Futurama

Technology in fashion doesn’t manifest itself in a wildly creative production — it’s usually woven into the construction of fabrics or applied on as a finishing sheen. It’s sometimes along the lines of a very technical approach to functionalism that designers use to manipulate their aesthetics. Usually these innovations are not too mainstream also because they’re either used more on sportswear, where intelligent fabrics are needed for survival, or on the runway, seen only from afar as a finished product, albeit with a seasonal new shape or trendy color. It’s understandable because innovation in clothing really doesn’t scream for a marketing ploy or a new ad campaign. It’s more like a subtle nudge to further “luxe” in most labels. For Fall/Winter 2011, designers pushed materials beyond their basic attributes. Derek Lam waxed his fur jackets to not only giving them a liquid sleek characteristic, but also to make them more wet weather-resistant. Marc Jacobs made rubber discs look like winking sequins and Proenza Schouler made their Native American inspirations digital with computer-produced prints.

I could go deeper with the marriage of clothing and technology: The fusion of poplin with nylon, twill with viscose — mostly hybrids to create different fabric feel contrasted with unpredictable finishing. But unless you’re in the retail industry or very particular about the composition of your wardrobe, these will just remain unrecognizable blurred words.

Not unlike what the Japanese have invented (they really do come out with the most cool products). Researchers at the University of Electro-Communications have created a “Sense-roid” jacket — more like a vest really — that simulates the feeling of hugging yourself. It’s a bit complicated, but let me try to explain: What happens is, you wear the Sense-roid jacket and then you wrap your arms around this other vest on a mannequin that’s layered with sensors. The pressure and movement of your arms on the sensor vest mirrors the action back to the jacket you’re wearing. And since the jacket is equipped with pneumatic “muscles,” technically, it’s like hugging yourself. The video of a man intimate with a mannequin is a bit too weird for me, but maybe they can eventually invent a tablet that can control the jacket without actually having to hug a body form. Or better yet, rig it to be like a satellite self, so that for long distance relationships, instead of an emoticon, you can actually send a physical one.

And still in Japan, last year, Kurabo’s Textile Division has developed emotional jeans, like a mood ring, which changes color based on your body heat. Another awkward situation waiting to happen, but hey, if you’re the type who broadcasts your minute by minute existence in 140 characters or less, jeans that can reflect your current state of being can be quite appealing.

Locally though, the Fashion Design Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has gone back to our roots. It’s not about technology, although eventually it will be, but it’s something even better: Preserving our heritage so that the future can still benefit from it. Creating a competition, to showcase our native materials, applicants should use 100 percent organic materials. According to FDCP president JC Buendia, “Weaving the Future: A Social Design Competition aims to provide sustainable livelihood for regional communities through design and development of products made from indigenous weaves, materials and craft.”  What’s new here is that not only will the finalists be mentored by FDCP luminaries, but they’ll also be paired with a social entrepreneur, a livelihood officer and a community representative. Plus. the whole thing is backed by major brands: SM, PAGCOR, BenchPINOYlab, SOFA, PLDTmyDSL and Smart. The winners also get a P200,000 cash prize for start-ups, a two-year scholarship with The School of Fashion and the Arts, cash grants from local units and a chance to sell their creations in the 40-plus SM Malls in the country. Enough support, if I say so myself. I’ve always been behind local talent, but help in this massive scale is pretty amazing. Designers can propel local to global, which is how it really should be.

All this talk of tech and the future sounds exciting, but in reality, if I were to have it my way, what with the Preview Best Dressed Ball coming up on July 8, I’d want an invention that can contain fat and make me shrink into a size zero. Shallow, I know, but wouldn’t all women want that? Of course, there’s Spanx, but then, you know what I mean.

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I blog at stylesamurai.blogspot.com. You’re more than welcome to lurk.