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7 years ago
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The future is certainly terrifying. From climate change to our political climate, there is a lot of uncertainty. But one thing is for certain — robots will take over the world's workforce — especially in the world of footwear.
Talk about a walk-up call!
And possibly leading the robotic revolution is the company Grabit, Inc., a materials handling solutions company.
The California-based (Nike-backed) robotics startup employs 'electroadhesion' in order to automate the handling of any material. To be exact, the company, applies 'electroadhesion' via 'flat pads of electrodes that, when charged correctly, create an electric field that adheres to nearly any surface,' Bloomberg reports.
Grabit’s shoemaking robot at the company’s headquarters in Sunnyvale
Photo Credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg
Unlike using human hands or pliable materials, electroadhesion can offer manufacturers the ability to work around such pesky issues like gripping materials by channeling the same sort of static cling that also makes a balloon stick to your head.
Sounds simply genius? That's because it is! 'Electroadhesion has the finesse to handle something as fragile as an egg, as flimsy as soft fabric and as unwieldy as a 50-lb box,' the company says on their website. They also assert that their line of equipment provides a cheaper, faster solutions that uses less power.
And the static electricity that Grabit can yield has the ability to 'make machines work at[...]
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8 years ago
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If each new calendar year brought forth a new style trend that mirrored the Spice Girls, 2016 would be known as the Year of Sporty Spice. Right now, athleisure is as popular and ubiquitous as Park Slope or Santa Monica moms pushing UppaBaby strollers—and with booming sales, chic, dressed-up exercise clothing are finally more affordable too.
"Stores like H&M, Forever 21, and Aritzia, are offering up a selection of goods that aren't just cute but, mostly at under $50, won't break your bank, either," writes Ray Lowe of Refinery 29.
Here are three simple facts you need to know about this fabulously casual fashion trend.
Activewear Is Not Going Anywhere
Don't count on this bubble bursting in 2016!
In October 2015, Morgan Stanley ventured to estimate that activewear will reach up to $83 billion in sales by 2020.
Athleisure sales stretched out to $36 million in 2013. In 2014, activewear accounted for 16 percent of the total apparel market, according to research firm NPD Group. And in 2014, Nike expected to add $2 billion dollars to sales by 2017.
Photo Credit: Nike
Clearly, activewear is going for the win. High-end names like Sweaty Betty, Outdoor Voices, Vimmia, and Aday, are now competing with fast-fashion staples like H&M for shoppers' hearts.
And over the years, luxury companies like Tory Burch, Trina Turk, Stella McCartney, and Mara Hoffman have rushed to jump into the current craze.
Below: Image from January 2016 limited-edition, 21-piece[...]
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