Augmented Fashion
Tactile fashion within virtual environments
Commissioned in partnership with Robert Gordon University’s Gray’s School of Art, the Augmented Fashion project set out to ask how immersive technologies might change the way we experience artisan fashion. The project focused on craftsmanship, heritage and the human hand in textile production, exploring how digital tools could reframe consumption and encourage more sustainable approaches to clothing.
Commissioned in partnership with Robert Gordon University’s Gray’s School of Art, the Augmented Fashion project set out to ask how immersive technologies might change the way we experience artisan fashion. The project focused on craftsmanship, heritage and the human hand in textile production, exploring how digital tools could reframe consumption and encourage more sustainable approaches to clothing.
Our design approach centred on immersive interactions. Using a variety of media such as Human-Computer Interactive (HCI) applications, we developed a suite of experiences including augmented reality, 360° video and interactive digital storytelling. These tools allowed audiences to step inside mills, witness the weaving process and hear directly from craftspeople.
The visual identity of the project was deliberately bold yet timeless, bridging high-fashion aesthetics with cultural storytelling. Importantly, the design re-valued traditional processes through digital innovation – encouraging audiences to see clothing not as disposable, but as something to be cherished.
The project culminated in a series of immersive installations and digital exhibitions, including films produced in collaboration with Harris Tweed. Audiences could virtually explore the Shawbost mill, walk alongside weavers at their looms and gain a sensory appreciation of the textures and labour behind each piece.
By fusing advanced technology with age-old craft, Augmented Fashion reframed how we engage with textiles. The project has since been used as a research model, demonstrating how immersive media can inspire cultural pride, shape consumer perception and support a more sustainable future for fashion.
“The Augmented Fashion project reimagines artisan fashion for a digital age, asking us to look again at the value of heritage, provenance and the human hand.”
Josie Steed, Senior Lecturer and Design Researcher at Gray’s School of Art, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen
