Innovation leads the way with technology. It’s constantly changing, upgrading, and expanding to not only tech gadgets but to more familiar parts of our world, such as the fashion industry. Technology is not only contributing to retail online shopping, but is on it’s way into the apparel itself. Ever wonder when those self-fitting and drying jackets or self-tightening shoes from Back to the Future Part II would become a real thing? Innovators are headed that direction wanting a more intelligent and interactive world. Check out the top 5 sessions for the future of technology inside fashion apparel.
Invisible Technologies of Apparel
Sunday, March 12
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
JW Marriot – Salon 3-4 / 110 E 2nd St.
Innovation in technology is progressively expanding and is changing more aspects of life even in the fashion industry. In what way, you ask? This panel will discuss how the fashion industry is impacted by innovation in technology and what the benefits are for the consumers, designers, and brands. You’ll hear from a panel of professionals discuss how apparel is accepting innovation, what you can expect to see in the future, and what it takes to build and launch these new products.
The Future of Fashion: Products Born Digital
Monday, March 13
5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
JW Marriott – Salon 3-4 / 110 E. 2nd St.
Have you ever wondered how clothing and fabric could be combined with technology? This panel with the team who created the BRIGHT BMBR smart jacket will talk about how to combine design, technology, retail, and media to make our clothing part of the digital world. They will also discuss how products that are “Born Digital” create more intriguing, interactive, distinctive, and valuable brands for the future of fashion.
Nature: The Future of Fashion and Tech
Saturday, March 11
9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
JW Marriott – Salon 3-4 /110 E. 2nd St.
Not only is technology becoming one with apparel, it is being used to create it. The world is heading towards more Eco-friendly products and this now includes your clothing. Bolt Threads is starting with spider silk and biotechnology to create protein-based materials and he will discuss what he is doing and how he plans to upgrade this technology to conceive this natural material.
Future Fashion: Designing in a Digital World
Monday, March 13
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
JW Marriott – Salon 1-2 / 110 E. 2nd St.
What does a technology fashion industry mean for us as consumers? Will we one day wear technology, artificial intelligence, and mixed reality? A small team from London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, are working to create digital designer businesses to make this become our reality. Matthew Drinkwater will discuss how designers and brands are analyzing innovative ways to create, advertise and sell their products and how this new world of fashion will affect us.
Ditch the Screens: the Ubiquity of Connectivity
Saturday, March 11
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Austin Convention Center – Ballroom EFG / 500 E. Cesar Chavez
People have their eyes set on a world where not only technology is part of the fashion industry but part of our whole lives with everything intelligent and interactive. This includes clothing, furniture, cars, buildings, etc. An intelligent world has started with our smart phones, computers, watches, and other gadgets, but is moving forward with more familiar objects such as a jacket. The Levi’s Commuter™ x Jacquard by Google Trucker Jacket is a start to the future. This panel will discuss moving beyond only the intelligent gadgets and to a world that is entirely intelligent and interactive by using the Project Jacquard platform.