You’ve heard the saying “form follows function.” However, sometimes the practical and the aesthetic combine. Here comes the cutting edge in 2016 when innovation meets style. These are some paradigmatic examples of fashion fusing with technology.
It’s hard to think of a more utilitarian, less glamorous article of clothing than the hooded sweatshirt. But the hoodie is an engineer’s dream as its innate design keeps you both warm and your head covered from the elements this winter. It also provides extra pockets, perhaps as compensation for its lack of style points. Or so we thought. The Wall Street Journal style section The Rise of the High-End Hoodie did a feature on hoodies, stating it’s now chic. It’s no longer a piece of clothing synonymous with a football coach infamous for deflating footballs and proudly lacking media skills. Freshly designed innovative hoodies are upscale.
The WSJ featured a Lanvin zip-up that retails for $1090 and a Michael Bastian drawstring for $785! The article also spotlights Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and credits him for helping make the hoodie hip. Who knew one of the most titanic figures in tech history would also be a fashion trend-setter. This Aldrich Hoodie from Christopher Fischer is 100% cashmere and 1000% haute couture.
Wearable technology has become an essential part of helping people meet their weight loss and fitness goals, especially at this New Year’s resolution season. Both athletic instructors and medical care professionals are utilizing fashion designs that incorporate tech elements within the fabric. Shoes made with Nike Flywire, which only became available to consumers in 2008, is a perfect example. Flywire is a thread composed of Vectran or nylon, which Nike developed for placement in the upper of a shoe. Flywire’s main goal is to minimize weight and maximize support.
Lead the pack, fashion-wise, on the treadmill at your gym with this Nike Men’s Free 5.0 running shoe.
You can’t talk wearable tech without covering the most mandatory accessory of all – your smartphone. Casetify offers consumers the option to design their own phone covers with personal photos and other customizable images. If you don’t want to DIY, the company also offers a wide array of eye-catching designs to choose from including this abstract watercolor splatter for iPhone 6. And you can handily place your smartphone in the front pockets of your hoodie!
