Fashion industry ‘turning to new technology’

The fashion industry is increasingly turning to new computer technology to help create their latest designs.

It was noted by 3D Focus that one area that has proved to be highly useful is computer-aided design tools that allow individuals to develop virtual models of garments so they can see how they will look before experimenting with real materials.

Julien Fournie told the publication software such as FashionLab offers a better way of visualising items drawn in two dimensions by extruding them into a 3D shape.

"What can be hard in the 2D drawing process, particularly when you are not familiar with this entire routine, is to translate the 3D piece you have in your mind on a mere piece of paper using a pencil," he said.

The designer added that by using the software, he was able to see his idea come to life much more quickly than was previously possible.

"I could make the drawing turn around and literally mould it into a sculpture before my eyes, using a digital pen and tablet," he said.

FashionLab is a test project being developed by Dassault Systems – a company more often associated with engineering than the fashion industry, 3D Focus observed.

While it is not a commercial venture at the moment, the firm is hoping that some of the products it is creating as part of the programme will be available to businesses and consumers in the next three to five years.

Models created with the application can be fully manipulated, while environmental factors such as a breeze can be simulated to see how different materials would react in the real world.

This information therefore reduces the need for an individual to create as many prototype garments.

Recently, it was stated by Michael Abrash of Valve that in the coming years, new technology will also be incorporated into clothing, as he suggested wearable computing will be commonplace in 20 years' time.

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