appear to be....spooky vibes. I just got chills. (Luke Leitch,2023) Sets of models appeared on stage sporting very similar outfits. One model was wearing what the front of the outfit and the other was wearing the back of the outfit. Two UV-emitting devices were dropped in front of the models. and the plain white oufits transformed into striking colours and designs. According to Morinaga, the clothes also respond to UV in sunshine, and the response varies according to the weather. So, instead of picking up a new dress for every occasion, we could have one that we can modify however we want? Girls, no more outfit repeating and no more breaking the bank! (Luke Leitch,2023) Well I don’t know about you girls bit I found this all fascinating! Fabric in a can, Mood reading fabric, and fabric that can change colour and design! Give me more Until next time Rebecca x References “Look of the Week: Bella Hadid's spray-on Coperni dress”. (Samantha Tse, 2022) https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/bella-hadid-coperni-spray-on-dress/index.html (Date accessed 28/03/2023) “Fabrican Technology: Fabrican forms instant non-woven fabrics from a spray” (Fabrican,2022) https://www.fabricanltd.com/about/technology/ (Date accessed 28/03/2023) “What is the future of Artificial Intelligence in fashion?” (Shweta Gandhi, 2019) https://www.vogue.in/content/what-is-the-future-of-artificial-intelligence-in-fashion (Date accessed 28/03/2023) “Anrealage FALL 2023 READY-TO-WEAR” (Luke Leitch,2023) https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/fall-2023-ready-to-wear/anrealage (Date Accessed, 28/03/2023) Hello again besties! I don’t know about you guys but I am on the cusp in-between millennials and Gen-Z. Being a 2002-er, I grew up with very early technology. I remember when we used to read books 📖 but I also remember getting my first flip phone 🤙🏻 I am also witnessing the new emerging technological advanced society. Gen-Z are the first digital natives, who are born into a world of technology and unparalleled digital spaces. Gen-Z has grown up on technology, whether that be computers, phones, gaming devices and portable devices. We are reaching a fully interconnected globe, right in our fingertips 🤳🏻 I must say Gen-Z is now pivoting societal culture and norms rapidly. We are the leaders of the world, unofficially but sure look. Not only are we dominating political movements 🌍 like global warming and BLM, but on a more fashionable note too. Gen-Z are the new standard 💁🏻 As you can see Gen-Z are more than happy to spend money, even in today’s climate! What are we doing? Tell me your secrets besties don’t gatekeep! 😍 Especially in the USA, Gen-Z spend more money on fashion than other products like you would expect like food, video games and consoles (Schneider & Lee, 2022). Bringing it back around to technology, Quilt.AI is an AI based company that receives social media behaviour patterns and profiles to categorise US Gen-Z into narrowed down profiles and grouping. This is targeted marketing ✅ Although we are so diverse and different, I suppose these categories help the older generations group us into a box. Social commerce is the purchase of goods and services through social media (JustStyle, 2022). Imagine in a survey conducted it found that 98% of Gen-Z own a smartphones and average a 4 hour screen time (JustStyle, 2022). Fashion brands need to get on top of the everchanging trends and interests of Gen-Z! 💅🏻 Keep up besties… Algorithms can be a brands best friend, it can learn patterns and preferences that can boost interactions, clicks and potential purchases. These algorithms are available for brands to use with built in analytics in popular social media platforms. So if you wanna be insta famous, you know where to go 😉 Also Juv Consulting was a start-up and now company established by three 16 year olds entrepreneurs in 2016! (Schneider & Lee, 2022) While I was probably obsessing over boy bands… They surveyed 1000 Gen-Z individuals and they found that 89% said that fashion helps boosts confidence, and 82% further said that it is for their self-identities (Schneider & Lee, 2022).This is showing the emotional connection Gen-Z have with fashion and it just more than fabric sown together now. Texel.Moda is a 3D capture programme that helps analyse a human body for measurement, size and fit (Симонова, 2022). This can be personalised which only boosts profit for the businesses and positive experiences for consumers. And 76% of Gen-Z are in favour of digital services and products! (Texel, 2022). Gen-Z is fully on-board with this emerging technology in the fashion world, and brands need more momentum to creatively innovate this space to far beyond. And here, I am so ready to have my weekly online shopping made easier.
