This collection of topical essays by academics and industry professionals brings a unique lens to the issues broached, questions raised, and solutions offered regarding the history and advancement of digital fashion.
While digital fashion’s roots can be traced back to the development of the Jacquard loom, its modern-day antecedents are found in video games and Instagram filters - allowing users to apply virtual makeup, accessories, and clothes to their posts.
With 12 essays and four specialist interviews, this collection begins with digital fashion's origins, its placement in the history of fashion, and its status as an aesthetic object. Part 2 focuses on the practice of making digital fashion, including NFTs, sneaker culture, cyborg vs skins and education. Part 3 provides a critical overview of digital fashion's potential to impact wider society, including questions of social equity, sustainability and African decoloniality and the future of the industry.
Interviewees: Julie Zerbo, founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Fashion Law Idiat Shiole (Hadeeart), Web3 startup founder and 3D designer Jonathan M. Square, writer, historian, and curator of Afro-Diasporic fashion and visual culture Matthew Drinkwater, Head of Innovation Agency, London College of Fashion
Volume editor:
Dr Michael R. Spicher,
Dr Sara Emilia Bernat,
Doris Domoszlai-Lantner
Imprint: Bloomsbury Visual Arts
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781350359628
ISBN 10: 1350359629
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 22 August 2024
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Primary
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Foreword by Daria Shapovalova and Natalia Modenova, Founders of DRESSX An Introduction to Digital Fashion by Michael R. Spicher, Sara Emilia Bernat and Doris Domoszlai-Lantner Part I: Theories and Foundations of Digital Fashion Introduction 1. A History of Digital Fashion: Critical Theories and Turning Points – Doris Domoszlai-Lantner, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, USA 2. Existence, Aesthetics, and Meaning: A Philosophical Reflection - Michael R. Spicher, Aesthetics Research Lab and Massachusetts College of Art and Design, USA 3. Spooling and Neuroaesthetics: How Technology Helps Fashion Progress - Virginia Rolling, Georgia Southern University, USA Interview with Julie Zerbo, founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Fashion Law Part II: Practices and Applications of Digital Fashion Introduction 4. Balmain x Barbie: A Fashion NFT Case Study - Petra Egri, The University of Pécs, Hungary 5. Physical to Digital: The Evolution of Sneaker Culture - Mindy Meissen, writer and consultant, USA 6. Cyborgs vs Skins: Which Will Dominate the Future of Fashion Design? - Idit Barak, Shenkar, Israel 7. Digital Fashion Education: Towards a Fluid Transition Between The Virtual And Physical Worlds - Mingjing Lin, London College of Fashion, UK Interview with Idiat Shiole (Hadeeart), Web3 startup founder and 3D designer Part III: Issues and Ethics of Digital Fashion 8. Digital Fashion as The Basis Of An Economic Revolution - Daniella Loftus, Digital Fashion founder, influencer, and investor 9. Is Digital Fashion Socially Equitable? - Sara Emilia Bernat, Gemic 10. En/Folding Realities: African Decoloniality & Digital Fashion - Erica de Greef, African Fashion Research Institute (AFRI) with King Debs, artist, Siviwe James, researcher, arts practitioner, and archivist, Lesiba Mabitsela, interdisciplinary artist and fashion designer and Sihle Sogaula, material culture researcher and photographer, South Africa 11. (Im)possible Digital Fashion Dreams: Who Can Deliver On Accessible And Sustainable Digital Fashion? - Beata Wilczek, Unfolding Strategies, Germany Interview with Jonathan M. Square, writer, historian, and curator of Afro-Diasporic fashion and visual culture Part IV: Looking to and Hoping for the Future of Digital Fashion 12. New Definitions for The Future of Fashion - Leslie Holden, co-founder of The Digital Fashion Group, Interview with Matthew Drinkwater, Head of Innovation Agency, London College of Fashion, UK Afterword - Michael R. Spicher, Sara Emilia Bernat and Doris Domoszlai-Lantner Index
Michael R. Spicher is a lecturer at both Boston Architectural College and Massachusetts College of Art and Design, USA. He is also a design writer and philosopher who has spent more than a decade studying aesthetics and earned a PhD in philosophy from the University of South Carolina. Michael serves as aesthetics area editor for the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy and is an editor for the Leonardo Electronic Almanac. Sara Emilia Bernat is a brand strategist and sociologist, based in Paris. She advises private and public organizations on strategic branding at Gemic, a global social science and innovation consultancy. She writes regularly at the intersection of luxury, fashion, and sustainability for publications such as In Pursuit of Luxury, Luxury Daily, or Fast Co, amongst others. Doris Domoszlai-Lantner is a lecturer of Fashion Studies at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, USA. She is a fashion historian and archivist and has held bylines in academic and mainstream publications, including Vestoj, Fashion Studies Journal, and Splice Today. She has also been cited and interviewed in major international publications such as WWD, and The Guardian.
Reviews for Digital Fashion: Theory, Practice, Implications
This is an extensive and explorative text on a subject that is not yet widely covered. The chapters address some of the very real and important opportunities and challenges faced by the advent of digital fashion. -- Gwyneth Moore, Course Leader, BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing & Business, University of South Wales, UK I've been waiting for a holistic introductory publication on digital fashion to head my course’s essential reading list. This is it. -- Emily Shahaj, Subject Lead, MA Digital Fashion, University for the Creative Arts, UK
