TheUnstitchd
Dystopian fashion takes inspiration from post-apocalyptic scenarios strikingly displayed in popular cinema pieces such as Equilibrium, The Matrix, Blade Runner, and the real-life adaptation of Ghost in the Shell. The edgy designs of Dystopian outfits often mimic the existential crisis of individuals living a reality where the physical and virtual worlds blur together.
What’s more, these visually appealing dystopian garments define their bearers’ everyday struggles, giving them enhanced capabilities through highly technological designs (similar to what top techwear brands offer nowadays, but more on that later).
The conceptual magnetism of dystopian fashion finds ground whenever we imagine that such a striking reality may take place in a not-so-far future. In a strict sense, a Dystopia is an imagined society plighted by injustice, radically reorganized in a totalitarian state after an apocalyptic event.
Try to imagine a world in which wealthy developed countries go to war, wielding technology’s tremendous power to inflict such destruction that the global balance of power is fundamentally changed. Dystopian worlds show long-established national boundaries eliminated, replaced by high-density population centers of megalithic proportions to host a society profoundly connected to the internet.
The individuals living in this reality find that their virtual and physical presence can’t be severed from totalitarian government oversight, subjecting them to high-tech social control and overpowering virtual surveillance.
Throughout the last couple of decades, we have witnessed how everyday life gravitated towards extended online connectivity. Routines filled with copious social media interactions, remote work dynamics, and digital exchanges of goods and services play a bigger role in our daily schedules.
In a world full of indirect interactions, filtered by a worldwide technological network of communications that has redefined human civilization, thinking of what a dystopian world would look like may not be such a ludicrous scenario. Especially if you live in highly populated cities such as New York, Dubai, Hong Kong, Beijing, or Tokyo.
Our close relation with technology and a world full of unrest probably made dystopian realities a more familiar concept. Netflix series such as Black Mirror, Altered Carbon, and 3% have permeated pop culture with Dystopian sceneries, while an ever-growing Gaming industry has captivated Millennials with titles such as Cyberpunk 2077.
The characters involved in dystopian scenarios, blends with the somber mood of post-apocalyptic ambiances by wearing dark and highly structured tech-centered garments of impressive functionality. Granted, protagonists of this genre have action-packed roles, so it’s not surprising that their outfits go hand-in-hand with streetwear and military-inspired clothing.
There’s a famous phrase that says: Does art imitate life, or does life imitate art? This relevant philosophical question may reveal how the fashion world has responded to the public’s increased interest in Dystopian aesthetics. Avant-garde designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Demna Gvasalia, and Errolson Hugh drew inspiration from dystopian paradigms when creating cutting-edge clothing designs that focus on performance, comfort, and a futuristic look. As pioneers of dystopian fashion, their work shed light on what is now known as Techwear apparel.
The best techwear brands are known for their innovation and stunning level of craftsmanship. Merging their long-standing experience in outdoor apparel to produce highly functional urban garments, the most innovative way possible.
The best techwear brands are known for their innovation and a stunning level of craftsmanship. These brands successfully poured their long-standing experience in outdoor apparel to produce highly functional urban garments, the most innovative way possible.
Dystopian themes in fashion have always expressed fears and anxieties about the fragility of bodies exposed to the threat of war, catastrophe, and destruction. Nonetheless, despite the doomsday mood presented in Dystopian cinema, Techwear clothing focuses on providing its wearer with lightweight garments that offer enhanced weather protection, functionality, and sophistication.
Techwear continues to tap into the personality of a new generation of wearers that sense the struggles of the present aren’t so different than those of dystopian worlds. This fashion trend not only merges modern knitwear with elegant fashion designs but also shows how the concept of Dystopia has spread in our social imaginary.