Hansae Co. has presented “humanoid clothing” as the fashion industry's “next step” and expressed its ambition to lead the industry as a market pioneer.
Hansae Co. held the 'Wear the Future Media Day' at the Textile and Fashion Club in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the 8th to unveil its future apparel concepts for humanoids and robots.
Kim Ik-whan, vice chair of Hansae Co., delivered a presentation under the theme of “The Next Step of Fashion Imagined by Hansae Co.” He explained, “Hansae Co. is not simply a company that makes clothes, but a company that has realized the digitalization of physical samples by incorporating 3D technology and has utilized artificial intelligence (AI) in all designs, and we have been pondering the next stage,” and “We believed that in a future where humanoids and robots penetrate our lives, the clothes they wear must be made by Hansae Co.”
Hansae Co. projected that a future where humanoids proliferate across fields encompassing education, care, industry, and service is fast approaching. Furthermore, it predicted that just as humans wear clothes to protect their bodies, express their individuality, and enhance efficiency in various environments, humanoids and robots will also wear clothes depending on the situation.
Vice Chair Kim emphasized, “When humanoids and robots play roles close to humans, they will also need clothes,” and “Because a company that makes clothes worn by humans best can also make clothes worn by robots well, Hansae Co. aims to lead the humanoid and robot clothing market.”
'Wear the Future', a future apparel exhibition representing this concept, will also be held until the 12th. The exhibition introduces clothes that household childcare humanoids, senior care humanoids, and industrial site humanoids might wear in their respective fields. Unlike human clothing, it features front-and-back detachable zippers and high-strength cooling materials to facilitate smooth heat dissipation.
Materials also differ based on the characteristics of each situation and space. For instance, clothing for humanoids caring for children applies cozy and soft materials on the outside, while industrial robot apparel features zippers on the armhole line to allow detaching the arm section, enhancing breathability and mobility. While building upon Hansae Co.'s existing functional clothing technologies such as cooling materials, high-elasticity materials, and high-durability materials, discussions on collaboration with humanoid manufacturers and material startups are also underway.
Son Ji-yeon, head of research and development (R&D) at Hansae Co., said, “Humanoids consist of batteries and actuators forming joints, and their joint movements are completely different from humans at 360 degrees, so specific areas must be left open, and heat dissipation, sensor non-shielding, and securing breathability are the key design conditions,” and added, “Next year, we will be able to showcase humanoids actually wearing the clothes.”
