FRANKFURT STYLE AWARD

Glowing in the dark sportswear

In line with overarching seasonal message of The Great Reset, the notion of performance sportswear is redefined. Look beyond the boundaries of the physical workout to focus on rest and recovery, and note the emergence of luxury in the activewear sector.

As activewear increasingly blurs the boundaries between sport, work and travel, so do performance fabrics. Technology remains paramount and is expected, but is on par with comfort, sustainability and style. Innovations in technology and manufacturing result in hybrid materials and synthetic alternatives.

KEY POINTS

• Active and luxury merge, as beautiful design and looking good is coveted more than ever: silhouettes are beautifully executed, sculpt and shape. Materials are premium with cosmetotextile technology and new luxury yarns.

• Pre- and post-workout activities become equally important: designs and products look beyond the physical workout, recognising the importance of rest and recovery as an aid to performance. There is also a need for transitional ‘travel’ wear.

• Functionality remains paramount: wearable technology and dual-functioned designs are increasingly expected and add value in a clear, practical way, addressing the needs of the #AllDayActive market with transitional silhouettes and performance properties.

Moulded form bra

• Why is it key? Reconfigured for a pared-back look, the sports bra takes on new importance as a statement separate for wear both in and outside the gym.

• What is new? Moulded cups with deep-plunge front promote cleavage. Halter shaping supports and exposes the back.

Colors and pattern prints are nice and have been in use for many (hundred) years in fashion design as well as beads and other eye-catching elements attached or integrated into fabrics.

But all these elements and colors are static, once you choose the print and color it stays there forever (as long as the season lasts).

Adding (re)active materials or technologies make the emotional color and pattern play more interesting, changing it’s appearance triggered by our surrounding environment, when light or temperature or humidity changes the appearance of our clothing will change in reaction of it.

Glow-in-the-dark printing is a first step into a more (re)active future of fashion design.

When reflective materials were first added to sneakers, it was mainly on running kicks and served a purpose: to be seen in the dark. Now in vogue, adidas upgrades from reflective to responsive with their new XENO collection. One of the first sneakers in that collection is the Metro Attitude.

Discovered on the Xenopeltis snake indiginous to Southeast Asia, the adidas XENO material responds to light and gives off a different color depending on the viewed angle in the same way that a car with pearlescent paint does. The adidas Metro Attitude XENO plays on the actual Xenopeltis snake inspiration by having a snakeskin upper that is black in natural light but still has a shimmer.