It is both environmentally friendly, by reducing waste, and more freedom and vision of my imagination. No more hassle of gambling on a dress anymore 🎲 Until next time, Michelle xoxo References: Schneider, B. and Lee, D. (2022) Bof Insights: Gen-Z and fashion in the age of realism, The Business of Fashion. The Business of Fashion. Available at: https://www.businessoffashion.com/reports/retail/gen-z-fashion-in-the-age-of-realism-bof-insights-social-media-report/ (Accessed: March 28, 2023). JustStyle (2022) How fashion for gen Z will rely on AI and Big Data, Just Style. Available at: https://www.just-style.com/comment/how-fashion-for-gen-z-will-rely-on-ai-and-big-data/ (Accessed: March 28, 2023). Texel (2022) Reshaping the future of shopping: Gen Z turning to Digital Fashion, Texel. Available at: https://texelmoda.com/blog/fashion-technology/reshaping-the-future-of-shopping-gen-z-turning-to-digital-fashion/ (Accessed: March 28, 2023). Симонова, А. (2022) Optimising fashion e-commerce: Online shopping avatars for virtual clothing try-on and size recommendation, Texel. Available at: https://texelmoda.com/blog/fashion-technology/optimising-fashion-e-commerce-online-shopping-avatars-for-virtual-clothing-try-on-and-size-recommendation/ (Accessed: March 28, 2023). Welcome back to the BGC 💅 I hope you are all keeping well. OH OH OMG, have ya heard about the Bella Hadid spray on dress at Paris fashion week? It was insane. I could nearly create the scene myself with my dad's paint sprayer in the back garden. 😂 So basically, Bella Hadid rocked up to Paris fashion week in this spray on dress that looked like it was painted on her body! It was like something straight outta a sci-fi movie or something! I mean, I've never seen anything like it before. I gotta say I'm kinda impressed by how the dress stayed put and didn't reveal too much, if ya know what I mean. It was like a second skin, tight and fitted, and it hugged her curves in all the right places. But let's be real, I don't think I could ever pull off something like that. I mean, I'd be too worried about getting a spray tan never mind something like this. Plus, it looks like it would be hella uncomfortable to wear for more than a few minutes! {NewYorkPost} Let me talk you through this historic event in fashion and technology, what it is? and its importance for the future. So here is some backstory..... the concept of "digital fashion" has been making waves in the fashion industry for a while now. In essence, it's clothing that only exists online. Consider social media filters, video games, and virtual reality. To hear more about digital fashion visit Michelles blog on ‘Fashion Technology’ 😉 as I was saying.... It allows you to express yourself without having to purchase physical clothing and lessens the fashion industry's negative environmental effects. Nowwww Coperni took that notion and turned it inside out. They collaborated with a tech company by the name of ‘Fabrican’ to develop a spray-on dress that would be specifically tailored to fit each model's body. The garment was created by Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant, the creative directors of Coperni, to resemble a contemporary take on a traditional Dior form. {FabricanLTD} So lets get on to the dress's scientific basis. It was a spray-on fabric technique created by Fabrican AKA (Fabric in a Can) Genius!! The inventor Manuel Toress once said “I had this vision of using an aerosol can to create fashion garments and that’s really where the story began.” {A&E World} It employs a blend of fibres and polymers to produce a fabric that can be applied directly to the body. The method of electrospinning, which draws fibres from a liquid solution using an electric field, is used to manufacture the fabric. Then, using a unique nozzle, a polymer containing the fibres is sprayed onto the body. The fibres and polymers join forces as the liquid contacts the body to form a sturdy cloth. As a result, the dress seems to be composed of a soft, elastic material but is really constructed from a single piece of cloth. Due to the fabric's ability to move with the body, the dress is also breathable and easy to wear. {A&E Magazine} Let's now discuss the tech behind the dress. To build a digital representation of each model's body, a 3D scanning procedure has to be used. After the creation of a unique dress design using this digital model, the Fabrican team was tasked with making the actual dress. A specialised spray cannon was used to apply the garment to Bella Hadid’s body, allowing for exact placement of the material. In conclusion, the Bella Hadid spray-on garment, which merged cutting-edge technology and high fashion, was a significant event in fashion history. It offers a look into the world of fashion in the future, when individualised body-con suits may be made on demand. Realistically, it's also simply incredibly, awesome. Without Manel Torres' skill, none of this would be possible. when technology and fashion collide. {The Cut} The adaptability of Fabrican is one of its main advantages. A variety of goods, including apparel, furniture, and medical dressings, may be made from the material. It may be used to make custom-fit items and apparel since it is sprayed onto a surface, eliminating the need for cutting and stitching. By enabling the production of clothes on-demand and with little material loss, Fabrican has the potential to minimise waste in the fashion sector. ♻️This can result in a fashion philosophy that is more ecologically conscious and sustainable. 💅{TechnicalTextile} What an achievement and step forward for the fashion world. Well my loves that’s all for now. Looking forward to filling your brains with knowledge next week 😉 Lots of Love x Nia 💜 “There is no singular person more important than the next. Only together can we make magic...Thank you for all of the love...I am still speechless!” - Bella Hadid Reference list
