The Future of Clothing

Simone Achermann is co-founder of W.I.R.E. (Web for Interdisciplinary Research & Expertise), a leading think tank for business, science and society. She engages with developments and trends in society, business and cultural sciences and is responsible for the ABSTRAKT book series. Stephan Sigrist is the founder and head of the W.I.R.E. think tank, he has spent many years analyzing interdisciplinary developments in business and society, focusing on the implications of digitization in the life sciences, financial services, media, infrastructure and mobility. He is the publisher of the ABSTRAKT book series, author of a number of publications and a keynote speaker at international conferences.

Introduction

1. What is Shaping the Future of Clothing?
Sustainability
New Materials
Blurring Gender Roles
Individualization and Fading Formality
Shaping the future
Drivers of change
Functionalization
Automation
Virtualization
Democratization of Production

2. Rethinking Clothing
Time to Envision the New! - Amber Butchart
The Rediscovery of True Needs - David de Rothschild
Material is the Mother of Invention - Richard Sennett
Interfacing the Body - Linh Le
Clothes with Change. The Human Body, Too! - Yuval Harari
Labour of Love - Jacqueline Sealy
Of Luxury and Eternity - Jean-Claude Biver
Towards Longevity and Multifunctionality - Gregor Thissen

3. Envisioning the Future
Longevity Over Fashion: A Suit for a Lifetime
Customers as Designers: Towards Autarky
Enhanced Protection: Clothes as Alarm Systems
Dressing the Next Generation: Suits for Robots
Craftsmanship as Luxury: Clothing Beyond Automation
Local Fast Fashion: The End of 'Made in Taiwan'
Navigating the Intelligent Environment

References and Further Reading
Index
Picture credits