THE future of fashion is not simply trendy clothes.

While style connoisseurs follow the likes of Prada, Gucci and Josh Goot for their cues, the rest of us will look to technology brands this year to define what we wear.

“Technology is now completely ingrained in our interaction and relationship with fashion and retail,” says Arabella James, a futures consultant at The Future Laboratory.

“It is now part of every shopping moment, from inspiration and production to purchase decision and transaction.”

So what do you need to look out for this year? These are the hi-tech fashionable extras coming to a store near you.

Social fashion

Brazilian retailer C&A’s new hangers.

Brazilian retailer C&A’s new hangers. Source: NewsComAu

Brazilian retailer C&A has started a campaign that marries online and instore consumer decision making. Called FashionLike, whenever someone ‘likes’ an item of clothing online at the C&A website, that ‘like’ gets totalled on a screen embedded in a clothes hanger on the rack instore. Consumers can then decide whether they want the more popular clothes with the larger number of ‘likes,’ or opt for the ‘less liked’ pieces. Cool, huh?

A recent Stussy campaign promised that a model dressed for winter warmth would shed clothing layers according to the number of ‘likes’ the campaign generated on Facebook. Expect to see more of these social media fashion campaigns this year.

Wearable tech

Your workouts will never be the same again.

Your workouts will never be the same again. Source: ThinkStock

Wearable technology is coming on in leaps and bounds as the fashion industry gets involved, helping to make previously bulky gadgets much more stylish.

Wearable tech refers to any piece of technology that can be worn on your body: think smart glasses, smart watches, bracelets, brooches, visors, necklaces and bras that can tell you something about yourself. They’ll provide information such as how many steps you take, your body temperature and heart rate. The fitness industry will be pumping this stuff out this year.

Check out the best wearable technology available now.

Dual purpose jewellery

Items from CuffLink.

Items from CuffLink. Source: NewsComAu

Jewellery companies are well and truly entering the techno mix this year. Some are creating necklaces with Bluetooth capabilities that have stones which light up when someone calls or texts, while others are programmed to release perfume throughout the day.

One company, CuffLink, is making some particularly stylish accessories for women that contain a two-way communication device so they can alert loved ones if they feel they’re in danger.