Archive, V.A. and feed, G. author R. (2022). Bella Hadid’s nude, spray-paint dress generated millions by going viral. [online] New York Post. Available at: https://nypost.com/2022/10/03/bella-hadids-nude-spray-painted-dress-made-impact-by-going-viral/ [Accessed 27 Mar. 2023]. Fabrican Spray-on fabric. (n.d.). Fabrican Spray-on fabric sprayable non-woven aerosol technology. [online] Available at: https://www.fabricanltd.com [Accessed 27 Mar. 2023]. Judge, L. (2022). Meet Dr Manel Torres, Founder of Fabrican and Inventor of the World’s First Spray-On Fabric. [online] A&E Magazine. Available at: https://aeworld.com/fashion/meet-dr-manel-torres-founder-of-fabrican-and-inventor-of-the-worlds-first-spray-on-fabric/ [Accessed 27 Mar. 2023]. Nast, C. (2022). Bella Hadid Has Her Futuristic Coperni Slip Dress Spray-Painted On Live On The Runway. [online] British Vogue. Available at: https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/coperni-ss23 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2023]. Neira, D. (2022). Bella Hadid ‘speechless’ after iconic fashion moment in spray-painted dress. [online] HOLA. Available at: https://www.hola.com/us/fashion/20221003337654/bella-hadid-spray-painted-dress/ [Accessed 27 Mar. 2023]. Nikas, J. (2022). How Bella Hadid’s Spray-on Dress Was Made. [online] The Cut. Available at: https://www.thecut.com/2022/10/how-bella-hadids-spray-on-dress-was-made.html [Accessed 27 Mar. 2023]. Popular Science. (2022). Bella Hadid’s spray-on dress was inspired by the science of silly string. [online] Available at: https://www.popsci.com/technology/fabrican-spray-on-dress/ [Accessed 27 Mar. 2023]. TedTalk (2013). From fashion to technology - creating a new material | Manel Torres | TEDxVienna. [online] www.youtube.com. Available at: https://youtu.be/E5m7Tg00aLo [Accessed 27 Mar. 2023]. www.technicaltextile.net (n.d.). Aerosol Technology,Fabrican TECHNOLOGY Spray-on Fabric Non-woven Coating Aerosol Technology Cotton Fibres,Spray on Seamless Fabrics,Seamless Garments. [online] www.technicaltextile.net. Available at: https://www.technicaltextile.net/articles/spray-clothes-on-yourself-seamless-garments-5177 [Accessed 27 Mar. 2023]. We know the words ‘artificial’ and ‘intelligence’ can freak some people out since we assume it means Robots are going to take over the world, but I’m here to remind you if Robots get too powerful all we need to do is take out their batteries! On our watch Artificial intelligence will never control humankind, although they may be able to help us dominate the fashion industry! That’s right if we can embrace new and exciting technologies the possibilities are endless, take Miss Rona for example (Aka Covid-19 for any boomers who somehow came across our blog) we’ve seen some STUN-ning demos of AI in action that we have sitting at home to thank! The first digital couture fashion week took place for the AW20 collections instead of the real-life displays that traditionally sees top designers fly to Paris. Instead, a few of the most significant couture brands provided digital showcases for the media, consumers, and for us broke bitches to spectate because we can’t afford it :(( Tamara Ralph the absolute girl boss that she is seized the opportunity to be the first to develop an AI Avatar to showcase her designs for the Autumn/ Winter season. (Amy De Klerk, 2020) "While AI as a dimension is something I have always been interested in exploring, really it’s the recent developments in the world, and subsequent limitations, that made me feel now is the right time to do so." Tamara Ralph Ralph was buzzen to produce something fresh for the couture sector as a whole. Avatars are not new, they would probably be on the 'Last Chance to Buy' rack in Urban Outfitters if we're being honest, but they are a 'New- arrival' to couture due to the bygone artistry, methods and tremendous detail. The ground-breaking avatar's name is Hauli, a traditional Swahili name that means "strength and power." She embodies the brand and all of the principles that Ralph and Russo represent. She is the epitome of a modern woman integrating old and new, elegance and strength, and she represents the brand as an engine for change. (Amy De Klerk, 2020) The collection was set against a computerised construction of the world's seven contemporary wonders such as The Colosseum, The Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal! (Sujata Assomull, 2022) We have begun to see AI become more integrated in the design process also, like we talked about in last week’s blog, with new technological advancements there is