Welcome to the 170th insertion of DEMUR®, an analytical series highlighting the intricacies of the artistic world and the minutiae lying within. In this episode, we plug into fashion’s unexpected collaboration with tech, an outlet for couture, manufacturing and trend analysis.
Not long ago, fashion relied on craftsmen. Working by hand to draft, cut and sew, many would create around the clock, stirring magic in the back end of namesakes like Louis Vuitton. Back then, each garment was manufactured entirely by man, with extreme precision and calculated accuracy. Magnifying the challenge of creating an elaborate runway show, this feat, along with a distinct sense of prestige, allowed labels to market their products at extraordinary price tags.
Despite such lineage, as technology advanced so did the fashion industry. Applied in many facets of production, display, and marketing, these leaps have made tedious chores like textile development far easier. Before automated robots were weaving yarns and separating cotton, factory workers were laboriously doing so themself. Extracting, knotting and weaving fibres made for incredibly intensive work, while drastically limiting the designer’s capabilities.
Through decades of innovation and a growing interest in style, production lines would rapidly expedite their manufacturing processes. Using automation, technology would allow for increasingly intricate design, seen in the likes of Nike’s ACG series, or perhaps through heat, water and light reflective garments.
Taking it a step further, programs like Indesign among Adobe illustrator and photoshop have created seamless transitions from thought to product. Promoting self-learning, not only is one able to demonstrate their ideas in a swift, efficient manner, they’re similarly capable of directing a marketing campaign - and it doesn’t stop there.
Today, e-commerce dominates over 21% of clothing sales, using artificial intelligence to forecast trend cycles and reach target markets effectively. Through social media, fashion has become a universal interest, allowing youth to express, print and promote whatever they desire.
Comments