Nowadays, everybody is looking for something new and special; the same came be said for technology. Recently, ClustaLabs carried out some research into printing applications. 3D printers are basically used for the rapid development of industrial models, including razors, buildings and now clothing. The N12 Bikini is an interesting example of how 3D printing is entering into the consumer world. It was designed by Continuum Fashion and has become the first ever affordable, ready-to-wear item of clothing; surely there is more to come. This was produced using Rhino 3D CAD software and a specially written algorithm that creates a complex ‘circle packing ‘equation on an arbitrarily doubly curved surface, providing the flexibility required within the garment. Another printing application that is definitely worth a mention is the Nike Chalkbot, a recent Cannes winner. Naturally this application lends itself more closely to 2D advertising, yet with the ability to print texts, symbols and to be honest, pretty much anything, we are excited about seeing how this concept might evolve in the future.

Several other applications have arose from this relatively simple technology, including one of my favourites; the 3D Chocolate printer. Just like something that you would expect to see in Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, users will soon be able to create their own pieces of confectionary; designing their own flavours, shapes, colours, anything that there stomach truly desires. Arguably, this was taken one step further with the CandyFab, an open source product that you can generally use within your own home. Although the software and hardware instructions are yet to be released, one is looking forward to tucking into my very own version of the next gob-stopper!

However, my personal favourite is Barcelona's BlablabLab, who piloted an attraction called "Be Your Own Souvenir" in Las Ramblas. The installation produced 3D-printed figurines of tourists that were scanned using 3 Kinect sensors in the dark. As a result, the user became part of the installation, whilst receiving a free gift. Custom software had to be created with open Frameworks in order to produce a full 360 degree point cloud that could then be processed by Meshlab and Skeinforge into a CNC file, creating a low resolution figure within the space of ten minutes. As this technology continues to evolve, it may become an ideal way of producing your own accessories or tailor-fitted clothes, yet with chocolate on the mind, I am going to leave it here for now and get some lunch.

The last area that I am concentrating on is how Touch technology is used in Fashion Retail, or should I say ‘non-touch’ as Kinect applications and Hygienic issues arise.

Touch surfaces are becoming increasingly popular in our everyday lives, including the Microsoft Surface 2.0, tablet PCs and Smartphone’s enabling consumers the opportunity to directly interact with brands.

Solitary shopping is being increasingly more obsolete, since touch screen technology enables consumers to link directly to their social networking sites, gaining immediate opinions from their friends and family at a touch of a button.

Nordstrom's BP Photobooth now allows girls the chance to take photos of themselves whilst trying on clothes. Why? Because girls often bring in camera phones into the dressing room to take snapshots of outfits that they have tried on to help with later purchasing decisions or just to update their Facebook profile picture.

Seventeen and J.C. Penny launched the virtual dressing room, incorporating augmented reality, motion capture, social media and e-commerce.  Fashion choices can now be made through mobile devices or webcam; hence if they like a product they can then buy it through the J.C. Penney website. With a simple wave of a hand, shoppers can now select, rate and share their top pictures with friends via Facebook or email, creative a much more engaging way in regards to online shopping.

The Tweet Mirror, as seen on Mary Portas show, has since become increasingly more popular within retail. It makes the overall shopping experience more enjoyable, interactive and social, merging the worlds between physical and digital.



Although touch has become increasingly popular, the future will be based upon the opposite; ‘non-touch’ screens.  The gesture based 24 hour window shopping has recently been developed, in which consumers can order products outside of store. Fraunhofer Institute even suspects that in the future, technology will be able to place through orders by recognising twitches and emotions from peoples’ faces. The interactive shop window uses infrared cameras that register the movements of a persons’ hand. The consumer simply points to the item of their choice that is shown in 3D, along with prices, colours and availability. Twisting the hand rotates the images on the screen. To buy, the customer then moves an arrow on the screen to a checkout icon, clicks on it and completes the purchase by placing a mobile phone against the glass. This gives a new form of interaction and brings people back onto the high street.

If you have any questions as to how non-touch screen applications will revolutionise the fashion retail industry, please feel free to email me at emily.clarke@clusta.com