Story HANG NGA
Photos INTERNET

The technology of today is helping to create the fashion of tomorrow.

Organic fabric

Organic materials are shaping the future of fashion while ushering in sustainable practices. In 2017, fashion house Salvatore Ferragamo collaborated with Orange Fiber to introduce the world’s first fabric made from orange peel. Pineapple leather has appeared in collections by CHANEL, Hugo Boss and H&M, while grape leather was created to replace cowhide at Ganni. GUCCI, meanwhile, also launched its own vegan leather. MycoWorks, a UK biotech company, manipulates mushroom growth to harvest mycelium, creating organic leather with superior flexibility and durability. This achievement has attracted luxury fashion houses and given the big players control over the quality of raw materials. It has also helped redefine sustainable fashion as stylish and trendy rather than rough and rustic.

Chemical fabrics

For fashion houses, sustainability is a global commitment as consumers increasingly reject environmentally harmful materials. AMSilk, a German supplier of biopolymer silk, has partnered with adidas to introduce the Futurecraft Biofabric sports shoes line, using biosteel fibers that are 100% biodegradable. Another pioneering solution comes from Mango Materials, producing a new form of polyester that can biodegrade in various environments. The Mirum product by Natural Fiber Welding is bio-based and plastic-free, and has been used by Stella McCartney, adidas, Levi’s and others. Additionally, Elissa Brunato has created the Bio Iridescent Sequin, 100% derived from cellulose and biodegradable directly in garden soil. With its rainbow shimmer coming from a nanostructure independent of dyes, these sequins may well be a breakthrough alternative for the dazzling designs of the fashion industry.

From virtual reality to 3D printing

Ideas once only possible in dreams are now realized through technology. Designers have developed 3D movements for bodies and fabrics and applied them to virtual reality runways like Metaverse Fashion Week. In the future, we may not need to leave the house to try clothes; all we’ll need is a screen and a camera. 3D printing is also being applied in fashion. With plastic, nylon, polyester and carbon fiber, the creation of fascinating new pieces is carried out in just a few days. Iris van Herpen and Karl Lagerfeld have notably harnessed this technology for hyper-realistic 3D designs. In the realm of practical fashion, adidas is a pioneer in incorporating 3D printing into their running shoes to enhance elasticity and breathability. ColorFabb 3D technology upgrades this technique by allowing printing with “photochromic ink,” which enables objects to change color when directly exposed to ultraviolet light.

Smart clothing

Technology is also opening up a new world of smart apparel. If fabrics can adjust to body temperature and change color according to the wearer’s mood, then clothing can also be designed to be multifunctional, adaptable to various needs and capable of tracking data. As health becomes an increasing focus in modern society, smart clothing can bring a range of benefits.

Hexoskin, for instance, has launched a sports shirt with a battery-powered smart device that helps the wearer monitor heart rate and body temperature. The company has also been a pioneer in creating socks that help count steps, calories and other body metrics. And NADA X has introduced yoga pants with integrated sensors to adjust the wearer’s posture by vibrating when their pose is incorrect. Technology continues to create new possibilities across a wide range of fields, and fashion is at the forefront of adapting to this transformation.