really no need for any physical production of sketches, toiles etc but now AI is now DESIGNING the clothes! CALA is a fashion platform which made its way onto the scene in 2016. its predominantly for designers looking for a straightforward method to put their ideas into real things. (Matthew S.Smith, 2022) It's like AI art generators, but instead of typing a big,long list of words, designers are held by the hand the whole way through from choosing a starting point, such as a cardigan or dress (Oh what a coincidence those are Taylor swift song titles…. Sorry, I couldn’t help it but whatever you do don’t go designing a red scarf!). Designers then tweak the style using generative AI using two textual cues. The first explains the design using adjectives and materials, while the second is for trims and features. (Matthew S.Smith, 2022) As simple as it sounds, CALA shouldn't be confused for an instant style tool. Designers still have to bring their personal knowledge and apply it. Still, co-founder Andrew Wyatt wants AI to drastically lower the obstacles for beginners while also providing a way for senior designers to overcome creative barriers. (Matthew S.Smith, 2022) See, I told you AI will help us conquer the fashion Industry, not the human race! Pov: How you gals felt about AI before reading this blog & How you gals felt after reading this blog post! Can't wait to chat next week Byeeeeeee Rebecca x References
“Ralph & Russo brings an avatar into the couture world” (Amy De Klerk, 2020) https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/fashion-news/a33065557/ralph-russo-couture-aw20/ (Date accessed 27/03/23) “Meet Hauli, Ralph & Russo’s muse—an avatar representing female power for their couture presentation” (Sujata Assomull, 2022) https://www.vogue.in/fashion/content/meet-hauli-ralph-and-russo-muse-an-avatar-representing-female-power-for-their-couture-presentation (Date Accessed, 27/03/23) “AI-Generated Fashion Is Next Wave of DIY Design CALA reimagines DALL-E as a clothing designer’s ultimate smart sketch pad” (Matthew S.Smith, 2022) https://spectrum.ieee.org/dall-e-fashion-design (Date accessed 27/03/23) Now ladies, I won’t lie before this I had no notion on what the hell a blockchain was. I was more concerned about what colour my next set of nails would be. But once I actually sat down and got all the tea spill on this, it’s been so interesting. It no Hailey and Selena beef, but the tea is just as complicated and long! 🤌🏻 The use of blockchains are relatively new and still emerging in the fashion industry. But more and more companies are using blockchain-based strategies to have one step ahead of everyone 🥂 How blockchains basically work is it a network in an ecosystem where the whole supply chain is connected and communicated throughout the entire process. So, in a nutshell, if I wanna check where my new handbag was made and how, I have access to that information to verify the ethical transactions. Data within the blockchains are traceable, recorded and legitimate. All information and data is accessible for anyone interested (Kapfunde, 2023). And that’s on period. This technology promotes the transparency and authenticity of brands. This was really pushed for more sustainable products from brands, as well as accountability and ethical practices. More transparency means more brand trust and loyalty. And us girlies always find out, some way or another. With this technology, we have so much access to how brands are operating with real time data. For the brand, it can also help financially by tracing and management of the entire process and relationships with suppliers and contracts. But still eat the rich! Blockchains can also help us see their carbon footprints from raw materials to product manufacturing (Kapfunde, 2023). Hashtag save the turtles 🐢🐠 With better understanding of the supply chain, thanks to blockchains and its voluntary transparency (Kapfunde, 2023), brands are building more brand trust, consumer relationships and loyalty. The public information is really pushing brands to challenge cancel culture and taking accountability. Tell that to sister James 🤭 According to a survery from 2020, 7 out of 10 consumers highlighted the importance of “clean” products for sustainability and environmentally friendly (Ledger, 2022). Also back to what Miss Rebecca said in an early blog post, blockchains can disrupt the counterfeit market. Blockchains can be used to verify the authenticity of luxury goods. Brands can use blockchains to prove their genuine products and uphold their reputations. ALYX took blockchains for supply chain transparency to pivot towards positive relationships and building better trust with consumers. So by using you own needs and wants, with all your heart’s desire, you can utilise these blockchains to see whose worthy of your stacks and energy. Your own personal morals and preferences will stir this to blockchain platforms like Ethereum, Ripple, IOTA (Kapfunde, 2023). Even if you are shopping drunk on a Wednesday night at 3am, you still should make use of these new technology for your own benefit and support the right businesses! Know where your hard earned money is going girlies 💸 What are your opinions about blockchains? Let your girl know!
