Fashion’s Dynamic Relationship With Technology
1st February 2013 The Museum at The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City always has captivating exhibits. Their current show – Fashion and Technology – is a triumph in exploring the link between these two dynamic elements. Many may be surprised to discover that technology and fashion have been inexorably entwined for more than two centuries. Fashion and Technology features more than one hundred items from the museum’s costume, accessory and textile collections, spanning two hundred and fifty years, and displayed in chronological order. With a focus on technological innovations that have had an impact on the production, materials, aesthetics, and function of fashion, Fashion and Technology includes objects as diverse as an afternoon dress circa 1860, produced using synthetic dyes that resist fading.
During the 1930’s new innovations in zipper technology allowed courtiers to use this modern closure in their design. A stunning example is an evening dress by Charles James (top photo) into which James skillfully incorporated a spiral zipper, thus adding complexity to its construction. Fast forward to 1996, and there is Jean Paul Gaultier’s jumpsuit in multicoloured nylon and spandex, with an Op-Art cyber graphic print (above). Nowadays, designers are collaborating with a diverse range of artists, scientists and engineers to create clothing that pushes the boundaries of fashion further than ever before. This new wave of so-called “technofashion” is challenging the way we engage with clothing, and how fashion itself functions within society. Fashion and Technology is a beautifully curated show that illustrates the far-reaching effects of technology and fashion. Through 8 May 2013. www.fitnyc.edu JG
Photographs courtesy of The Museum at FIT, New York