Animism and Transhumanism: The Yin and the Yang. Finding a balance between nature and technology.
Carlos Gago Rodriguez - Future of Fashion, Omnichannel Lecturer & IM Tutor
For millions of years human beings have been the dominant species on Earth, shaping the planet to their liking, transforming it, taming it, destroying it. Global warming and other man-made calamities, such as pandemics, are making it clear that it is time for a radical change: either we evolve, or we must accept that we are doomed.
The evolution required of us as a species is not only about changing our lifestyle, but involves completely rethinking the very notion of being human. On the one hand, moving from exploiting the planet to serving it; on the other, transcending the physical nature of our bodies-after all, the hyper-consumerism fueled by industries such as Fashion and Beauty is driven by an obsession with the body, often at the expense of our spiritual nature. The embryonic phase of this evolution is known as Posthumanism.
Because the very concept of fashion is body-centered, as is the desire to impress other human beings, it is very difficult to imagine a future for this industry in a world where humanity takes a step backward in favor of other species that do not consume clothes. However, accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, two major “movements” that could represent a new expression of fashion are gradually making their way into the public imagination. In the vocabulary of trend forecasting, these take the names of Animism and Transhumanism.
Animism and Transhumanism are modern yin and yang: each exists because the other exists, and for them to express themselves positively, they must be harmoniously balanced. This research aims to analyze the declinations of this balance, exploring not only its current manifestations, but also imagining its possibilities for the future of fashion.