Chromat designer Becca McCharen went to school for architecture. So it's not surprising that the final looks of the Chromat Fall/Winter 2014 collection were sartorial skyscrapers. In a room at the Standard Hotel overlooking the Hudson river, models clad in glittering blue LED lights floated down a runway. "The future of Chromat is fashion tech," Becca said a few minutes later backstage. "This season told the story of a love affair between a human and robot." In particular, Becca's light-up designs were inspired by Tweetping, a website which maps each tweet in the world as it happens with a sparkling blue dot.
Since it was founded in 2010, Chromat has pushed the boundaries of what is normally considered clothing. Its signature look are structured cages that sit on the outside of clothes (or, if you're Beyoncé or Madonna wearing one while performing, on naked skin). Opening Ceremony recently picked up Chromat's Spring/Summer 2014 line of sporty, gym-inspired pieces, in stores soon. The Fall/Winter 2014 collection also included mesh, sporty looks, as well as myriad bustiers, bustles, and even face shields.
Soon, Becca wants Chromat to explore other frontiers in wearable tech. "Because we do intimates, which are the first layer on your skin, there’s so much you can do with data collection: reading sweat levels and heart rate, for instance," she said. A bra that knows when your sweating and mists you to help you cool down? It's perhaps more practical than a cage bustier that sticks out a foot from your body, if equally awe-inspiring.
Photos by James Parker III | E-mail ONLINE@OPENINGCEREMONY.US to be notified when the FW14 collection arrives at OC!
Becca McCharen (left)