Until next time I have some tea, Michelle xoxo References: Kapfunde, M. (2023) Blockchain in fashion: Is it ready?, The Interline. Available at:https://www.theinterline.com/2022/03/10/blockchain-in-fashion-is-it-ready/#:~:text=As%20one%20of%20the%20most,reach%20the%20in%2Dhouse%20or] (Accessed: March 24, 2023). Ledger, E. (2022) How fashion brands are taking advantage of Blockchain Apparel, Everledger. Available at: https://everledger.io/how-fashion-brands-are-taking-advantage-of-blockchain-apparel/ (Accessed: March 24, 2023). Saint Laurent, Sambuca, and Sustainability are some of my favourite things. Today girls I will be chatting about how the fashion industry is currently being revoliutioned with AI that will save our planet while we still look sexy in our YSL, drinking our daiquiris and doing a cheeky shot of sambuca! AI has been pursued by top designers to add a little spice to their planning process. The fashion industry is becoming more tech-savvy as technology progresses. Robots have become common place in clothing production, and artificial intelligence is used to predict future style trends, as discussed previously in our blog "beat TikTok to the fashion trends." Customers can use Virtual Reality mirrors in dressing rooms to adjust sizes, colours, and shapes of clothing to fit. (Ati, 2021) & That's not even the half of it! The design stage includes settling on the materials that would suit the shape, size, texture, weight of the related pieces and the overall level of luxury. Decisions taken at this stage have an impact on production efficiency and cost. Matching design decisions with other areas of the manufacturing chain has a favourable impact on the overall process. It also saves a lot of waste because designers usually need to make as many toiles as needed to figure out design flaws and how the fabric works with the design, this process can be very wasteful with fabrics, (Ati, 2021) somewhere in the world Greta Thunberg is crying over this and I'm not having it! An example of how ai can reduce waste is when Princess Dianna's wedding dress was designed, it took a lot of Toiles to get it right, especially since she had lost a lot of weight between getting engaged and the actual wedding. According to David Emmanuel, she went from a 29-inch waist to a 23-inch waist during the process of designing her dress "We had to keep taking the bodice in and changing the pattern. The last thing we wanted was to make it up in silk....... Silk soon looks worn if you work it too much.” (David Emmanuel, 2018) Today in the 2020’s we need AI more than ever, I'm sure we are all aware of the effect fast fashion has on our environment, The So- last- season methods in fast fashion generate more pollution and waste than the new and improved practises might. Businesses that use modernised production techniques generate fewer waste products and reduce environmental damage. Because fast fashion is so volatile, many products are overproduced and overbought by retailers. Overproduction increases the CO2 footprint. After the stock is like ridiculously reduced in price and the stock that doesn't even sell after discount is then discarded to create room for the next batch of overproduced collections. Most of these leftovers are trashed, making them unsellable, and unusable for anyone. Fast fashion can reap the rewards from the blend of sustainability and our bestie technology. More companies will be interested in what they can do to move towards more sustainability in the future if they have some understanding of how technology can make the industry more kind to our little planet while still bringing in the coin! (Andreas Hassellof,2022) With Tommy Hilfiger's design process of drawing, sampling, and showrooming, we can already see more sustainable approaches in the fashion industry. Tommy Hilfiger clothing will no longer be designed on paper and no toiles will be made before being sent to showrooms. Instead, until it debuts on the runway or is sold, the vast bulk of its clothes will be entirely digital using AI. (Maghan Mcdowell,2019) Hopefully more brands and companies follow in Tommy Hilfiger's footsteps because our planet is sick of pollution, and we are too! Until next time Becky x References
