Old School Fashion vs Tech Fashion | The Fashion Tag Blog

Your retro-loving heart may be battling your desire for high-tech fashion. The truth is most modern fashionistas are still infatuated with old-school looks but can’t live without tech fashion. For example, you can spot a Generation Z dressing like it’s still 1985 while wearing the latest smartwatch. Old-school fashion is definitely not dead and is blending perfectly with modern innovation and tech fashion. So if you’re a fan of both types of looks, buckle up and get ready to explore the various ways both fashion worlds meet.

Sustainable fashion is ‘making up’ for the wrongs of vintage fashion

Animal cruelty, carbon footprints, deforestation, climate change, name them – the fashion world has had adverse effects on the environment for decades. For example, the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions. Moreover, if you love fur, you might want to look away, as relevant findings show that 95% of fur sold in the fashion industry comes from animals kept and killed in fur factory farms worldwide. Likewise, more than 200 million trees are sacrificed yearly for cellulosic fabrics. Think of it this way, if these trees were placed end-to-end, they would circle the earth seven times.

But sustainable and eco-friendly fashion is trying to right the wrongs of old-school fashion. Clothing companies are putting more effort into replenishing what they take from the earth. Also, cruelty-free fashion is slowly garnering the attention it needs.

Nostalgia is meeting innovation

Old-school fashion is all about taking inspiration from the past and embracing nostalgia. If you’re old enough, you probably remember the era of leg warmers, neon colours, and bell bottoms. On the other hand, tech fashion is pushing the limits of innovation by creatively incorporating technology into garments while drawing inspiration from the past. Put these two fashion types together, and you have a marriage of nostalgia and innovation – a match made in heaven. Today, you’re seeing more retro styles getting a massive revival with a twist of technology. For example, if you love watches (and who doesn’t?), you may have noticed more vintage-inspired smartwatches resurging. They blend high-tech features like smartphone integration and fitness tracking with classic watch designs.

Innovation is improving fabric quality

You invest your hard-earned money into your clothes to get a bang for your buck. Imagine finding a piece of a broken needle embedded in new clothes you just bought or your pristine blue dress fading after several wears. Even worse, imagine buying a new fabric to realise it contains substances that can harm your health or trigger an allergic reaction. Thanks to various tech solutions, fabric quality is improving. Manufacturers, for example, can now take advantage of fabric testing services to ensure that their customers receive only the best.

Sports fashion is benefiting from fabric innovation

Old-school sports outfits are now getting a massive lift, with an increased focus on functionality. If you play soccer, love to run, hit the gym regularly, love playing tennis, or are involved in any sports, you know how frustrating it is when your clothes inhibit your movement in any way. Today, sports fashion is benefiting fabric and clothing innovation.

While old fashion sportswear focuses more on appearance, tech-infused sportswear is easier to move in, with sweat-ticking and temperature-regulating fabrics. Gone are the days when female tennis players, for example, had to wear skimpy-looking skirts for better movement (and causing quite a stir for a supposed lack of modesty). Thankfully, you can look good and enjoy tennis without resorting to a Serena William-inspired Catwoman suit, so keep this in mind.

3D printing is creating the perfect fit, just like your old-school shoemaker

If you’ve ever ordered a pair of high-quality leather shoes from an old-fashion shoemaker, you know they’ll come in your exact size. That’s because you’ll get them done according to your foot size and shape. Unfortunately, not everyone wears custom-made leather shoes. Sneakers are the most common type of footwear, and most are not made-to-fit. Imagine finding those beautiful pair of sneakers you’ve always wanted. Excited, you enter the store and try them on, only to realise they’re the last pair available and not your size. It sounds frustrating, doesn’t it? Well, you’ll be surprised by how many people experience this level of frustration. But 3D printing is here to save the day again, this time by creating the perfect fit. Brands like Adidas are already considering using this technology to customise shoes for their customers.

Tech-infused fabrics are becoming the future of old-school fashion

Who knew a vintage-inspired bomber jacket could now keep you warm and cosy while monitoring your heart rate? Old-school fashion is deeply rooted in traditional fabrics and craftsmanship. But technology has found its way into this realm, turning traditional into smart. Today, you’ll find smart fabrics that change colour or texture based on environmental conditions to self-heating jackets and moisture-wicking materials. Some smart fabrics can sense different environments, and E-textiles can automatically respond to a new environment. You’ll soon be able to choose smart fabrics or clothes to lift your mood or calm you down. But whether a smart fabric can lift your mood after an emotionally-draining break-up is debatable, so feel free to consider this.

Accessorising with a modern twist

Who said you couldn’t rock the retro vibes while staying connected to the digital age?

Picture this; you’re sauntering down the street, rocking your vintage-inspired outfit that would make your grandma proud. You’ve even got on her vintage pearl necklace she passed down to you through your mom. But there’s something else shimmering on your wrist – a futuristic smart bracelet complimenting your outfit but tracking each step you take and monitoring your heart rate. That’s a perfect connection between old-fashion and tech fashion. It’s like going back in time only to arrive in the future. Your grandma will appreciate your vintage look, your futuristic bracelet will wow your kids, and you’ll feel as healthy as you look good. Everybody wins here.