Technology is revolutionising the way we use and relate to clothes. Last year, Google and Levi’s announced they were partnering on Project Languard to develop a fabric that can send commands to your smartphone via gestures like tapping or swiping. Ralph Lauren already offers a t shirt for a cool $295 (£210) that sends workout data to an iPhone, and Lady Gaga has brought 3D printing to the red carpet.
But beyond the super hi-tech, others are working on merging technology and fashion to address environmental concerns.
Behind the catwalk supermodels and glossy magazine covers lies a seriously resource-intensive industry with heavy impacts. The fashion industry has been linked to pollution of streams and rivers with hazardous chemicals leaked from factories and is a contributor to bulging landfills.
Some companies are already confronting these problems. Seattle-based startup Evrnu is attempting to tackle textile waste with its patent-pending technology that turns old clothing into fibres for new clothing, while Bionic Yarn is making denim from ocean plastic. Both see the fashion sense in turning “waste” into a viable resource for the industry’s production.
Other companies are turning their attention to advancing eco-friendly dye technology. DyeCoo for example, claims to have created “the world’s first water-free and process chemical-free dyeing solution”.
But can these solutions be scaled up and how should the fashion industry be using technology to reduce its impacts?
Join the discussion
On Tuesday 12 April 4-5pm BST join a panel of experts in the comments section below, to discuss the potential for tech to disrupt fashion and make it more sustainable.
Which tech innovations should we have our eyes on? Will these advances forever be confined to research labs and crowdfunding pages or are the big brands on board?
Panel
Deb Johnson, executive director of the Brooklyn Fashion+Design Accelerator.
Alex Semenzato, founder of FashTech London.
Amy Congdon, biological designer and researcher.
Matt Dwyer, director of material innovation, Patagonia.
Cyndi Rhoades, CEO and founder, Worn Again.
Sarah Krasley, creative technologist and founder of Unreasonable Women.
Michael Kobori, vice-president of sustainability, Levi’s.
Leave a question now
You can submit questions for the panel in advance using the form below or tweeting them to @GuardianSustBiz using #askGSB.
