Delving into realms uncharted by the fashion community: a daring exploration awaits
The European Space Agency (ESA) is set to host a unique space-inspired fashion show at the Science Museum's Lates event on May 25, 2016. Top European fashion schools from Paris, London, Milan, Copenhagen, and Berlin are participating in this exciting endeavour.
The idea for the fashion show originated from a conversation between ESA's Rosita Suenson and Rosita Suenson of ESA's Human Spaceflight and Operations. Each fashion school was asked to take inspiration from the research and experience of an astronaut associated with their country.
Fashion Akademiet Copenhagen, for instance, was visited by Danish ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen to explain what it's like to live in space and work on a special skinsuit for use in orbit. In London, Ravensbourne developed military-inspired wear for the fashion show, in reference to the early career of UK astronaut Tim Peake.
The Politecnico di Milan's preliminary work was inspired by Samantha Cristoforetti, the woman who holds the record for having spent the longest time in space. Meanwhile, ESMOD Paris has contributed a video inspired by astronaut Thomas Pesquet, who will be launched in November as a flight engineer, returning in May 2017.
In Milan, ESMOD Berlin International University of Art for Fashion took inspiration from the Blue Dot mission of ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst. Sponsors supplied state-of-the-art technology and textiles for the fashion show, including Bionic Yarn, TAL, and i.nanoE. Sympatex, Bionic Yarn, and 37.5® Technology by Cocona® are providing high-tech functional textiles for the project.
The Science Museum secured the backing for the event from Bionic Yarn, a New York City-based start-up that makes high tech fabric. D'Appolonia, eXtreme Materials, JOHAN technology, and LEAP technology will also be exhibitors at the special Lates event.
The project's progress can be followed via the Tumblr page couture-in-orbit.tumblr.com. Each school was challenged to design and create out-of-this-world clothes that are practical, functional, and cool. The final designs from the five participating design schools will be modelled on catwalks at the Science Museum's adults-only Lates on May 25.
This fashion show is part of a long-standing tradition that dates back to the late 19th century, when Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, the grandfather of Soviet space travel, imagined devices that would allow a human being to survive in space, including space suits. It's a testament to the continued exploration and innovation in both the fashion and space industries.
Tim Peake's launch was celebrated at the Science Museum by 11,000 visitors and 3,000 schoolchildren last December. The theme for each school is linked to ESA's ethos of sustainability, climate protection, and recycling. Xsens is making 3D motion tracking sensors available to the students for their designs.
This space-inspired fashion show at the Science Museum's Lates promises to be an exciting event, blending fashion, technology, and space exploration in a unique and captivating way.
- The collaboration between the European Space Agency and top fashion schools in Paris, London, Milan, Copenhagen, and Berlin has resulted in each school creating out-of-this-world clothes inspired by astronaut research, with the aim of producing practical, functional, and cool designs.
- The space-inspired fashion show, which takes place at the Science Museum's Lates event, is reminiscent of the long-standing tradition that began with Konstantin Tsiolkovsky's ideas for space travel in the late 19th century, as both the fashion and space industries continue to explore and innovate in unique and captivating ways.
