The trend setters of 2007 will be wrapping themselves in shimmering silver, or so say fashion watchers who are predicting a year inspired by Futurism. Futurism was an art movement from early 20th-century Italy that extolled the values of technology and speed and worked with metals and bold, fresh lines. Elements of the movement appeared in fashion in the 1960s when Paris designers began working with futuristic plastics and metals. Suggestions of Futurism can be found more recently in the cold metallic designs of science fiction films such as "Star Wars" and "The Matrix".

LG Electronics’ Shine phone

Now the fashion industry is going through another phase of Futurism. After metallic decorations, colorful spangles, and cubic ornaments took off in 2006, more futuristic fashions are expected to sweep the industry in 2007. Most of the clothes introduced in the spring/summer 2007 collection at Milan were characterized by silver-metallic sheens, artificial materials and avant-garde lines.

Lee Hyeong-seon, a manager at IFNnetwork, a trend consultancy, said that luminous colors like those of neon signs, glossy materials, and metallic shines will dominate chic styles. “This year fashions will see an emphasis on elegance through extreme simplicity and ergonomic design, going for comfort by matching body lines,” Lee said.

The fashion industry is not the only field re-exploring Futurism. There is a resurgence in the movement's ideas in interior design and advertising as well. New York's Fila concept store has been painted silver to give an impression of a futuristic and metallic world, with an ergonomic design thoughtful of how shoppers move. The trend is also obvious in the electronics industry, which is putting lots of energy into so-called “shine marketing”.

LG Electronics is getting ready to awe the world with its “shine phone,” made from stainless steel and equipped with a mirror LCD. Motorola’s KRZR, made from materials like reinforced glass, magnesium and chromium, has been a popular accessory since it was released as an upgraded version of the RAZR with an aluminum exterior.

“The more depressed the economy gets, the more narcissistic people get and the stronger the urge they feel to show off,” a manager at LG Electronics said. “The recent fashion of new metallic phones reflects this psychology.” Shine marketing is even being used for commodities, with P&G’s Miseenscene Pearl Shining Light Serum a best-selling hair product.

(englishnews@chosun.com )