LONDON, June 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
This year's launch event of London Technology Week, Europe's largest festival of technology, is set to bring together some of the UK's leading fashion technology designers for a first of its kind fashion technology showcase.
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London based fashion designer Brooke Roberts has been commissioned by London & Partners, the Mayor of London's promotional company, to curate the exhibition which will be displayed at the launch of London Technology Week 2016.
The installation will include a 3D printed wearable garment designed by Modeclix, the world's first holographic intelligent mannequin from Headworks and a behind the scenes look at London Fashion Week using 360 degree video and content curated by creative communications agency Village.
The showcase will also feature a number of other cutting edge fashion technologies including:
London hosted its first London Technology Week in 2014 and last year's festival saw 220 events, attracting over 43,000 attendees from around the world. This year's launch event will convene leading figures from the technology and wider business community, focussing on London as hub for the convergence of technology with traditional industries.
In the past five years, the number of digital technology businesses in London has increased by over 12,000, with around 40,000 businesses in the capital at present (an increase of 46%). It is forecast the sector will continue to outperform the rest of the UK economy and the number of tech businesses throughout London will increase by 12,500 by 2025, according to research from Oxford Economics.
Separate research from London & Partners revealed venture capital investment into Britain's technology sector has reached a record high with London-based companies securing around 62% of the $3.6bn raised by UK firms in 2015[1]. Investment into ecommerce and fashion tech companies is strong with major investments into London based companies such as Farfetch ($110m) and Lyst ($40m) in the last few years.
Fashion designer and curator of the fashion tech installation, Brooke Roberts, said: "London offers a collaborative and dynamic science, tech and fashion scene. From fashion start-ups, 3D printing and social media, to improving in-store customer experience, brands in London have been leading the way in how to incorporate the latest tech advances into their fashion message. Being appointed Art Director and Curator of the Fashion Tech Installation to launch London Technology Week has allowed me to bring together a diverse group of fashion and technology game-changers to showcase the creative and robust approach we have in London to contributing to the new wave of Fashion Tech. It is through the continuing collaboration of the London fashion and tech scenes that this crossover has become possible, opening the door for more collaborations on a larger scale in the future, limited only by our imaginations."
Louise Page, Co-Founder, Village: "The communications industry is at an exciting and unprecedented change and London is at the creative hub of a technology revolution Marketing used to be about creating a myth and selling it, now it's about finding the truth and sharing it."
Exhibitor and Chief Executive, Holition, Jonathan Chippindale, added, "London has always been an innovation centre for both fashion and technology, but crucially it has also been a place where ideas and creativity are valued and nurtured. As an anti-tech technology Studio, Holition has always been more focussed on the experience, the engagement and the digital anthropology between humans and technology, rather than the wires and circuit boards and the algorithms. This installation fits this ethos nicely - although on paper it is a collaboration involving 3D printing, robotics, fashion and projection mapping, it is actually a narrative that discusses the connection between analogue and digital, a story of fashion told through the medium of technology and ultimately a study of what it is to be human."
Gordon Innes, Chief Executive at London & Partners, the Mayor of London's promotional company said: "London is a world leader in fashion, creative arts and design. When you combine this with the city's growing technology sector, it is no surprise to see London at the centre of the fashion technology movement. We are also seeing traditional industries such as music, publishing and advertising disrupted by technology innovations. London is at the heart of this trend and London Technology Week provides a great platform to showcase our creative talent and demonstrate why London is leading the way for the development of convergence technologies. We are delighted to have some London's best fashion technology innovations on show at the launch event to kick-off the week in style."
Kevin Pearce, London Technology Week Event Director, UBM EMEA London said:
"London and the UK is world renowned as a leader in the creative industries. From traditional media, advertising and digital agencies, to visual effects, film and TV production and design, fashion and the arts. The thriving creative tech sector is represented throughout this year's London Technology Week programme, by over 150 events. Making it one of key cornerstones to the week and one of the most popular themes for both national and international attendees."
Shaun Borstrock and Mark Bloomfield, Modeclix added: "London has historically been the destination for fashion, from the high end designers that started their careers in the capital to the independent boutiques and labels selling fashion, accessories and design that can only be discovered on the city's streets, London has always inspired a global audience. Now as fashion and technology collide, London continues to be a leading innovator in the fashion space. By encouraging, nurturing and supporting the talent the city attracts a transformative future is unfolding, one where multifaceted disciplines, organisations and individuals are all contributing to define the future of fashion."
Notes to Editors
All photography of the exhibitors can be found HERE
1 London & Partners sourced from CB Insights Database December 2015
About London Technology Week
London Technology Week is a festival of events, taking place across the city and representing the entire technology ecosystem. No other festival of live events brings together as many domestic and international tech specialists and enthusiasts to London for such a variety of networking, social, learning and business opportunities. Since its launch in 2014
London Technology Week is organised by UBM EMEA, in association with founding partners London & Partners, ExCeL London and Tech London Advocates, with support from strategic partners Tech City UK, UKTI and techUK.
London Technology Week has included more than 400 events and has welcomed delegations from around the world.
For more information about London Technology Week, visit: http://londontechnologyweek.co.uk/
For more information on how to host an event at London Technology Week 2016, visit: http://londontechnologyweek.co.uk/how-to-host-an-event/
About London & Partners
London & Partners is the official promotional company for London. We promote London and attract businesses, events, congresses, students and visitors to the capital. Our aims are to build London's international reputation and to attract investment and visitor spend, which create jobs and growth.
London & Partners is a not-for-profit public private partnership, funded by the Mayor of London and our network of commercial partners.
For more information visit http://www.londonandpartners.com
About Village
Village is a Creative Communications Agency offering Core Communications, Creative Content, Digital Innovation & Influencer Connections.
For more information visit http://www.wearevillage.com
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