When fashion meets technology

Ever wished to click pictures of nature and its seasonal flowers during a morning walk How about recording the sounds of birds chirping in the air when jogging No you don’t need to carry a camera or a mobile phone to do the job. Your autonomous clothes will suffice. Seamlessly integrated with a screen panel on your bodysuit, the high-tech gadget garment can go snap-happy.

This is just the beginning of innovation in the arena of tech-fashion as ample possibilities are there for the designers to further explore, develop and experiment within the field. But this was destined to happen in the e-age, right When e-commerce, e-tailing, e-shopping, e-communication are experiencing boom everyday, why should then wearable technology lag behind More so if it comes in the form of a deadly combination of fashion with function.

From laser technology, solar power, kinetic energy, 3-D force, Braille utility for the visually-impaired to electronically-aided assistance for the differently abled — worldwide the designing inventors are leaving no stone turned to upgrade fashion with A-class sophistication and high-quality technology.

“Globally fashion has made a huge breakthrough in tech-designs. So you may say that futuristic fashion is already knocking at our doorstep. Clubbed with progressive thought and new-age sensibilities, this cutting-edge fashion only demands one common condition and that’s pure fancy for technology,” shares Saket Dhankar, vice-president and head of fashion, IMG Reliance.

Incidentally, the house has featured a hit show on ElektroCouture & Friends in April at Mumbai’s Lakme Fashion Week, thereby unveiling its inspiring journey on the tech-trend route. “It was high time to introduce the new-age wave on Indian ramps to enable our desi designers gain a novel perspective for their sartorial collections,” Dhankar assures.

Designer Naushad Ali supports his views. “The constant research along this line would make this smart wardrobe inevitably user-compatible.”

“Collision of fashion with technology ought to be collaborative and not conflicting. A designer must keep enhancing this relationship in multi-dimensional ways. I think the greatest boon of such digital discoveries to mankind is that it’s not only twisting the manner and process of fashion production plus consumption but also how it plays an active role in our daily lives,” observes designer Amy Billimoria.

“Apart from accentuating minute detailing and little structural complexities within layers of e-fabrics to allow new technologies to fuse in, this hi-tech fashion fad constitutes an array of interactive pieces well-equipped with electronic gears to facilitate fashion efficacy,” she asserts ahead.

Both emerging fresh faces as well as well-known established names in the designing sphere have taken a shine to electronic textiles.

“This is a major revolution and is a continuous expedition to keep the concerted efforts alive. We have to carry this forward like a legacy for our posterity to capitalise on,” offers designer Rinku Sobti.

Imagine your regular accessories like watches, wristbands, spectacles (e.g. Google glasses), handbags, rackets, shoes, purses, even inner-wears like bikinis acting as a portable charger or a fitness tracker! It’s the coolest thing on earth, isn’t it You don’t need to carry additional devices to incorporate apps for your benefit. You can wear your favourite technology directly on your sleeve now.