GLOBAL: In a catwalk show where circuits met couture, humanoid robots strutted alongside human models in matching outfits at a futuristic fashion event in Seoul, proving that style isn’t just for flesh and blood anymore.
The unusual showcase saw pairs of humans and humanoids walk the runway in coordinated looks ranging from tasselled Texan-inspired ensembles to shimmering silver puffer jackets. One robot even sported a cowboy hat, ensuring there wasn’t a single “underdressed” android in sight.
Designed to fit the robots’ skeletal frames, the collection featured flowing silk dresses, voluminous space-age trousers and statement pieces that blended retro influences with futuristic flair. The result was part fashion show, part thought experiment.
The event was organised by entertainment company Galaxy Corporation, which used the runway as a platform to explore a larger question: what might a future shared by humans and robots look like?
“We realised that robots, too, need to wear clothes,” said Galaxy Corporation ceo Choi Yong-ho. “Just as every human being is unique, we believe that every single robot should also be distinct.”
The company hopes to launch the collection commercially later this year under the brand name MACH 33.
The robotic models appeared to be humanoids developed by Chinese start-up Unitree, whose machines have gained popularity for offering advanced capabilities at comparatively lower costs. In recent years, humanoid robots have demonstrated increasingly sophisticated skills, from performing choreographed dance routines and competing in races to executing backflips.
As robotics technology continues to advance, analysts expect humanoids to become far more common. Financial services giant Morgan Stanley has projected that more than one billion humanoid robots could be in use worldwide by 2050.
For now, however, truly autonomous robots remain relatively rare. Many of the eye-catching demonstrations seen today still rely on remote operators or pre-programmed movements. Even so, Seoul’s latest fashion spectacle offered a glimpse of a future where robots may not only work beside humans, they could also be sharing wardrobe tips.
