How Fashion Week Inspires the Automotive Industry
The fashion world has long been a source of inspiration for designers in many industries, from automotive to home décor. This year, Milan Fashion Week 2023 has served as a reminder of just how influential the fashion industry can be in breathing life into other sectors.
Details from Bottega Veneta, Moncler, Jil Sander, Tomo Koizumi, Ferrari, and Prada during Milan Fall 2023 ready-to-wear runway.
The connection between the fashion and automotive industries is nothing new, yet has become increasingly popular. Fiat's collaborations with Bulgari and Armani for special editions of their 500, are great examples of how these two sectors can come together.
At Granstudio, the Color, Material, and Finishes (CMF) department has been researching into the latest trends presented at Milan Fashion Week 2023. This research has been particularly focused on 3D textures, natural and biodegradable materials, all of which are top priorities in the automotive industry when it comes to sustainability.
The team has explored the textures and materials used in the Milanese fashion shows, such as cotton, linen, leather, and synthetics. We looked at how these materials were used to create unique looks and intricate shapes, and also how different colors and textures were combined to create a cohesive look.
Natural materials such as bamboo and hemp are being used to create components that are both strong and lightweight. Additionally, these materials are less harmful to the environment than traditional materials made out of plastic or carbon fiber, making them ideal for vehicle interior design. As the industry moves towards sustainability, it is important for us to look for inspiration outside of the traditional automotive industry.
COLOR & TRIM IN 3RD SPACES.
Automobile interiors are transitioning from mere instruments of transportation to something more significant - 3rd Spaces. A third space, is a “home away from home” that provides an essential zone outside of home and work. This shift has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for drivers and passengers alike.
This new approach to designing car interiors emphasizes the value of treating them as living spaces. Consequently, car interiors offer a more comfortable and cozy atmosphere, away from the cave-like and often dark designs that characterized most car interiors. Instead, car designers now increasingly look into homes and fashion for inspiration.
This shift is a fundamental one; cars used to have very complicated shapes with simple finishes, but now we see a move towards simpler shapes that convey a feeling of space, combined with an increased richness in the use of materials, colors and finishes. This turns our attention automatically to what is happening in Milan, and other fashion shows.
But it's not only in interior design that we observe the influence of fashion. When we look at concept cars, we also see a more fashion-oriented approach to exterior designs. Projects such as Granstudio's RESET research and BMW's Vision Dee concept car have stepped away from designs that rely on complex geometry in favor of simpler surfaces that enable more expressive use of color, texture, and graphics. Just like fashion.
DEFINING CMF THROUGH MIXED REALITY.
At Grantudio, we have developed an innovative design platform to assist our automotive designers to define color, material and finishings (CMF) for vehicle interior design through mixed reality: DigiPHY.
The platform is designed to facilitate a rapid and interactive design process, enabling users to quickly experiment with different combinations of CMF to find the ideal solution for their desired interior design.
“Thanks to the combination of DigyPHY, we can investigate the use of new materials while receiving immediate sensory feedback from the passengers.
”
The platform begins by allowing designers to select from a vast library of CMF options that include multiple materials, colors, textures, finishes, and patterns. The library is continuously updated with the latest market trends, so designers can always find the perfect CMF for their vehicle interior design.
DigiPHY is supercharged with an amazing MR design tool that gives professionals in the industry the ability to take their CMF decisions from the digital to the physical world, giving them the capacity to alter their designs promptly and with ease.