(Michelle Kapusta,2019) The Sad Reason Princess Diana Lost So Much Weight Before Her Wedding (cheatsheet.com) (Date accessed, 20/03/23) (Ati, 2021) Artificial Intelligence as a part of fashion product design | Advanced Technologies for Industry (europa.eu) (Date accessed, 20/03/23) (Andreas Hassellof,2022) Sustainability In Fast Fashion: How Tech Can Minimize Waste (forbes.com) (Date accessed, 20/03/2023) (Maghan Mcdowell,2019) Tommy Hilfiger switches to 100% digital design | Vogue Business (Date accessed 20/03/23) What is up Bad Gyalls?? Today I will be spilling the tea or should I say “choccy woccy”. Eww no... Forget I said that. I cringe at myself. 🤢 Anyway today I will be spilling the tea on green washing and how there are other ways for us to save the environment. “Greenwashing is the process of conveying a false impression or misleading information about how a company’s products are environmentally sound.” (“An Integrated Framework to Assess Greenwashing - MDPI”) {Investopedia} Green washing, which is the practice of making false or misleading claims about environmentally friendly activities to enhance a brand's reputation, it has been happening in the fashion industry for a very long time. This is especially true when it comes to sustainability, as companies frequently utilise catchphrases like "eco-friendly" or "sustainable" without really making substantive adjustments to their manufacturing methods. {Investopedia} The utilisation of recycled materials is a typical instance of green washing in the fashion sector. While using recycled materials is undoubtedly an amazing step in the right direction, 💃 it frequently is insufficient to make up for other production-related environmental harm. The environmental effect of shipping a garment from an Asian manufacturer to a retail location in Europe or the US, for instance, may be enormous. The amount of gas emissions is insane. According to the ‘Our world in data’ “Asia is by far the largest emitter, accounting for 53% of global emissions” This is because shipping has a big influence on the environment. {Our World in Data} The practice of fashion companies making generalised statements about their sustainability initiatives without supplying specifics or statistics is another frequent strategy. For instance, a company can declare their commitment to lowering their carbon footprint but fail to specify how much they have really done so or the precise steps they have taken to do so. The use of "organic," "natural," and "sustainable" buzzwords without supplying any verifiable data to support these assertions. As a result, a company might claim that their clothing is "made from sustainable materials," but don’t specify the precise materials or the particular environmental advantages of those materials. The Swedish Fashion company H&M have been in numerous lawsuits as a result of this. What a bunch of liars 😡 {The Cut} On the other hand, the fashion technology world 🤪 is promisingly addressing some of these issues. Here are some Fashion Technology examples that fashion companies and designers should invest in for the planet's future. Maybe Paul Breach. could do a wee dance to it like it did for plane crash in Tanzania 😳 I joke The creation of novel materials is one area where fashion technology is having a significant influence. For instance, the business Bolt Threads has created ‘Microsilk’, a sustainable substitute for regular silk that is constructed from proteins extracted from spider silk that are generated in a laboratory. No more harming the little silkworms. 🥲 It doesn't involve the use of animals or the intensive farming methods used in the manufacture of conventional silk, micro silk is far more environmentally friendly than traditional silk and its appearance and texture is the exact same. {Bolt Threads} New approaches to cutting waste ✂️ in the sector are also being provided by fashion technology. In contrast to needing to use a third-party reseller like eBay or Depop the startup ‘Reflaunt’ has created an online platform that lets people resale their luxury fashion products through a brand's website. By prolonging the usefulness of currently available and excellent quality clothing, this not only minimises waste but also helps companies in fortifying their connections with consumers by delivering a more easy and environmentally friendly buying experience which we all love ❤️{Reflaunt} In conclusion, fashion technology is presenting promising answers to some of these issues, even if there is still more that needs to be done to address the environmental effect of the fashion industry. Fashion tech businesses are contributing to the development of a more ethical and sustainable fashion sector for the future by inventing new sustainable materials, decreasing waste, and enhancing transparency and accountability. Bye stunners, Nia is outtt💜 Reference list
