Report: The future of fashion?

At a recent briefing at London College of Fashion (LCF), BT futurologist Ian Pearson outlined the future possibilities of using technology in fashion.

Technology is becoming an increasing consideration in fashion design, but so far there has been little in the way of commercial product. This will change dramatically, however, if British Telecom futurologist Ian Pearson is correct.

At a recent briefing at the London College of Fashion (LCF), Pearson outlined how futuristic technologies could play a part in fashion. How about accessories that double as personal photo projectors, able to display pictures on any surface in front of the wearer? Or clothes made from electro-responsive materials that, by use of an embedded electrical current, can change shape to suit different parts of the day?

Pearson's ideas are based on future projection, taking developments that are happening now and following them forward to a logical conclusion. There are no guarantees, and many of his suggestions are hypothesis, but several are also rooted in actual research that is happening now.

Many of Pearson's key ideas are based on using fashion as communication, with advances in technology increasing the ways that this is possible. Two important developments include:

* Thin, flexible displays to enable video images in clothing.
* Developments in ultra-high-density storage, meaning fabrics can store masses of data on tiny chips.

Also important to Pearson is the idea of sharing personal data. An ego badge is one idea, which is an intelligent personal information exchange between people via a piece of jewellery. Similar in idea is the business card ring, where people can swap information by shaking hands or radio/infrared transmissions.

'Fashion is moving into gadgetry – for instance the choice for iPods [as mp3 players] is based on fashion rather than function,' said Pearson.

Of course, following through this idea for personal communication means that people in the future could be bombarded with information and messages from a variety of sources (people, advertising, shops, etc) and so a digital bubble will act as a personal firewall – only letting in data from where it is wanted.

Perhaps Pearson's most outlandish suggestion for the future is that of virtual worlds where people can live as if it was the real thing.

An active contact lens with a virtual retinol display would help to create an augmented reality allowing lifelike computer-generated information and images to be overlaid on the real world. Pearson claims that prototypes will be in the lab by 2010, and in the shops by 2015-20.

'Graphic chips will soon be able to offer lifelike, real-time images to make compelling virtual environments for business, shopping, education, games, etc,' said Pearson. 'There will also be nervous system links so that we will be able to feel everything too.'

All very exciting, but where does fashion fit in? It's all to do with duality, says Pearson.

'People and buildings will be able to emit an interactive digital "aura" using wireless LAN, giving a dual appearance,' he says. The virtual world would be dynamic, where a person's appearance could alter depending on who they were interacting with, and Pearson likened it to the way some internet users are currently paying real money for computer-generated items to use in role-playing games.

'Fashion will move into the virtual world,' he said.

Back in the real world, nanoparticles in make-up, which align with an electrical field, could mean that people are able to change their appearance during the day. Similarly, video tattoos – based on displays as small as skin particles – could soon offer changeable visual communication on the body.

'There is a whole new era of fashion,' said Pearson. 'We're also seeing a decoupling of form and function – you can now design things how you like and have the function how you like as well.'

The visit was hosted by Sandy Black, who is leading a project at the LCF called "Interrogating Fashion: New Paradigms for Fashion Design in the 21st Century" and researching the conveyances between fashion and technology.

The project, by LCF students and in conjunction with other researchers and universities, includes research into:
* 3D body scanning.
* Integrated soft circuits.
* Embedded technologies.
* Colour change and responsive textiles.
* Light-emitting polymers.
* Interactive jewellery.
* Nanotechnology.

'In the next two to three years there will be some form of product out there, and it will take off from there,' says Black.

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