Fashion and technology : the marriage between two of the biggest business in the world
The technology is, every day more and more part of our lives, then we couldn’t not expect the connection between fashion and technology, two of the most important business in the world.
Fashion and technology are together more times than we imagine: there are clothes  that charge phones, smart watch that now become true and proper jewelry, mirrors that allow you to virtually try on clothes, and much more. The major technology brands like Google and Intel are seeking new opportunities and are landing in new markets through partnerships with major fashion brands.
The first intersection between fashion and technology was seen as early as 1999, when Alexander McQueen surprises all during the fashion show, with robots that colored the white dress of a model on the catwalk
It was not the only time when technology appeared in a fashion show. Recently, during  fall 2014, the Fendi fashion show was broadcast live streaming with drones traveling on the catwalk recovering the show.
Designers experiment the way to connect  fashion and technology :
- During Diane Von Furstenberg fashion show in 2012 Google Glasses appeared, she herself wore them personally at the end of the show;
- Richard Nicoll for the spring / summer 2015 collection introduced a slip dress made from a fiber-optic fabric and LED lights
- Zac Posen has created in partnership with Google a dress with LED lights
- Tommy Hilfiger and Opening Ceremony have launched jackets that can recharge mobile phones. The  Tommy Hilfiger’s jacket has solar panels that recharge the cell by inserting it into one of the pockets.
- A collaboration between Google and Levi’s was announced
In 2014, Intel made a survey and found out that people are interested in products that are wearable. People want to buy a garment that reflects the style of the favorite designer, that it is nice to see, not buy something that is just technology. The Tommy Hilfiger jacket, for example, has not been definitely the best collaboration between fashion and technology . At its selling price ($ 600), people would prefer to buy a jacket that really worth that amount because it is a fashion piece, not spend 600$  for a jacket-charger .According to Ayse Ildeniz vice president of Intel’s New Devices Group, collaboration between engineers and fashion experts is the key to develop technological products that people want to wear also because aesthetically beautiful. Intel has created, in collaboration with Opening Ceremony, the smart bracelet MICA representing the union between engineering and fashion: high quality finishing, coating 18-carat gold, a touchscreen display curved sapphire crystal combined with Intel technology with which you can easily view messages, calendar, and alerts from your VIP contacts .These bracelets are sold at Barneys and Opening Ceremony alongside the jewelry, not in the technology department, noting that technology companies want to enter in new markets.
A similar strategy was also implemented by Apple which recently announced a collaboration with Hermes to launch the Apple Watch into the world of fashionistas.
Huawei launched its smartwatch and supermodel Karlie Kloss is the face of the brand
Social Networks are really helping the marriage between fashion and technology :
- Â Ralph Lauren has streamed his runway show on billboards in London’s Piccadilly Circus via Periscope;
- Via Instagram and Twitter channels of fashion brands we are always updated about events,parties and new collections;
- With live streaming of the fashion  shows is easier to stay updated on fashion week. Now everyone can follow a show from the comfort of your home even if you are miles away.
The relationship between fashion and technology becomes surreal, with holograms and virtual reality the way we perceive the fashion has changed thanks to technology.
Topshop provided customers with a VR experience in its London flagship store for fall 2014. The headsets enabled shoppers to see its catwalk show in real-time through a 3D virtual world to make them feel as though the models were walking in front of their eyes and the celebrities were sitting right beside them.
Polo Ralph Lauren’s spring/summer 2015 fashion show was one of the best moment of NYFW. A 4D holographic water projection showed models wearing the new collection against a 60-foot high fountain in Manhattan’s Central Park.
Intel’s RealSense technology powers MemoMi’s MemoryMirror technology, an interactive mirror lets shoppers try on clothes virtually,  let’s you change the color of your clothing with a single gesture without the need to change your clothes. These were installed in Fashion Week headquarters in Manhattan, along with some Nieman Marcus retail locations around the country .
