Science fiction can be a useful tool for forward-thinking thinkers. This was the overarching theme that was conveyed during the leather trend presentation that took place at Lineapelle in New York City a week ago. However, just as it is difficult to define science fiction, ambiguity is ever-present in trend forecasting with references to science, technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and human exploration, as well as the tremendous global uncertainty that affects every aspect of our industry. We are recalibrating, moving into uncharted territory, rejecting the past in favour of an uncertain future, and pushing forward in this way.
We are the same as the role Timothée Chalamet plays in Dune; we are heirs to a legacy, but this comes with a great deal of responsibility and difficulty. The colour palettes for fall 2023 feature neutrals such as beige, sand, and concrete that have been elevated with shades of tamarind, coriander, nutmeg, caraway, turmeric, chilli, and cardamon. Cardamon is the spice that is at the centre of the conflict in Dune. It is the substance that is necessary to give users vitality and power, which is what has caused the war in the desert planet of Arrakis. The palette is finished off with some verdant tones along with some melancholy and glacial blues; these colours hint that better times are on the horizon.
Leather may very well be the only other type of clothing material that adequately conveys the difficulty of surviving in this sometimes inhospitable environment. In order to give us with this luxury material, a creature is killed, and its skin is removed; yet, during the presentation, we were told that nothing is out of date; nothing is destroyed; everything is altered, and it is created to be utilized in several ways.
Because of the requirement that fashion be in a state of perpetual motion and because everything is in a state of fluidity, there is an acceptance of this harmony that is only cosmetic. Speculative in nature and reliant on the human imagination, science fiction is a genre that explores the unknown. Our incessant scrolling must ultimately lead to some kind of content, and this presents both freedom and opportunity. However, while reading science fiction, you may find yourself filled with awe at times, you also can’t help but get the impression that you’ve read it somewhere else before. We are going to go ahead and hit the Like button nonetheless because doing so is required of us in order to proceed.
Ethics and research are inextricably intertwined with one another. Undyed, natural materials that conserve water and energy while also lowering pollution levels are essential, yet they have been around for years. In the future, unnecessary steps in the production processes will be eliminated, while technology assures that key components will not be lost in the process. Glues, for instance, will become obsolete due to the development of technology that can sew a garment together in a single molding phase. To further improve their functionality, leathers will soon receive technological enhancements.
In preparation for the Fall 23 semester, we are going to investigate our past by going back through our archives and rediscovering our heritage, but we are going to do so using contemporary knowledge and innovative technology. Tweeds in the style of Chanel, for instance, will be recycled, and embroideries and jacquards will be created using fewer procedures. The younger generations will become more knowledgeable about artisanal crafts and cultural practices from all around the world. Shiny, cushioned, and cozy will coexist, for instance, in a single large jacket that is fashioned from luxury lightweight nappa and boosted with an eco-friendly dewy sheen.
Print techniques with a futuristic bent will be utilized to create the appearance of alligator and snakeskin in the “Reptilarium.” In this world that is neither new nor old, the possibilities are virtually limitless, and hybrids are found almost everywhere. We are beginning again from square one, and the terms of collaboration, cooperation, and coexistence that we need to have in order to be successful are being defined by science and technology. We are now experiencing hyperreality because reality and the virtual world are beginning to blend together. The emergence of pretty but subversive fabrics that imitate cellular structures seen via a microscope or gorgeously colored micro pixels is perhaps a shadow cast by our collective pandemic experience as well as the negative effects of spending too much time in front of devices.
“I want to be flawless and different from everyone else. Like everyone else.” While we appreciate premade layouts, filters, and backdrops that make it easier to hide our cluttered lives on zoom, we nevertheless place a high value on retaining our sense of individuality. In a similar vein, the classics that we know and love will be given a modern twist throughout the fall of 2019.
The allure of a wide open road has been supplanted by the challenge of navigating an unfamiliar landscape as the most alluring aspect of driving alone. We are time acrobats, reacting to fuzzy sounds and vibrations and seeing fleeting glimpses of the future; this is just enough to keep us going. We are in the very early stages of innovation, and as a result, we lack the vocabulary to adequately describe the various emerging ideas.
Reference:
“Science Fiction Influences Shape the Future of Leather.” FashionUnited, 18 July 2022, https://fashionunited.com/news/fairs/science-fiction-influences-shape-the-future-of-leather/2022071848685
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