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To mark the 2014–2016 European Space Agency (ESA) mission to the International Space Station, European fashion schools from the astronauts’ home countries explored the future of fashion and all its technical possibilities.
“Couture in Orbit” was a project of ESA and the Science Museum of London. It brought together students from the Fashion Akademiet in Denmark, the Politecnico di Milan in Italy, Ravensbourne in London, and ESMOD Paris and Berlin for a spectacular high-tech fashion show on May 25, 2016.
Each group of student designers was assigned a theme for its clothing, ranging from technology, environment and innovation to health and nutrition. The design possibilities were as vast as space itself, but they also had to be practical and address how their designs could work in daily life.
Sympatex Technologies, Munich, Germany, was also a sponsoring partner of the project, providing students with functional textiles and state-of-the-art space technologies to integrate into their designs.
ESMOD Berlin was tasked with designing everyday fashion inspired by German astronaut Alexander Gerst’s “Blue Dot” mission, which was part of the ESA mission in 2014. Consideration of earth observation and climate change were also part of the challenge.
The ESMOD Berlin team used Sympatex textiles, which were particularly suited to the project. The company, known for ecological responsibility and sustainability, provided high-quality functional laminates for the designs.
A total of 30 designs went down the runway, to the delight of about 1,000 fashion and technology enthusiasts, hosted by famed British radio and TV moderator George Lamb. British “The Voice” finalist Jordan Gray also performed during the show. For more information, visit
www.couture-in-orbit.tumblr.com.