It’s hard to believe that not too long ago, we were kids envisioning a dystopian future in a year like 2060. We imagined a world that would be completely transformed. While that future is still on the horizon, it seems we’ll be living in it much sooner than expected.
Imagine a winter coat that not only keeps you warm but also monitors your vitals and adjusts to your environment. This innovative concept is closer to reality than you might think. As technology continues to weave its way into our everyday lives — especially in fashion — it’s predicted that by 2025, around 10% of all electronics will be integrated into clothing.
So, how is this transformation possible? The answer lies in smart textiles, a revolutionary type of fabric that incorporates electronic components, sensors, and interactive capabilities. These fabrics not only adapt to the wearer but also respond to their surroundings, reshaping how we think about clothing and what we wear on a daily basis.
The wearable technology market is growing rapidly, with billions of dollars being invested in this field. According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the global IoT market is expected to soar from $389 billion in 2020 to $1.5 trillion by 2025. As more companies embrace these advanced textiles, they are becoming increasingly accessible to consumers.
This technology has created a whole new world for designers with more space for their imagination and more possibilities on what can be created. Jackets that can automatically adjust their temperature to suit the personal comfort level of the user, t-shirts that can monitor your heart rate, dresses that can resume to their original shape no matter how many times it’s been worn, and more.
In my daily life, it often feels like the world isn’t changing as quickly as it truly is. However, reading about advancements like smart textiles reminds me that each day brings new developments, transforming our reality — even in small ways. The idea of technology being seamlessly integrated into our clothing and becoming widely accessible is still hard for me to wrap my head around. While the rapid pace of change can be unsettling, it’s important to remember that change can create numerous opportunities and make a positive impact in others lives. I’m excited to see where smart textiles lead us, as it seems they will enhance our lives for the better.
Metallics are being thrust back into the fashion fold! With rapid increase, the deployment of chunky metal, chrome accents, and jarring displays of our transition from past to present. The rebirth of chrome in current fashion exposes our adventure into a new era of advanced technology as we inch closer and closer to a new kind of virtual and dreamy digitalism.
Historically, chrome and metallic designs soared in the 1920s through the early 1930s. This was fueled by the rise of Art Deco movements and designers like Syrie Maugham, Eileen Gray, and Marcel Breuer. They utilized chrome to invent a sense of Hollywood itself. But as we began moving away from the glitz and glam of those idealized times,metallic imagery shifted into a vision of the future entering the early 60’s. As we began to explore the heavens and touched the moon, we wrangled inspiration from that very untamed territory. The sky held endless possibilities and surged a curiosity that gave life to all kinds of creative culture from TV, music, and more. This inevitably penetrated fashion with wacky and hyper-idealistic visions of the future.
With political and economic unrest, metallic elements were reluctant to return to pop culture and inevitably the runway. But in the last two decades, we’ve seen a comeback of these lost treasures. Differently from the birth that occurred during the sixties, silvers, and chrome have bounced back in the form of cultural protest, nostalgia for vintage escapism, the desire for a more eclectic and maximalist style, and the notice of fast fashion throughout current trends has propelled this bright style back in the fashion landscape. In addition to these factors, luxury brands’ notice of the want for silver and chrome paired with the availability of affordable silver options has played a huge role in its resurgence.
Several fashion brands have been instrumental in bringing back metallic and heavy silver jewelry. Internet-focused brands like Hard Jewelry to brands as widely known as Balenciaga and Chrome Hearts have curated much of Gen Z’s love for this style. Chrome Hearts has appeared boldly on the scene with their pieces often featuring intricate details and unique motifs, appealing to fashion aficionados in those seeking unforgettable statement accessories. Balenciaga is renowned for its avant-garde approach to fashion, the futuristic brand has embraced thick silver pieces and incorporated strong chrome elements as part of its accessory and clothing lineup. Their pieces often exude a sense of youthful and urban coolness, appealing to those with a penchant for unique, unconventional style.
In the journey towards bigger and bolder displays of individuality we are seeing, it is hard to ignore the deeper yet reoccurring desire for a bleak but near future. In the 60s through 80s the future was looked at with whimsy, hope, and endless possibility. This futuristic fashion was impractically romantic and comically utopian. As we dive deeper into 2024, our post-lockdown look to the future is more grim. We are seeing chrome and heavy metal appear in exciting yet stark and bleak manners. The fashion we are seeing and creating is a reflection of our vision of not only the future but where we exist within it.
In a world of Mormon reality television and whatever the hell a Geek Bar is, Gen Z needs something nostalgic to cling to, dammit! I look at the world around me and it’s a far cry from the comforting familiarity of the early 2010s we grew up in.
Everything feels so shallow and gross. We’re participating in one big consumer circus, devouring the TikTok slop straight from the trough. And as a fashionista who’s perpetually offline, I see this heavily reflected in people’s “personal” style. Spoiler alert: it’s not even personal.
Now, trends come and go, and people adopt them – that’s okay. The problem is that these trends are too fleeting, too fast, and more about buying microtrend-y things to fit in instead of figuring out what we actually like.
In the past, punk and mod fashion defined entire eras of history and allowed for real creativity and connection to cultural moments. You could really get a vibe for what somebody was like by looking at their outfit. Nowadays, you can point out any punky-looking cyber sigilism person on campus, and 9 times out of 10 it’s just some boring NOVA kid whose parents work for the CIA. It doesn’t get any less punk than that, and it’s a stark reminder of how disconnected we’ve become from genuine self-expression. Still, we are hungry for it; we just don’t know how to express ourselves authentically anymore.
This is where Western fashion comes into play. Despite having its roots in the Southwest, the sentiment that underlies country fashion is relatable to young people everywhere. It represents Gen Z’s nostalgic desire to live during times that we weren’t even around to experience when life felt more genuine amidst the chaos of modernity.
Zoomer #4802 might be scrolling through TikTok and feeling pressured to adopt the latest aesthetic, but many are yearning for something deeper and more substantial. Your “yapping” or whatever the word of the week is often feels like more of a troglodyte cry for help than anything else.
So, when I see people on campus in vintage cowboy belt buckles and ironic American flag clothes I see it as an antithesis of modernity. Whether conscious or not, Gen Z is exhausted from modern life. The constant bombardment of unwanted information from social media, economic uncertainty, and social pressures create a pervasive sense of burnout. We are now coming of age and entering the workforce and it’s terrifying.
While I have strong opinions about the current state of “slob nation” (my term for the collective American fashion conscience, sorry), Western fashion stands out for its ability to challenge the hyper-digitalized world we live in. The horse galloped so the cybertruck—whatever the hell that is—could exist, and we need to reconnect with that original equestrian spirit.
To be at the forefront of fashion means doing what no one else is. And right now, nobody is fully embracing EQUESTRIAN JOCKEY WEAR. Take my buddy Owen, one of the coolest people I know, who accidentally bought a horse belt thinking it was for humans. That’s TASTE and pure CAMP. So why not take it a step further? Imagine incorporating horse harnesses and riding gear into your wardrobe. Think jodhpurs—stylish, androgynous, and perfect for today’s BBL.
You could also incorporate elements that people wear to horse racing events in your wardrobe. I had the K-12 private school privilege of going to one with my homoerotic childhood BFF from Catholic school (she was SUPER posh), and we got to dress up in teacup dresses and undeniably camp headwear. It was like if Princess Polly tried their hand at McQueen. It was awesome.
Jokes aside, experimenting with whimsical elements in your wardrobe and standing out is a good thing, especially in today’s fashion world. People used to get their inspiration from magazines, not straight from the Bushwick nepo baby teat on Instagram Reels. I encourage you to put your own spin on things when getting dressed. You’ll be surprised with how right it feels to put on something that feels like it’s true to you, whether that’s your favorite sweater or a pair of riding boots. Don’t shy away from the things that make you feel confident, unless it’s a pair of fur Crocs, which in that case, you can stop reading now and get back in your stroller.
Remember, it’s about what resonates with you, not just what’s trending. Now put those chaps on and giddy up.
INK MAGAZINE IS A VCU SMC PUBLICATION.
