Techno print: The fabric of the future
It seems that S/S ’12 is a season of extremes.
There were the ultra-girlie pastels and minimalist neutrals to satiate our thirst for something fresh, light and airy. And (literally) at the opposite side of the color spectrum are the bright and outrageously bold technicolor shades and prints that both shock and delight the senses.
The surge of the techno print cannot be ignored, what with the unique patterns of zigzag and geometric in the same garment as floral and polka dots that seem to be everywhere — from the runways to the streets.
Each pattern is as unique as it is manipulated digitally, creating fabric that’s exclusive to the designer, thus making it impossible to replicate. The delightfully dizzying print is akin to an acid trip that sucks you into a magical world of fantasy that you never want to leave.
Inspired by London’s digitally gifted designers Mary Katrantzou and Peter Pilotto to name a few, it is the perfect marriage of fashion and the modern digital age. Even the master of signature print Emilio Pucci showcased his own whimsical versions in a more romantic silhouette using lace and chiffon.
How to wear it entirely depends on you, save for a few rules in color coordination. If you’re daring, replicate the runway looks and mix prints to your heart’s delight. Just keep it in the same color family or totally contrasting in, say, cobalt blue and mustard. For a more downplayed version, do as fashion editors would and temper with understated black accessories.
Whichever way you prefer, it seems that along with the unstoppable reign of everything digital, this trend is here to stay.