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Transforming Clothes

Continued from page 1

By Rachel Ross

Friday, October 20, 2006

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TR: On another dress, the zipper on the front of the bodice closed automatically. What technology was involved?

RE: We drew a magnet up on a string. The [monofilament] was sewn very delicately into the hem of the fabric and then over her shoulder and down her back.

TR: A lot of nontraditional materials were used in the show. One dress seemed to have a skirt made of plastic cards that automatically rose up off the body, shrunk, and then changed color, from white to silver. What was that dress made out of and how did it work?

RE: It was all precontrolled on a microcontroller, on a timed sequence. We set the sequence just before the model exited out onto the stage. We hit an "on" switch, and off she walked. At the appropriate moment the panels were all released and pulled down … again with cables.

TR: Are these dresses for sale?

RE: No, no. Definitely not. I believe that these dresses are going to eventually find themselves in a museum.

TR: Where do you go from here? Will you be creating new designs or licensing the technology you've developed?

RE: That's entirely up to Hussein or any other fashion designer who cares to commission us.

TR: Do you see any of this as the future of fashion?

RE: I'm not a fashion designer, so I can't really comment [from a design perspective]. But [technically] I think it's possible--it's very possible. There's no reason why you couldn't have something so that instead of you having to reach down and pull something when it starts raining … it just reacts to water and a visor comes down to protect your eyes.

Comments

  • Model show
    This is an anemic example of what designers have stooped to;showing malnourished models who are poor examples of what human populice is today;What makes them think these girls represent a normal population in any but a country which is starving for nutrition??The show was an absolute abomination of normalcy in America and Europe.They should be prosecuted for child abuse!!Not only was the show a flop,it had no real music or substance except in the distorted minds of those in the fashion industry.Where do they sell these abominations other than in the sick group who follows them??
    Rate this comment: 12345

    plasticdoc
    10/20/2006
    Posts:24
    Avg Rating:
    3/5
    • Re: Model show
      Read the article. It's not about the models, it's about the technology used to make the clothes. And you'd also note that the clothes AREN'T for sale. They are like art pieces.
      Rate this comment: 12345

      BethJ
      10/20/2006
      Posts:1
      Avg Rating:
      5/5
    • Re: Model show
      Indeed, the article is not about the nourishment of the average population (which is grossly overweight by the way), neither about the skinny models. It's about technology - the music suggests that too, in case you don't get it.

      I liked the dress with the embedded solar panels. Touch that girl and you get electrocuted, ha-ha-ha!:)
      Rate this comment: 12345

      gabrielg01
      10/20/2006
      Posts:418
      Avg Rating:
      3/5
  • here is digg to the runway show.
    http://digg.com/design/models_in_clothes_from_the_future
    Rate this comment: 12345

    roguesheep
    10/21/2006
    Posts:1
  • The future
    I see a future where a virus can cause women's dresses, skirts, blouses, and hopefully underwear to drop in waves.
    Rate this comment: 12345

    Bob
    10/21/2006
    Posts:1
    Avg Rating:
    5/5
    • Re: The future
      ...and girl talk will be like "Did you download the latest security patches for your skirt's OS?"...
      Rate this comment: 12345

      gabrielg01
      10/21/2006
      Posts:418
      Avg Rating:
      3/5
  • Sexy
    What a fantastic invention. At last a woman can wear an outfit to dinner and then transform it to something a lot sexier when she hits the dance floor.
    On behalf of so very many guys out there who are sick of watching women trying to dance in their evening gowns, WELL DONE !
    dLookDating.com.au
    Rate this comment: 12345

    dLook
    10/21/2006
    Posts:1
  • Something useful, but less ascetic
          Rachel Ross’s article, “Transforming Clothing” highlighted the interesting concept of Turkish fashion designer, Hussein Chalayan, who created (using wires and electric motors) transformational clothing and debuted his new style in a Paris Fashion show this month. Even though I enjoy fashion, I would have liked the article to mention some practical applications which would be more advantageous to the general public, although less ascetically appealing. Possibly something like a therapeutic suit for patents with certain muscular conditions which could be adjusted dynamically to the patient’s needs, or even a dynamic eye catching store manikin to advertise the newest fall fashions.
    www.techrd.com
      Thank you
       Brian Glassman
          West Lafayette, Indiana
    Innovation Management
    Commercialization of technology
    Rate this comment: 12345

    briang1621
    10/22/2006
    Posts:124
    Avg Rating:
    4/5
  • "Miss appropriated"
    I find it unfortunate that such devices, which could be used for nobler purposes are being used to help women wear two outfits at the same time, to say nothing of the unimaginative ways that they were used (the zipper was nice, but the others could have been pushed farther). Hopefully this will expand the understanding of what tech-accessories are capable of, and used to help people who could really use it, children in need of prosthetics and so forth!
    Rate this comment: 12345

    Mallax
    11/12/2006
    Posts:1

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