Is wearable technology really the next big thing? We explore fashion’s whole new world
Fashion loves buzzwords. From arm party to It girl, these trendy terms infiltrate our minds, our Twitter feeds and our cocktail banter. Midway through the Spring 2015 collections during New York fashion week last September, there was a new bumper crop: artisanal, sock bootie, athleisure. But one in particular was light years ahead of them all: wearable technology. London-based interactive fashion brand CuteCircuit (Nicole Scherzinger wore its one-of-a-kind Twitter dress, which displays tweets in real time, on the red carpet in 2012) literally lit up the runway with its LED designs, which included tux jackets with illuminated lapels and miniskirts with electronic hearts. Models controlled their own outfits using a smartphone and an app.
State-of-the-art fashion continued its grand reveal at Rebecca Minkoff, where the designer teamed up with mobile accessories company Case-Mate on two unique pieces: a gold chain-link notification bracelet that buzzes (via Bluetooth) when you receive a call or text and a black leather band that charges your mobile device on the go. Wearables doubling as jewellery made several other guest appearances. At Opening Ceremony, we were introduced to MICA (My Intelligent Communication Accessory). The luxury bracelet, designed in collaboration with American tech giant Intel, features semi-precious stones and a 1.5-inch touch screen. Think sexy (18-karat gold and snakeskin) and smart (among its many tricks, it sends the wearer recommendations for local hotspots from Yelp). Diesel Black Gold hooked up with Samsung on its Gear S smart watch, which rocks the brand’s signature leather and metal details. Over in California that same week, Apple CEO Tim Cook unveiled Apple Watch, calling it the “most personal device we’ve ever created.” The tricked-out timepiece provides new ways to communicate right from your wrist, including transferring calls to your iPhone. Hello 007. It also features a Digital Crown—the first of its kind—which allows the wearer to scroll, zoom and navigate without covering the screen. This sleek design comes in an array of styles, including the super-luxe Edition, which boasts 18-karat yellow or rose gold. (You know it’s a fashion game-changer when Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour attends the Parisian launch.) Clearly, sci-fi for the sartorially inclined is streaking toward Earth and heading straight for our jewellery boxes. In the ever-expanding galaxy of wearables, chic accessories are some of the brightest new stars.
“We’re used to carrying our technology with us, but now we want it to be part of us, part of our bodies,” says Tom Emrich, a Toronto-based tech consultant and founder of We Are Wearables, an organization that provides a hub for tech communities to explore and celebrate this emerging industry. When wearables started entering the mainstream in late 2012, no one was even saying the F-word—fashion. “The things we put on our bodies reflect our style and sense of self. There was a disconnect,” he says. Designers like Diane von Furstenberg and Tory Burch seized the opportunity, forming partnerships with companies such as Google and Fitbit, respectively. Wearables targeted to women rapidly shifted from geek to chic. Now, elegant fretwork pendants count calories, sleek timepieces answer calls and bejewelled rings keep us on schedule.
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