From togas to turtlenecks, fashion and apparel have been a distinct product that separates humans and the rest of the animal kingdom for thousands of years. Sitting around today, I thought to myself, “What, besides fashion, acts as a distinction between us and the rest of the creatures in our world?” I have come to the conclusion that our technological achievements have set us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom.
What do fashion and technology have to do with each other? Technology and fashion innovate at the same pace, and both seem to be an integral part of our society and well-being. Even great technology gurus like Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg are identified by their fashion choices. However, intriguingly enough, it isn’t until now that tech tycoons and large companies have started to integrate our most precious modern devices into our wardrobes.
Some would argue that for years watchmakers have balanced the world of technology and fashion onto a wrist. Even though I subscribe to the idea that watches are an important part of every outfit, I don’t believe the watch is the right degree of fashion/tech. mashup.
If we look at the many new devices this year and last year, we can see that even the watch, and general wrist-wear, has been revolutionized. With the release of the Apple Watch, Samsung’s Gear, Pebble, and many others, the wrist isn’t only for time telling. Now people have the power and connectivity of a smartphone straight on their wrist.
Apple is interesting in this case because they have always prioritized design on the same level as efficiency. These companies knew that if the normal watch is an integral part of a person’s wardrobe, then they are going to have to find a way to reach their wrists using their knowledge of the world of fashion. No one would buy that product if it didn’t provide an easy transition from the normal wristwatch. Ultimately, this proves that fashion and technology have more in common than what meets the eye.
This sort of mashup goes beyond the wrist. As I have seen in Hoboken, many people have color coordinated, well fitting, and trendy objects that many wouldn’t think twice about personalizing. Off the top of my head, I think of the car, the bicycle, or even music players. All of these things have had an intense amount of effort spent on their designs and personalities, all so the customer can see themselves using it, or “wearing it.” Sound familiar? Even phone chargers are being created with an aesthetic in mind to match other accessories a user may own. It’s not always technology at a large scale.
The bottom line is that tech that looks ugly is not profitable and that causes companies worldwide to place an emphasis on integrating their products into our everyday objects. In this decade, it is the world of fashion that technology is trying to integrate with.
