Hannah Perner-Wilson of Pulsea has been exploring knitted stretch sensing. She's got a great photoset here that documents her experiments. I wonder how accurate the sensors ended up being. She is also exploring a circular knitting machine. I can't wait to see if and when she'll make some machine-made knitted stretch sensors.
See related post: Stretch Sensing Creates a New Aesthetic
DIY wearable technology expert Diana Eng has launched a site called Fairytale Fashion in collaboration with Eyebeam. Here's how she describes the work: "Fairytale Fashion is using technology to create a collection of magical clothing in real life (with blooming flowers, transforming shapes, changing colors, etc.) for Feb. 2010. We share our work in weekly research and development web videos. You can help us create the designs by answering the design question at the end of each video."
Check out some of her interesting videos here and start getting some hands-on experience with some of the materials that she's exploring.
This collection was recently sent to me by my friends at n-ktr. This gorgeously functional, yet slightly unwearable collection called Plastic Analogue created by Amy Thompson instantly reminded me of an analog version of the wearable robotic device that Honda has been investigating. Each piece is mechanical, exposing the function, joints, and seams as the aesthetic centerpiece. What would happen if this type of aesthetic was applied to the work that Honda is doing?
Read the post on Honda's wearable robotic device.
This review by the folks at Innovation in Textiles of the 5th annual Smart Fabrics Conference that took place in Rome this year is definitely worth the read for anyone who is interested in wearables. In a nutshell, the newly forming eTextile business sector is rapidly developing legs outside of research, educational institutions, and DIY enthusiasts toward consumer products and mass markets. Read the full review ›
I ran across this project while researching stretch sensing technology that is all the buzz right now. This gorgeous project, Aeolia, integrates stretch sensing directly into fabrics. "Each of the back forms incorporates the Merlin stretch sensor into an aesthetic exploration of textile technique mapped to the body." source What's interesting about this exploration is that the circuitry itself is integrated so beautifully and seamlessly into the fabric, that it creates a completely new aesthetic that also has the potential to fit comfortably and flexibly against the body. I would love to get my hands on a sample!
Whatch videos that demonstrate the material here.
I girl can never own enough footwear. So, in my never-ending quest for shoes that I can't live without, I ran across these beauties created by United Nude founded by the drooling-ly fabulous architect Rem Koolhaas. What's interesting about these shoes is the way in which the surface was designed. The designers at United Nude have been pushing the limits of 3d modeling techniques. The surface pattern of this shoe named "Lo Res" was created by scanning in a 3D model of a shoe, then reducing the model's polygons down to the lowest resolution and smallest file size. As a result, the surface celebrates the model's minimal polygons as if it was stolen from a Second Life avatar.
Related posts: Digitally Printed Fashion