From the runways of New York’s Fall Fashion Week to Diane Von Furstenberg’s signature Google Glasses to the huge announcement from Apple CEO Tim Cook about the upcoming Apple Watch, is the crossover of tech in fashion a mere status symbol or is this a sign of the next big thing in personal style?
Take a look at the numbers: Fitness bands are boasting sales of over 3.3 million between April 2013 to March 2014. That’s 500% increase in sales. While prices are still high, fashion innovators like Ralph Lauren’s 4D experience at this year’s Fashion Week proves styles are a-changing, and they’re incorporating technology.
The guests on yesterday’s radio show are all part of fashion’s big tech movement. Read their best soundbites below, and check out the full show here.
Christina Mercando is the founder of Ringly, an elegant cocktail ring that alerts you to texts, calls, and notifications all at the tip of a finger—literally! The color alerts are different for different applications, like purple for a Facebook alert or green for a calendar alarm.
After raising over $1M, Mercando and her partner created a line available for early winter 2015 delivery. In 8karat matte gold and with precious and semi-precious stones, the rings come in 3 sizes and—as a special bonus—the first 1000 sold include a diamond setting.
Here are Christina’s thoughts on wearable tech:
On why she started Ringly: “I looked to technology to fit all the things I needed into something I could wear.”
On selfie mania: “I love it. It’s fun. it brings joy to people’s life. The selfie meme is hysterical. There’s even a selfie mirror that takes photos for you.”
On smaller wearable tech: “I needed to make the technology feel discreet. Even if it didn’t have a screen.”
On discretion in wearable tech: “It gives designers more flexibility to work around. No buttons, only a little contact on the base for charging. You would just think it was a beautiful ring.”
On distraction with phones: “We only want the things are most important to us, so you know what’s going on at all times. Our approach was similar to a watch that you glance at to check the time.”
An example of Ringly’s interface with different apps: “You can find out when someone likes your Instagram photo without having to read a message.”
On being in their first retail store: “We’re now in New York’s STORY, a store that’s theme changes every month. This month is Style. Tech. That’s where I first heard about the Selfie Mirror. It’s showcasing Ringly an activity watch. It’s our first retail experience. If we went to a jewelry store our ring looks like regular jewelry. Here all staff carry iPads to show how [Ringly] works.”
On tech fashion as a status symbol: “It’s definitely mainstream now. Look at the Apple Watch. It’s such an elegant solution to having a smart watch. Fashion and style is about the individual. We change our clothing and accessories everyday so we needed to adapt to what fits personal style. When you’re going for a run it’s going be different from what you’re wearing at a cocktail party.”
On where the pre-orders are coming from: “New York, San Francisco, LA. But also globally like Australia, Japan and Germany. The more exposure, the more mainstream it gets, the more people will buy into it.”
On who’s been chomping at the bit to get one: “Miss Teen USA, Miss America and Miss Universe were together tweeting about it. Saying ‘we want one!”’
On Ringly’s future: “Currently we have integration with 20 apps that we work with. I’m interested in getting rid of all stuff in our life: wallets, purses, Metrocards. Soon when we pay for something we’ll be able to tap our ring or open doors with a mere gadget. ‘
On making rings for guys: “We’ll be collaborating with other designers to create for men soon.”
Follow Christina @JETPEA or @GetRingly Ringly.com
Rebecca Minkoff moved to New York when she was 18 from St. Petersberg, FL to attend FIT. She got her first taste of fame when actress Jenna Elfman wore her ‘I Love NY’ shirt on the Jay Leno show. From sewing t-shirts on the floor of her living room in 2005 to creating her signature Morning After Bag, Rebecca has made a ready-to-wear line increasing worth more than $17 million. Her clothing is available online in over 900 stores worldwide.
On creating tech accessories: “The tech / fashion crossover sparked excitement. So I created stylish items when we launched our Audio Clutch. Our customer speaks tech but she’s wants to be cool looking—not something funky. We put design first.”
