FASHION AND TECHNOLOGY (1)

By Eva Fydrych

Photo courtesy of Decoded Fashion

Welcome to our new section, Fashion & Technology, which will be bringing you exciting news from the world of cutting-edge technology used in fashion, design and retail. 

The connection between fashion and technology has become almost inseparable in the last couple of years. Many innovative projects that were considered impractical or too futuristic in the past, are slowly becoming our everyday reality.

Today, the latest technology is shaping the future landscape of fashion, and a series of changes that the whole process is bringing into the fashion world, seems to be inevitable.

As more and more consumers are becoming interested in the fusion of fashion and technology, our aim is not only to gather all important information in one place, but also to make the subject more approachable for our readers.

We are planning to feature some of the most innovative fashion designers, explain the technology behind the fabrics used in a design process, talk about the growing popularity of e-commerce and present the most innovative tactics in the fashion retail sector. We will also showcase some of the best examples of using technology in the catwalk shows and fashion exhibitions around the world.

It is going to be a very exciting journey into the FUTURE OF FASHION!

Eva Fydrych

DVF THROUGH GLASS

Model wearing Google Glass (Photo courtesy of DVF)

Diane von Furstenberg, a Belgian-American fashion designer best known for her iconic wrap dress, first made waves with a simple yet radical directive in 1972: "Feel like a woman. Wear a dress."

Today, the DVF empire includes sportswear, beauty, and fragrance lines, and the flagship store is a cornerstone of the Meatpacking District�s fashion quarter, functioning as a boutique, design studio, and pied-�-terre for the CFDA council president. Celebrities wearing DVF include Uma Thurman, Jennifer Lopez, Mary Tyler Moore, Betty Ford, Gloria Steinem, and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Diane von Furstenberg has always been considered not only as a fashion designer, but also an innovator.

At her latest show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York, Diane presented the latest technology gadget being developed by Google, the eagerly-anticipated, Internet-connected Google Glass.

"I am so excited to introduce Glass to the fashion world and use this revolutionary technology to give everyone a unique perspective into fashion," said the designer.

Backstage at DVF SS 2013 show at Lincoln Centre, New York (Photo courtesy of DVF)

Backstage at DVF SS 2013 show at Lincoln Centre, New York (Photo courtesy of DVF)

What is Google Glass?

Weighing a few ounces, the sleek electronic device has a tiny embedded camera. The glasses deploy what's known as a "heads-up display," in which data are projected into the user's field of vision on a small screen above the right eye. A battery is built into one of the frame's arms.

The futuristic glasses are like a wearable smartphone, allowing the user to take pictures, send messages and perform other functions via voice-activated commands.

"I expect lots and lots of people will be using technology like this in years to come," commented Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin. "The notion of seamlessly having access to your digital world without disrupting the real world is very important."

A Fashionable Launch

Google took a very smart step toward branding its rather geeky gadget as a 'must-have vogue accessory' by introducing it to the fashion's biggest influencers. Diane von Furstenberg has always been known for her willingness to experiment, so - according to Brin -  it felt like a natural choice.

Sergey Brin and Diane von Furstenberg (Photo by Giovanni Giannoni)

�We were at a conference together and we were testing out a prototype,� Brin said of the collaboration. �I talked about it to her and she loved it. We thought about it. It�s really a perfect combination. What we really have been going for is style and comfort, and I can�t really think of a brand that signifies that better than Diane�s.�

Brin worked side-by-side with DVF�s creative director, Yvan Mispelaere, and a team of makeup artists and hair stylists to make sure each of the high-tech eyepieces coordinated with the outfits. �It�s a very important component of making technology desirable and compelling,� Brin added. �It�s got to be stylish and fashionable.�

Soon after the event, Google released a short film about Diane which uses only footage recorded on the Glass camera before, during and after the DVF Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week show. The company hopes to make more fashion connections in the future. �I think it�s not just about technology,� Brin said. �It�s about lifestyle.�

Video courtesy of Diane von Furstenberg

"Experience the DVF Spring 2013 show at New York Fashion Week through the eyes of the people who made it happen�the stylists, the models and Diane von Furstenberg herself. All the footage you see here was filmed using only Glass, Google's latest technology that lets you capture moments from a unique, new perspective. See what happens when fashion and technology come together like you've never seen before." (Google)

Some experts, however, are quite skeptical about the new Google Glass: a review of the next-gen spectacles in the Wall Street Journal by Spencer Ante called the futuristic glasses "not ready for the real world yet." Google Glass is scheduled for release to the public by the end of 2013, so there is still time for improvement.

Actress Sarah Jessica Parker tries on Google Glass, assisted by fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg.

(Photo courtesy of European Pressphoto Agency)

ABOUT DFV

One of the premier names in American fashion, Diane von Furstenberg was founded in 1972 by the designer. Renowned for its iconic wrap dress and signature prints, DVF has grown into the global luxury lifestyle brand it is today. The company, headquartered in New York City, has expanded to four full collections and accessories. The range of accessories extends to shoes, handbags, small leather goods, scarves, eyewear, fine jewelry, watches and luggage. In 2011, DVF debuted a home collection encompassing tabletop, bedding and rugs as well as a signature fragrance, DIANE. DVF is now sold in over 70 countries worldwide, and has 45 freestanding shops. 

Source: DVF

Pictures from DVF Spring/Summer 2013 show:

All photos courtesy of DVF

All photos courtesy of DVF

Sergey Brin, Diane von Furstenberg and Yvan Mispelaere

ABOUT GOOGLE GLASS

Google Glass | Best Inventions of the Year 2012 | TIME.com 

Glass is, simply put, a computer built into the frame of a pair of glasses, and it�s the device that will make augmented reality part of our daily lives. With the half-inch (1.3 cm) display, which comes into focus when you look up and to the right, users will be able to take and share photos, video-chat, check appointments and access maps and the Web. Consumers should be able to buy Google Glass by 2014.

Source: TIME.com

Photo courtesy of Google

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