Faced with the continual development of new, more specialised technologies and the evolution of life styles, fashion and the means of distributing it have already begun to change.
Smart clothing and increasingly connected channels of distribution show that technological innovations have already moved into the world of fashion.
Showroomprivé.com has taken upon itself the mission of finding, uncovering, sharing, supporting and developing all initiatives that will have an impact upon the manner in which fashion is conceived, worn and consumed. WEAREABLE was thus born from the desire to share and reflect upon this research, as well as on the future of fashion.
It is against this backdrop that last Tuesday, February 9th, the Weareable Awards took place at the Gaîté Lyrique.
This ceremony rewarded five young start-ups and innovative brands for their visionary and revolutionary projects before a jury of experts in the fields of fashion and emerging technologies.
From 100 candidates, 16 made the nominations list.
We have already spoken with the winners HERE, now let’s discuss the night itself!
Hosted by the elegant Gilles Rosier, this soirée aimed to herald in another version of fashion: an innovative, creative, intelligent and responsible vision.
Neither a question of diktats nor a mere flash in the pan, clothing has surpassed its primary function to establish a relationship with the wearer – it has come alive.
Co-founders of showroomprivé and originators of the wonderful WEARABLE project, Thierry Petit and David Dayan were the first to take to the stage. They expressed their happiness to be celebrating innovation, a value that is near and dear to their hearts.
Next, we were lucky enough to have the chance to catch Ece Ozalp’s performance: WHAT IS REAL.
It was a true interrogation of the perception of reality and an examination of the clothing of tomorrow in perpetual metamorphosis.
This was an incredible moment that combined mapping with high technology.
The members of the jury then came on in pairs to present the different awards:
Mr Dimitri Chamblas, artistic director of the Opéra de Paris, and Mr Jérôme Delormas, director of the Gaîté Lyrique, presented the Fashion Award prize for the We:Ex project.
The Experience Award was handed out by Messrs Thierry Petit and Christophe Ono-dit-biot, assistant director of Le Point’s editorial board. They were unanimous, scared at first but later seduced by this concept “Umood” by Uniqlo; “this idea to measure brainwaves to see which item of clothing is best suited to one’s mood at the time. An aesthetic, neuro-scientific side that is also fashion”.
Mr Takao Kuwahara, DG of Uniqlo Europe, and Mr François Loviton, retail director of Google
France, next presented the Emerging Award and rewarded Pào by Halit Soysal.
Mr Charlie Le Mindu, Haute Coiffure designer, and the artistic director Lutz Huelle gave out the prize for the Relation Award to De Rigueur.
Finally, the president Mrs Diane Pernet did us the honour of presenting the Grand prize to Mr Andrea Baldereschi of REMIDI: “revolutionising American music thanks to fashion”.
The ceremony came to an end with a speech by Mr Jean-Louis Missika, deputy mayor of Paris. An engaging man, who admires and is passionate about Fashion Tech. “Paris is a city where fashion rules. Also, it is a city for the innovators, developers and start-ups. This meeting of these two worlds is essential to the future of this city and the future of fashion.” Indeed, the textile and fashion industries are experiencing a mass upheaval.
Mr Missika also told us that the best is still to come : Paris in the process of implementing, for the coming years, two extremely important innovation platforms, in addition to those already in existence. They will cater for the welcoming of international artists who are interested in Fashion Tech.
“Paris is your city, come and work in Paris”
Once the ceremony had finished, it was time for cocktails and a look around the exhibition to exchange ideas with people working internationally in fashion and innovation, in such a wonderful venue in the heart of Paris.
There was an atmosphere of sharing, of meeting and of openness in a universe that often seems closed and inaccessible.
What does 2017 have in store for us?
[slideshow_deploy id=’282′]