Future Fabric: L.A.’s Techwear Designers Are Engineering the New Cool

Los Angeles, April 2025 – Under the industrial lights of the Petersen Automotive Museum’s rooftop, LAFW closed with a show that looked less like a fashion week and more like a mission briefing. Designers from local and international collectives introduced a new age of techwear—sustainable, tactical, and unapologetically sleek.

The highlight? An emerging label called Formulate Studios, which unveiled self-heating outerwear made from algae-infused fibers. The jackets shimmered subtly under LED strobes, like cybernetic armor tailored for nightlife.

“This isn’t sci-fi anymore,” said founder Devon Tran. “We’re merging performance with storytelling. Every stitch is function-forward.”

Beyond aesthetics, the event buzzed with innovation. Smart textiles that respond to body temperature. Cargo pants that double as emergency flotation devices. Even NFC-enabled collars that link directly to the blockchain for resale traceability.

Local designer Selene Martel, who debuted a collection of 3D-knitted sets dyed with mushroom pigment, explained, “L.A. isn’t just surf and vintage. We’re ground zero for sustainable futures—because we have to be.”

This year’s LAFW felt less like a trend parade and more like a manifesto. In a city known for reinvention, techwear isn't just thriving. It's leading the resistance.

— By Miles Reyes, Streetwear & Culture Editor