When it comes to the biggest innovations of 2021 in the fashion industry, we can’t forget to mention that last year was definitely a technological year in the sector.
A common point between these innovations is the constant adoption of technological development in a consumer-focused way. Even so, a lot of additions in this industry were also focused on eco-conscious manners to adapt to the sustainable crises that our planet is facing.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST INNOVATIONS: TECH IN FASHION
Internet of Things, NTF and Metavers. I bet you have heard about at least one of these during 2021. We spoke a lot about these topics in our blog and social media this year, but here is a recap of these biggest innovations:
- The Internet of Things (IoT): The IoT is something that “surrounds everything connected to the internet, but widely it is being used to define objects that talk to each other.”
- NFT: Non-fungible Tokens are one-of-a-kind trading cards. They are basically digital files created as jpg, png, .mov, or 3D fashion files before being attached to a blockchain.
- Metaverse: It is a parallel reality that allows one to extend one’s life into the digital world.
But how does fashion come in these innovations?
In the first place, the Internet of Things can help companies gather data on how people interact with their products. It gives insights into all kinds of goods they are selling and how the customer is interacting with them.
Regarding NFTs, these innovations are currently being used as creative and business possibilities in fashion brands. By the way, we have seen Nike, Gucci, and Balenciaga using NFTs technology. On the other hand, the metaverse idea can still be a little abstract because of the few NFTs cross-platform. We can definitely say that this can change the whole industry, but also has too much to improve.
SUMMARY OF THE BIGGEST INNOVATIONS OF 2021 IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY
We can’t forget to mention that there’s a lot to talk about sustainability here. It may seem very eco-conscious, but NFTs tech produces astronomical amounts of greenhouse gasses. To use the NFTs we need more computing power and it requires consuming more resources. With this in mind, it is hard to say that this technology is going to save the planet and the sustainability issues in the fashion industry.
SUSTAINABLE FABRICS
Because of the sustainability concern in all aspects of fashion, the choice of sustainable fabrics for clothing production was also a very discussed topic in 2021. The most eco-conscious materials require little water and energy to be produced, and can also be made from waste and recycled material.
We are talking about recycled polyester, organic or recycled cotton, hemp, linen, econyl, bamboo, and other earth-friendly materials. The production of these materials can affect the planet differently and can be crucial to advancing sustainability.
Organic cotton, for example, is a vegan substitute for animal fibers. It uses much fewer pesticides, and is less water-intensive, as farmers can rely on rainwater for its growth. On the other hand, the material that comes from the Cannabis Sativa can be even more sustainable than organic. That is according to the Founder of Reistor who says “Hemp uses only a fraction of the water that cotton and even organic cotton require in order to grow.”
You may like this article: Upcycling & Technology: Taking a Step Forward Towards Sustainability
CIRCULAR FASHION
Still talking about sustainability, circular fashion took place in 2021. It surely wasn’t invented this year, but this culture is being more adopted. You may think second-hand shopping was used as a vintage culture but it is also being adopted by luxury brands.
According to Harper’s Bazaar, Vestiaire Collective is a luxury group that includes Gucci and Balenciaga, and the investment firm Tiger Global Management. When it launched in 2009 luxury brands wanted nothing to do with resale. Now, luxury brands are adopting a circular culture in fashion. The platform currently has 11 million users across 80 countries.
VIRTUAL AND AUGMENTED REALITY
As you could see, technology in fashion was one of the biggest innovations in 2021. Both Virtual and Augmented Reality were known for a while, but being adopted in the fashion industry is a big innovation discussed in 2021.
The Augmented Reality (AR) technology enables customers to experience products virtually from the comfort of their homes. In fact, AR is transforming the way companies engage with customers as well as their shopping journey.
However, fashion brands are using Virtual Reality (VR) to impress their customers and give them better experiences. It is a computer-generated environment with virtual objects that simulates the real world.
EXPECTATIONS FOR 2022
We can agree that one of the most discussed topics in 2021 was sustainability. The United Nations holds a global climate change conference known as the ‘Conference of the Parties’. This year, the COP-26 had as a key goal for securing global net-zero emissions by 2050. This has everything to do with fashion. The expectations for 2022 include more eco-conscious actions to prevent and stop any environmental issues.
Not only that but there is surely a lot of technological innovations to come. We want to know how the connection between the tech and fashion industry will be stronger in the next year. We are also very excited to see more of the metaverse, how it can actually exist in the fashion industry, and any “Black Mirror thing” that is to come.
With the NFTs technology, fashion brands may invest more and more in e-commerce and online creativity. 2022 will probably bring more value to virtual fashion and digital clothes. What do you think?
#SUMMARY OF THE BIGGEST INNOVATIONS OF 2021 IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY
#SUMMARY OF THE BIGGEST INNOVATIONS OF 2021 IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY
#SUMMARY OF THE BIGGEST INNOVATIONS OF 2021 IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY
#SUMMARY OF THE BIGGEST INNOVATIONS OF 2021 IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY
#SUMMARY OF THE BIGGEST INNOVATIONS OF 2021 IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY
#SUMMARY OF THE BIGGEST INNOVATIONS OF 2021 IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY
#SUMMARY OF THE BIGGEST INNOVATIONS OF 2021 IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY
