A DAY OF SWATCHING 

PROCESS

Our forth event started with great presentations of the possible form. Number of participants came up with interesting and unique concepts that would accommodate the electronic function of the garment. With a rich visual aid in form of mood boards we all started to have a better idea of what kind of garment we’re going to construct. The term symbiosis was a popular choice for the secondary inspiration and a chunk of the visual inspiration was taken from the flora and fauna kingdom. Dave gave us a run through the number of various electronics that we ordered for the experimentation and explained to the group how they need to be put together. It was very helpful and informative for the fashion designers and dressmakers to see and understand how the electronic elements need to function within the garment. Mia brought a few textile swatching sketchbooks from her students to give us an idea of what the swatch is, how can it be made and what is it purpose. This part of the design process is very important especially within this project as we are combining various materials. Rhona came up with a number of interesting ideas how to use static electricity from touch to generate movement of some nylon materials. This is a very interesting idea that could be introduced in the garment. We had a selection of fabrics, ribbons, sequences and beads ready for experimentation and we were able to try out numerous techniques. We also had the laser cutter at the ready and Mariel created possible patterns on how to manipulate light. Over the coming days we will create more textile swatches so we can combine them with electronics at our next event.

FINDINGS

During the day it was clear that our group has a very strong and professional dynamic. If a problem or an issue arised we were able to find a possible solution very quickly. Also it was the first event where we started physically making things and it was a great experience. There is still a lot to do with textile experimentation but most of this work will have to be done outside of the workshops as it is very time consuming. However we had time to go through some of the typical and suitable techniques like pleating, honeycomb pleating, knitting, combining materials, embroidery and laser cutting. We compared and evaluate the materials that we have and planned some swatches together. We will bring all the swatches done outside the workshop along on Thursday evening where we will add on some 3D printed elements to our portfolio.

FINDING THE RIGHT FIT

FINDING THE RIGHT FIT

PROCESS

Our 3rd workshop took place on the 11^th of April at 10am in the Makers room at Fab Lab Limerick. Early start on a sunny spring Saturday morning to finalize the function concept and have an initial discussion for the form of our garment. By now we have a core group of participants and we are getting to know more about each other each time we meet, as well as a few new comers with a fresh outlook and enthusiasm on the project.

We arrived prepared with narrowed down ideas (as we specified in the homework) for the function based on the initial concepts from our last workshop. This time around we had to choose one final idea to continue through out the rest of the project. We wrote all the ideas on our flip chart paper and discussed them as we went along, tightening up any loose ends. We put up our sheets of paper on the wall and had a 10min break to take it all in and think about our preferred selection before we put them to a vote.

After break Dave Hunt went through the function possibilities and limitations for each idea before we voted. It was difficult to pick the one but we came to a conclusion and smoothly agreed.

A lot of the ideas put forward overlapped with the technology involved so we feel comfortable and confident that the remaining ideas will be developed in the future. We had allocated one hour for this part of event but it ran though to an hour and a half. As this is the very important and decisive part of the whole project we dedicated as much time as needed to finalize the function without rushing.

Once we had our function and our market decided we started discussing the visual opportunities and a ways of how to approach the initial design of the garment.

At the end of the event we evaluated the skills within the group and mapped out what kind of equipment and materials we can individually offer to the workshops.

FINDINGS

The final idea for our function – synchronized formal wear for a trendy and fashion forward teen couple – means there will be visual communications between two garments demonstrated by light patterns or colors based on a touch or a movement.

As a starting point we will design one garment as a part of womanswear and one garment as a part of menswear. Once these initial designs are resolved concept can be easily applied to various couples.

We also found that the technology in the function ideas overlapped and some of the other ideas can be implemented within.

Understandably the primary source of inspiration is derived from the electronic and real function of the garment.

The secondary source of inspiration is based around either one of these terms :

symbiosis, metamorphosis or equilibrium

Now that we will be tackling the form we are starting a group board on Pinterest where we can share our visual inspirations to create common mood boards.

We will also keep constant communication on the Facebook within the group to share our findings and ask questions.

It is important for us to share various different available electronic components we can use as the fashion design will have to be made accordingly to accommodate them.

 

 

LOOKING FOR A CONCEPT

 

PROCESS

We started our second event in the Makers room / Fab Lab / at 8pm on the 26^th of March. Even though it was quite late we got a great attendance with loads of people that came to our first event as well as few newcomers! I was very happy to meet everyone, as I wasn’t able to make it to the first event!

After a brief introduction (where we encourage people to join and post their research and interesting finds about the topic onto our Facebook page) we ground them into what to expect from this event. As we only had two hours we had a plan prepared that would ensure we get the most out of it!

First we divided ourselves into four random groups of five and brainstormed within the group for 30 minutes. Everyone had some ideas ready (as we specified this on the invitation) so the time was sufficient for each group to come up with a bunch of really cool ideas.

After the brainstorming session we put up all the sheets onto the wall and one speaker from each group introduce them to the rest of the participants. We allocated one hour to this part of the event and it was great! So many ideas sparkled up a refreshing discussion that sparkled up new ideas! We kept track of all the ideas for the final vote.

The aim of the evening was to have three concepts for the electronic feature of the garment, so to speak it’s function.

(for example it would lit up if one walks through dark space…or it would make a noise if I am falling asleep…)

No idea was too small or too big or too impossible!

