emerging fashion trends: hi tech, eco or both?

‘the new shopping bag’ by susan bijl made from nylon used in shipping sails and kites

with each changing season new fashion styles emerge and this year’s fall and winter collections are no different. however, instead of emphasizing on the latest trends in colors, patterns and cut, the focus has turned to highlighting the tension between technology and the environment and trying to create a harmonious balance between the two.

recently, eco-friendly textiles have been basking in the limelight, but we must not disregard technology and the fundamental role it also plays within our society today. that’s where this year’s fall and winter fashion collections emerge. though the organic cotton has been outlined as one of the environmentally sustainable approaches to take amongst fashion designers and manufacturers, more attention is now being diverted elsewhere. concentration is now being put on new fabrics and technological methods and the development of hi-tech fabrics which could potentially be less harmful than trying to cultivate organic cottons which generally undergo a somewhat industrial process.

nylons and metallics have gained significant popularity, along with new coatings which have lead to extremely fine, light but dense fabrics with added durability. layers that were once all the rage are now experiencing a recession, producing new silhouettes with a futuristic aesthetic, marrying natural fabrics such as furs and knits, with more hardwearing fabrics with smooth, shiny surfaces, focusing on the hybridization of the two.

sateen shirt and soy skirt (left) and organic cotton denim jacket from the anna cohen collection