From the release of “Project Hail Mary,” the film adaptation of Andy Weir’s 2021 novel starring Ryan Gosling, to the Artemis II launch, space is back in the spotlight. The first moon landing occurred just over 50 years ago, coinciding with the emergence of fashion trends that have since changed how we wear clothes. While this trip, a 10-day jaunt orbiting the moon carrying four American astronauts and “Rise,” a small plush zero-gravity indicator, feels quick, the moment is sure to stimulate fashion’s interest.
Space — and all things technology — have been inspiring to fashion for decades. Researching the Women’s Wear Daily archives revealed that the first true alignment between space exploration and fashion coincided perfectly with the Youthquake movement, a time when political upheavals and social satires reshaped the zeitgeist. In 1967, as anticipation built for NASA‘s Apollo 1 mission, which was sadly lost, WWD’s “Space Invaders” gave a fun illustrated first look at how designers were exploring the occasion. Two years later, with the success of Apollo 11, it was obvious that fashion had already begun its quest to innovate textiles and the fashionable silhouette.
Space Invaders, WWD, April 4, 1967. WWD Illustration
Fairchild Archive/WWD
Notable designers chasing the moment — André Courrèges, Paco Rabanne, Rudi Gernreich and Pierre Cardin (who also tried on the 1969 astronauts uniform) — were champions of material innovation. Their use of man-made fibers inclusive of polyester, nylon, plastics, metallics and stretch knits (Lycra), combined with more zippers, fewer closures, and wearable, otherworldly silhouettes, reflected the Space Age ethos. Their visions elevated minimalism and futurism, turning them into iconic themes in fashion. The shift was groundbreaking and transformed fashion forever, even though today’s consumer sentiments for many of these textile innovations has since evolved.
Fashion embraced and celebrated the advent of “super knits” — fabrics that could stretch, shrink, be tossed into a washing machine, and still retain their shape. It was nothing short of a revolution. Fast-forward to today, and those same fabrics have made getting dressed more convenient and efficient than ever. Who would have imagined that Velcro, originally invented for practicality, would eventually find its way into fashion?
Meanwhile, fibers that wick moisture, shield against sun damage, and dry within seconds continue to redefine the functional capabilities of everyday style. Proof that science and technology’s cutting-edge approach has propelled fashion beyond its preconceived boundaries. The possibilities remain endless.
American NASA astronaut Terrence W. Wilcutt, pilot, onboard the flight deck of Space Shuttle Endeavour October 1994.
Getty Images
WWD continues to chronicle the technological advances shaping fashion, including the evolution of space uniforms since the 1969 moon mission. While NASA’s astronauts’ uniforms have evolved, they still feature the iconic patchwork jumpsuits cherished by fashion enthusiasts. Astronauts’ attire in orbit has changed over time, with photos capturing them in everyday fashion staples like rugby shirts and shorts, adding a relatable touch of humanity to life in space — much like Gosling’s character in “Project Hail Mary.”
Here, from WWD and the Fairchild Archive, a look at the designers who brought Space Age inspirations to the runway, reshaping the future of fashion.