Photos: Silicon Valley Fashion Week kicks off with drone models

Master of ceremonies Mustafa Khan, left, interviewing Zach Vorhies, founder of LED clothing brand Zackees.
Master of ceremonies Mustafa Khan, left, interviewing Zach Vorhies, founder of LED clothing brand Zackees.
Image: Alice Truong/Quartz
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With its armies of tech workers clad in hoodies, T-shirts, and jeans, it’s safe to say Silicon Valley is a world apart from the fashion scene in New York, Milan, and Paris.

But that didn’t stop Betabrand, a San Francisco clothing company that crowdsources its designs from people online, from putting on a runway show celebrating the unique fashion of techies. Kicking off the night of May 12 in a bar in the Mission district, Silicon Valley Fashion Week took its inspiration from Burning Man, the maker movement, and the broader tech world. As such, the show was replete with gadgets and drone models (in other words, drones flying down the runway with garments hung on hangers).

“You are seeing a grand experiment taking place on stage tonight,” said master of ceremonies Mustafa Khan, donning a flashy gold suit. The first night’s theme was electric motion, focusing largely on commuting (think electric skateboards and LED clothing). Betabrand is expecting about 1,500 people to attend its fashion show over three days. The events to follow over the next two nights will show off wearable tech and crowdfunded fashion.

Below, some photos from Silicon Valley Fashion Week’s first hurrah:

The Chapel, an indie music venue and bar on San Francisco’s posh Valencia Street, was packed with spectators on opening night.
The Chapel, an indie music venue and bar on San Francisco’s posh Valencia Street, was packed with spectators on opening night.
Image: Alice Truong/Quartz
Master of ceremonies Mustafa Khan in a shiny gold suit.
Master of ceremonies Mustafa Khan in a shiny gold suit.
Image: Alice Truong/Quartz
The show started by lampooning the Silicon Valley uniform: hoodies, T-shirts, and jeans.
The show started by lampooning the Silicon Valley uniform: hoodies, T-shirts, and jeans.
Image: Alice Truong/Quartz
Before the drones could show off their garb, their handlers set up a safety net to protect the audience in the event the models go off script.
Before the drones could show off their garb, their handlers set up a safety net to protect the audience in the event the models go off script.
Image: Alice Truong/Quartz
A drone modeling a lovely pair of chinos.
A drone modeling a lovely pair of chinos.
Image: Alice Truong/Quartz
Flying down the runway, this drone model is sporting a gold tank top.
Flying down the runway, this drone model is sporting a gold tank top.
Image: Alice Truong/Quartz
A drone dons a pair of colorful pants.
A drone dons a pair of colorful pants.
Image: Alice Truong/Quartz
A drone showing off a shiny gold jacket.
A drone showing off a shiny gold jacket.
Image: Alice Truong/Quartz
Humans still took up most of the stage time. Pictured here: A pair of models show off vests that light up on the back.
Humans still took up most of the stage time. Pictured here: A pair of models show off vests that light up on the back.
Image: Alice Truong/Quartz
Sensilk’s Test Flight bra tracks heart rate, heart rate variability, heart rate recovery, respiration, distance traveled, and calories burned.
Sensilk’s Test Flight bra tracks heart rate, heart rate variability, heart rate recovery, respiration, distance traveled, and calories burned.
Image: Alice Truong/Quartz
The solar-powered Tespack can charge up gadgets on the go.
The solar-powered Tespack can charge up gadgets on the go.
Image: Alice Truong/Quartz
Another Tespack model.
Another Tespack model.
Image: Alice Truong/Quartz
A model helps his fellow runway companion unzip the Bad Boy Bag from Sunny Babar to show off its storage capacity.
A model helps his fellow runway companion unzip the Bad Boy Bag from Sunny Babar to show off its storage capacity.
Image: Alice Truong/Quartz
Look at all that storage.
Look at all that storage.
Image: Alice Truong/Quartz
Not just any hoodie: This one from SOVO lights up for increased visibility (and style) at night.
Not just any hoodie: This one from SOVO lights up for increased visibility (and style) at night.
Image: Alice Truong/Quartz
Wearing a helmet with integrated lights from Torch, a model shows off an electric skateboard from Boosted Boards.
Wearing a helmet with integrated lights from Torch, a model shows off an electric skateboard from Boosted Boards.
Image: Alice Truong/Quartz