Oakley space visor: The future of fashion-forward wearables

NASA’s Artemis III taps Oakley for cutting-edge lunar protection – but beyond survival, could space-grade wearables become our everyday fashion staples?

“Moonwear, but make it fashion.”

In a move that feels equal parts sci-fi and streetwear preview, Oakley has partnered with NASA to design a futuristic visor for astronauts on the upcoming Artemis III mission. While this visor is engineered for lunar exploration, it might just hint at the direction fashion – and wearable tech – is headed for the rest of us.

A mission to the moon and a leap for wearable tech

Artemis III marks NASA’s next giant leap, aiming to return humans to the moon by the end of the decade, this time with the first woman and person of colour stepping onto the lunar surface. Central to their mission gear is Oakley’s Visor Assembly, a sleek, high-performance lens system designed to protect astronauts from harsh solar glare while enhancing visual clarity in extreme environments.

Oakley’s involvement signals more than just a scientific breakthrough – it’s cultural. Known for its iconic eyewear, Oakley has long straddled the line between performance and lifestyle. Bringing that design legacy to the moon might just reframe how we see wearables on Earth.

Fashion x function: A match made in the stratosphere

Wearables have matured beyond step-counting bracelets and clunky headsets. We’re now entering an era of seamlessly integrated, fashion-conscious tech. Oakley’s visor, while developed for astronauts, encapsulates this evolution. It doesn’t just serve a function; it also presents a form worth paying attention to.

Sabrina ‘Princessa’ Wang, editor-in-chief of Digital Fashion Week and a vocal advocate for wearable tech, shares:

“Fashion and function aren’t opposites – they’re the future.”

As a consumer of the Meta Ray-Bans, Sabrina lives out this convergence daily.

“It’s not just about looking good anymore. It’s about being connected – seamlessly, naturally, and beautifully.”

These smart glasses combine style with voice-activated tech, camera lenses, and AI integration – all in a package that looks just like your favourite shades.

Oakley’s visor might be destined for zero gravity, but its ethos reflects where fashion on Earth is headed: Wearable intelligence that feels good, works flawlessly, and looks even better.

Echoes of the past: When fashion designed for the stars

The idea of fashion x space isn’t entirely new. There’s a long history of stylish experimentation in astronaut aesthetics:

• Prada collaborated on NASA’s lunar spacesuits in 2020, applying luxury material expertise to performance gear.
• Anrealage, the avant-garde Japanese label, showcased solar-reactive garments in Paris Fashion Week.
• AI-generated, 3D-printed helmets and suits are already being prototyped for future interplanetary travel.

These milestones underscore the trajectory: The future of fashion isn’t confined to the runway. It’s boldly going where no wardrobe has gone before.

The new luxury? Wearable intelligence

From smartwatches that measure blood oxygen to mood-tracking jewelry and self-adjusting fabrics, wearables are increasingly intuitive. But style is finally catching up to substance.

In a world navigating climate shifts, overstimulation, and hyperconnectivity, fashion can no longer afford to be just decorative. It must be adaptive, intentional, even anticipatory.

Oakley’s visor design is a preview of what’s possible: Wearable tech that could withstand the moon’s extremes, while inspiring innovation down here on Earth.

The DFW POV: Time to reimagine our daily uniforms

At Digital Fashion Week, we don’t just report on trends – we spark them. Oakley’s moon visor is more than a space accessory; it’s a challenge to creators and consumers alike:

How do we build fashion that does more, protects more, connects more – and still turns heads?

Sabrina puts it best:

“If you wouldn’t wear it on the street, you won’t wear it in space either. The future is wearable, and the wearable must be desirable.”

As Oakley suits up for space, the rest of us might just be catching the first glimpse of the next big thing in wearable fashion tech. One small step for Oakley, one giant leap for fashion-kind.