A Glimpse Into the Future of Fashion

The Professor of Metawear Styling at ESMOD Tokyo, Romain Urnel, recently delivered an informative sharing to our Fashion Design students on the future of fashion. During his talk, Urnel shared the exciting ways in which technology is revolutionizing the world of fashion and empowering designers to embrace new dimensions of their craft. The entire session covered the importance of digital design tools, 3D modeling, virtual prototyping, and sustainable fashion practices. These future designers were also exposed to the different software used in creating digital garments that redefine fashion’s boundaries.

Urnel explained to students the cost-efficient, environmentally friendly, and time-saving benefits of virtual fashion. “Instead of requiring an interested buyer to visit your physical booth or wait for you to create the garment from scratch and send it over after every amendment, you can now simply send realistic 3D designs and make changes to it in real time”.

He highlighted that 3D design software, such as Adobe 3D Sampler, allows designers to render fabrics through a process called fabric digitalization. This software can mimic the exact pattern, texture, thickness, and color of real materials. Once the material has been duplicated virtually, designers can utilise Digital Prototyping which uses advanced software to create and manipulate fashion designs in a three-dimensional digital environment.

The Professor of Metawear goes on to share samples of huge names in the fashion industry currently transitioning into the virtual world, such as Hugo Boss, Adidas and Balenciaga which have hosted immersive digital fashion shows. This opens up a whole new spectrum where students can also create an entire virtual fashion show with their own environment, characters and props through different narratives. It not only presents fashion in a cost-efficient way but also enriches the storytelling aspect of their collection, leaving a lasting impression on their audience.

One of the most exciting moments was when he discussed ‘Transversality,’ where fashion meets gaming. Several brands have partnered with popular games to showcase their collections to a wider audience. Some examples include collaborations between Burberry & Minecraft, Balenciaga & Fortnite and Gucci & Sims. Since fashion is a universal language, once digitalised, it can be featured through animation, video games, mobile games, NFTs and more.

Romain Urnel concluded his session by encouraging the ESMOD Kuala Lumpur students to dive into digital software and learn more about this newfound knowledge. Students left feeling excited knowing that fashion has transpired to a whole new level, allowing them to explore their skills even further. This shift opens up new career opportunities and pathways.

Gone are the days of hand-drawn sketches as the primary design medium. The fashion industry and education are undergoing a remarkable transformation, driven by the rapid advancements of the digital era. For fashion designers, this evolution presents a landscape of endless possibilities, where technology intertwines with creativity.