Carmelo Anthony Knows the Future of Fashion
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We’re already midway through New York Fashion Week, where designers anticipate next year’s trends—so far we’ve seen a lot of pink, fur, and gauchos—but what does the next decade have in store for the fashion industry? Well, the Knicks’ forward player Carmelo Anthony may be jumping on the wearable technology trend.
There have been some examples of tech-accessories proliferating over the past couple years from fitbit bracelets (Tory Burch now has her own design) to the new Apple smartwatch that should be available any day now… There have even been tech/fashion collaborations like clothing label Opening Ceremony, who partnered with Intel to create a bracelet that delivers text message notifications (kinda like 90s beepers, but made chic). Though, Anthony suggests that there’s more to be produced.
Related: Opening Ceremony: That ’90s Show, Again
MICA Watch by Opening Ceremony x Intel
“Wearable tech has been around in sports for a long time. You have sneakers and functional shirts that have been around forever,” the all-star baller explained in a panel discussion hosted by Milk Made Fashion. Anthony was joined by tech-guys including the CEO of Intel Brian Krzanich who provided some examples of how “smart” technology could elevate those items; so that perhaps Nike dunks could record Anthony’s heart rate, calories burned, or even his free-throw accuracy.
This concept tickled Anthony. “Tech is moving way too fast,” he laughed, while Krzanich quickly contradicted, “Actually, Carmelo, it’s not moving fast enough!”
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Krzanich stresses that the faster technology progresses, then the simpler it gets, seamlessly becoming part of our everyday lives. And although Krzanich and his Intel team could easily prototype robotic sneakers that give athletes the ability to slam dunk their every shot, he expressed that no one will wear tech-enhanced clothes unless they take design into consideration.
“It’s not about bringing tech into a space [fashion], it’s about bringing intelligence and smartness to things you wear everyday,” Krzanich said, “And not just one team can do this. We’ve got to hand a ‘button’ over to the fashion industry and say ‘what can you do with this?’”
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Technology is already developing, and like the 90s trend, it’s not going away. Of course, there’s still plenty of room for technology to grow, and perhaps it will soon populate the NYFW runways. But before the Intel team gets too carried away with their next big project (whatever that may be), Anthony has one request. “It has to look good.”
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