Invisible Fashion: Reimagining fashion design and experience beyond visual appearance.

Abstract

As fashion and design researchers, we have embraced a human-centered design approach that emphasizes the relationship between people and objects as functional tools. Yet, fashion goes beyond utility; it embodies frivolity, playfulness, and social communication, often conveyed implicitly through garments. This article envisions a future where our engagement with fashion transcends mere appearance, highlighting research involving fashion designers collaborating with blind individuals to understand their relationship with clothing. Using ethnographic studies and qualitative interviews, the research examined how non-visual senses influence garment selection and wear. Designers emphasized tactile, auditory, and olfactory experiences to create “invisible” textiles and garments, challenging the conventional emphasis on visual aesthetics in fashion. This initiative encouraged designers to move beyond functional or trendy solutions toward meaningful interactions embracing diversity. Findings revealed that fashion enjoyment, decision-making, and emotional connections can be redefined beyond aesthetics to promote sustainability, shareability, engagement, and equality. Invisible fashion is designed for those often excluded from traditional human-centered design. While not fully realized as post-humanism or more-than-humanism, this approach suggests a new fashion paradigm valuing all senses equally and fostering positive experiences for humans and nonhumans alike.