FashionWare Booth
Wow! I can’t believe it’s over! What a fantastic weekend.
For the first time this year, SXSW introduced StyleX, a fashion venue for up – and coming independent artists. With music, film and tech geeks overtaking the lovely city of Austin, I knew it was an ideal venue to showcase wearable technology to a mainstream audience.
FashionWare Booth
For the past three years, Ive been on a variety of panels at numerous conferences where I’ve discussed the intersection of fashion and technology. This year was quite extraordinary because I was able to have a number of the garments that Ive written and talked about present together in one space.
Seeing, feeling and experiencing the performative qualities of these wearables re-ignited my passion and belief that wearable technology IS the future. Not a distant future, but a near future. A future that we, all the members of FT, are shaping, stitch by stitch.
And I know industry is watching.
Dana Ramler and Kathleen Westerhout explaining the Bandeau Belt to passersby.
This year is going to be a great year and I’m determined to keep pushing all of you to keep making and experimenting. Revisit your older projects and push them aesthetically, technically and conceptually to the next level.
Develop new ideas and prototypes. I highly encourage that you collaborate with others. The strongest projects I’ve seen are a true collaboration with number of people from different disciplines working together to shape a single idea. If you’re not great at programming or lacking on your fashion design skills, use this community to find someone to work with.
Most importantly, just keeping making.
Kathleen Westerhout, designer of Bandeau Belt (isn’t she lovely ?!)
Now for a recap of the event! Two days, thousands of passers-by and a media flurry — to be honest it’s somewhat of a blur but what I do remember is the general “woah, that’s sooooo cool” response and the frequent question of “where can i buy it?” In sum, people were thoroughly delighted and full of rich ideas on how they can incorporate some these pieces in their daily life.
StyleX fashion show with DJ and musicians as models
StyleX held two fashion shows with the garments modeled by musicians.
Dana Ramler’s and Kathleen Westerhout’s Bandeau Belt and Diana Eng‘s Twinkle Dress were incorporated in the shows. The musicians were fantastic models with plenty of attitude which was quite refreshing.
Bandeau Belt modeled by musician at StyleX runway show
Twinkle Dress modeled by musician at StyleX runway show
I was also on a star-studded fashion and technology panel with the beautiful and stylish Kelly Framel from the Glamourai and Marissa Evans, founder of New York start-up GoTryItOn.com.
I want to thank Linda and Robin from Living in Digital Times for helping fund the exhibition and all the designers who contributed their work.
Also Marie Carmel for being my local support and the Canadian duo Dana Ramler and Kathleen Westerhout for helping herd the crowds at StyleX.
I’m looking forward to next year!