On maintaining a design aesthetic: “We had long conversations about what can we fit in the smallest amount of space. We know she [OUR CUSTOMER] needs to charge her phone and share info so we created the USB Bracelet.
On her inspiration: “3D prints using photo manipulation from Deborah Turbeville.”
On creating 3D dresses: “We created something where if you have 3D glasses you could see the design. Our last five looks were in 3D. But if you don’t have the glasses it’s still a beautiful floral.”
On designers incorporating tech into their wares: “I think this is only the beginning of what we’re about to see. We’re in the pioneering stage of what’s to come. We’ve embraced it so it’s really part of our DNA to make it as seamless as possible to the customer.”
On the wearable tech that’s most inspiring to her: ‘Apple and the launch of their new iWatch. I’m glad they made it beautiful, not just functionable. What Ralph Lauren did with 4D experience is beautiful.”
On how she’s getting the word out there: “We’re putting out as much information on social channels as possible and each channel has a different follower base. The girl logging onto Facebook likes different items versus the one on Instagram.”
Rebecca will be opening a flagship store in NYC this fall.
Find more about Rebecca at rebeccaminkoff.com. Follow her @RebeccaMinkoff
Hasti Kashfia, CEO/Founder of Kashfia Media and celebrity stylist turned tech entrepreneur, came on to discuss her top trends in wearable tech:
On the Apple Watch: “I have no idea what it feels like or looks like but they had me at 18k carat gold and leather bands. I want to add this to my own collection.”
On collaborations: “Tory Burch’s new FitBit partnership has tech with a fashion feel. It’s nice to see that fashion component. And it sold out within three hours.”
On tech and the runway: “Look at Chromat, who did Beyonce’s outfit at the VMAs. You may not know there’s a tech component they look so good.
On design houses and retail collaborations: “Then there’s Barney’s partnership with Intel and their Opening Ceremony bracelet. I have no idea what it really does but that’s the power of the partnership.”
Follow Hasti @HastiKashfia or on Facebook
Carrie Hammer came from a background in sociology and the Parson’s School of Design to create customer designed clothing based on actual measurements not standard mannequin sizes. She held her fashion show Role Models, Not Runway Models live and via LiveStream from Fordham University featuring quadruple amputee Karen Crespo.
On going from marketing to fashion design: ‘Going from economics to UCLA for digital advertising sales, I was working in a predominately male workplace. There were 30 people in my team who were mostly male. They’d get all these custom shirts and suits and I said, ‘I’d really love to get a dress made. There aren’t many options available for work clothes and I have a hard time finding things that fit.’ I asked a woman about the company these men were going to and she said they don’t make things for women and that there isn’t a place in New York with a price point of under $1000 for women. I did the research and she was right. So I started getting things made for myself. People would stop me ten times a day and ask where I got my dresses with such a beautiful fit. I realized we needed a market for it.”
On the DIY market: “I only do the design and leave the sewing and cutting to very talented factories and people like that. It takes years and decades of skill you can’t learn overnight. Making something at home is great but finding an impeccable fit is something to leave to the professionals.”
On Photoshop backlash: “We’re finally reaching a point where Photoshop has been abused for too long. It’s a recent part of fashion. You used to use a paintbrush to clear a blemish. It’s jumped the shark. There are now laws in Europe that there have to be disclaimers on images that have been changed.”
On using real women in her fashion show: Last February during New York fashion week, we featured CEO execs and incredible women. One model was in a wheelchair her whole life. Come to find out she was the first-ever model on a runway in wheelchair. We received over 300 emails from girls and moms of girls with disabilities saying, ‘It’s so wonderful to feel included.’ Then we received one from Karen Crespo who suffered from bacterial meningitis and had to amputate all 4 limbs. She loves fashion— a totally girly girl. Her kind and positive email after the show had me crying. I told her, ‘You are so inspiring to me, walk our next show.’ After her debut we received thousands of comments and emails. Any woman or man who ever felt self conscious, and for women and young women, we do have positive and healthy women to look up to—to emulate.”
Find more about Carrie at carriehammer.com or follow her @CarrieHammer
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