Arthur, R. (2016). Fashion and Technology: From Frivolity To Sustainability | Rachel Arthur | TEDxCoventGardenWomen. [online] www.youtube.com. Available at: https://youtu.be/FbsGRknLYg4 [Accessed 19 Mar. 2023]. Bolt Threads (2018). MicrosilkTM | Vegan Silk Inspired by Spider Silk. [online] Bolt Threads. Available at: https://boltthreads.com/technology/microsilk/ [Accessed 19 Mar. 2023]. Hayes, A. (2022). What Is Greenwashing? How It Works, Examples, and Statistics. [online] Investopedia. Available at: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/greenwashing.asp [Accessed 20 Mar. 2023]. NowThisEarth (2021). Everything You Need to Know About Greenwashing. [online] www.youtube.com. Available at: https://youtu.be/isdTMuN4D-k [Accessed 19 Mar. 2023]. Reflaunt (n.d.). Reflaunt Resell Service | Empowering brands with circular fashion. [online] Reflaunt. Available at: https://www.reflaunt.com [Accessed 20 Mar. 2023]. Ritchie, H. (2019). Who emits the most CO2 today? [online] Our World in Data. Available at: https://ourworldindata.org/annual-co2-emissions [Accessed 20 Mar. 2023]. Wicker, A. (2022). H&M Is Being Sued for Greenwashing. Why? [online] The Cut. Available at: https://www.thecut.com/2022/08/h-and-m-greenwashing-fashion.html [Accessed 21 Mar. 2023]. As of now, we all understand levels of technology in the cutest industry of fashion! Slowly but surely we are learning, understanding and apply our knowledge on emerging technologies. It starts by opening a book, clicking a blog (ours of course), or lifting a hand up in class. We still have a long way to go when it comes to gender equality within the technology industry. It is deemed that it will take us 108 years to fully eliminate the gender gap (Cannone, 2021), which can I say… Can we hurry up with that? Kinda embarrassing from us not going to lie to yous. In 2022, the statistics shows that women account for 28% of the technology industry. Most shocking that women only make up 15% of engineering jobs, this is the lowest level of representation in STEM (F.Nicolas, 2022). Although all the odds are stacked up against us strong powerful women, that doesn’t mean we back out! There are many strong leading women in fashion technology! Bop to the top besties! Miss fabulous Maria Grazia Chiuri who is the Dior Creative Director, is a strong activist voice for women and feminism in the industry. She is promoting women leadership and empowerment in the fashion industry (Cannone, 2021). There are also ladies working their way up and beyond from the bottom. The fashion start-up of Stitch Fix was established by Katrina Lake. This is a virtual stylist that utilises data analysis from consumers to suggest and push suggested preferences and advertisements (Cannone, 2021). It also uses data from the general trends and stats to push the newest and hottest items to customers! Miss Katrina is also the youngest women to be on the stock market! (Cannone, 2021). Get the bag! Big girl boss moment! We have another win for the ladies, Eve Chen is currently the Director of Fashion Partnerships at Instagram. It is said she is the Anna Wintour of the digital age. She has been at the top, innovating and pushing the digital dawn of social media. She was the one to developing the e-commerce space of social media. Like the shopping option directly from feeds (Launchmetrics, 2020). Not to mention, she is a mom as well! (Launchmetrics, 2020). On a more lighter, fun tea spill, the Gucci’s Digital Media Director is Alexis Katana (Launchmetrics, 2020). On the relatable, self-aware, self-deprecating humour that has been popular for a while now, brands have utilised this to build brand awareness and personas. Katana has jumped on this bandwagon too. She created a campaign #TFWGucci, which was bold from a high-end luxury brand (Launchmetrics, 2020). We love an unfazed queen. I hope we can grab some inspiration from these strong women in the technology space!
Until next time, Michelle xoxo References: Cannone, G. (2021) Female empowerment in fashion tech: Where are we?, Fashion Technology Accelerator. Available at: https://www.ftaccelerator.it/blog/female-empowerment-fashion-tech/ (Accessed: March 14, 2023). Flo Nicolas, E. (2022) Women in technology: The Problematic Statistics & the change required, LinkedIn. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/women-technology-problematic-statistics-change-flo-nicolas-esq#:~:text=As%20of%202022%2C%20women%20make,women%20are%20most%20highly%20underrepresented (Accessed: March 14, 2023). Launchmetrics (2020) 5 women shaking up the fashion industry through technology, Launchmetrics. Available at: https://www.launchmetrics.com/resources/blog/women-fashion-tech (Accessed: March 14, 2023). |