High Fashion and High Tech: The Rising Role of Technology in Fashion – The Harvard Crimson
Tue 18 Oct
Depending on who you ask, high fashion might mean classic Parisian ateliers like Chanel or Bode’s one-of-a-kind bespoke up-cycled pieces. The same focuses pop up: high-quality materials, immaculate tailoring, and of course, hours and hours of handmade craftsmanship that elevates garment-making from a skill to an art form. This work can include intricate patterns of embroidered sequins, layers of fluffy tulle, or even a sleek little black dress; what matters is that it draws on years of human expertise and developed techniques. The spray-on dress at Coperni’s recent Spring/Summer 2023 show poses a new and interesting question: Can the use of technology be considered “craftsmanship” as well?
10 minutes: That’s how long it took for Bella Hadid to go from nude underwear to fully dressed. She strutted down the runway in a dress made on the spot with synthetic fibers sprayed onto her body and swiftly tailored by Coperni’s head of design, Charlotte Raymond, to include a draped neckline and thigh-high slit. It was sleek, chic, and a little sexy. It also defied any notion of traditional dress-making — a bold reimagination of what it means to make a garment.