(you can see the list of ideas in the ‘FINDINGS’ section of this post)

When all the groups finished their presentations we all took a short break to get some water and sweets (Thanks Ivor, great idea!) and think about the ideas. To be honest I found it really hard to pick three favourites as there was so many of them!

And then we voted!

 Lucia

FINDINGS

We had a great mix of people so we had an overwhelming amount of ideas from various sectors…entrainment, performance, health and safety, medical, security, gaming, personal assistance, BIO recording, musical…There was no stopping for anyone to think about the form of the garment however that wasn’t the priority of the event. Form will follow function and that will be a task for our next event!

selection of ideas :

SYNCHRONIZED WEARABLE ELECTRONICS

HOT & COLD GAME CLOTHING

Clothing for kids interactive game that would signalize if one is close or far away, with various life saves.

(for example: releasing smoke, becoming invisible…for a chance to run away)

CHAMELEON CLOTHING

Clothes that would scan for color of surrounding backgrounds, other people’s clothing etc. and match the same color or generate complimentary color.

Clear shoes that change accordingly to the outfit by color detection and color display matching.

MOVEMENT DRIVEN CLOTHING

Clothing that would record and analyze movement and react with different effects.

(for example: lit up, make sound, change shape…)

EXPERIENCE ENHANCING CLOTHING

Clothing that would enhance an experience of someone or something else as a part of entertainment or enforcement for sport and gaming.

(for example vibrates for excitement, shock if surprised…)

FESTIVAL CLOTHING

Clothes with festival aesthetic with self expressive or interactive elements

( for example feather headdress with LED effect or mechanical movement function…)

 LIGHT EMITTING SHOES

Shoes would be synchronized within the group or community( Facebook friends, hen night, stags, youth clubs, team nights out…) to lit up when together. They also could animate to dancing, moving or to the music beat or use some other displays of synchronization.

MOOD INDICATION CLOTHING

clothes that would detect mood in some way and display it with LED lights in a form of emoticons or phrase.

(☺/☹/OK/HAPPY/ SAD…)

Potentially for people who have a problem with communicating basic human emotions or for spreading a good mood (for example if I am happy you are happy…)

MECHANICAL WEARABLE ELECTRONICS

CHARGING CLOTHING

Clothes with a build in USB charger that would charge phones and other gadgets by storing solar and / or creating kinetic energy…

STEAM PUNK COSTUME

“Steam” powered clothes  appealing to the eye, that displays number of rotating mini satellite dishes, rotating cogs… and other mechanical or electrical elements

RAIN PROTECTION CLOTHING

Clothes that protects sports people in the rain with automatic ‘umbrella’ like effect, that fits accordingly to the specific sport need by application of rain sensor and mechanical mechanism.

NOTIFYING WEARABLE ELECTRONICS

JIGSAW CLOTHING

Clothing made out  of various pieces that fits into each other to create different shapes. Different kinds of clothing for example top could change from one with collar and short sleeves into one without a collar with long sleeves… transferable elements would have different functions based on  phone various phone notifications. It would notify about emails, texts, fb feeds etc…each in a different manner

LIVE FEED CLOTHING

Clothing with multiple screens which would display live tweets, advertising…

 HEALTH & SAFETY WEARABLE ELECTRONICS

 SAFETY MOTORBIKE JACKET

Jacket that would enhance indicators by use of LED lights for motorbike drivers as a part of fashionable leather biker jacket.

X- RAY PROTECTION CLOTHING

Clothing or method that would protect from x-ray while being light and comfortable to wear.

HEATING / COOLING CLOTHING

Clothes with temperature sensing for health & safety and personal comfort purposes, that uses manual / automatic heater with temperature sensors. For example clothes could  react early if a baby was running a temperature, and start to cool the baby, while raising the alarm to parents. Or clothes for comfort maintaining the body temperature – heating when cold and cooling when warm.

WARNING CLOTHING

Clothes that warns you if you are about to lift something beyond your strength, customized to different limbs. This clothes would use an application of strain-gauge measurement to log data and give immediate feedback to serve as a body protection and movement recording and evaluation device. For example it could also be used to ensure someone follows a prescribed set of exercises given by a physio instruction or in rehabilitation center after sports or accident injury.

LOCATION DETECTING CLOTHING

Discreet and comfortable safety gadget that would be integrated into child’s clothing. It would help parents with young children to help find them if they got lost in a shopping center or perhaps on holidays.

STRESS REDUCING CLOTHING

Clothes that would indicate if one is getting stressed, and perhaps have some soothing reaction or vibration that would encourage him to relax, and de-stress.

ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIVE WEARABLE ELECTRONICS

 BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY CLOTHING

It would scan for weather and shine light accordingly.

(too cloudy it would shine more , too sunny it would shine less, heavy rain – animation of sun etc…)

HEAT SCANNING CLOTHING

Interactive animation on the clothing that would change based on the distance of another person. For example patterns or colors would change as person comes closer or touches the clothing.

 GADGETS

CAMERA CLOTHING

Clothing with build in camera that would take pictures if person has a full hands or is in the rush

TELESCOPIC HEEL

Heels that would automatically lower if shoes are causing pain. Using a sensor to sense the weakness of muscles or a simple timer to reduce height over the time worn.

ITEMS LOCATOR

Gadget that would  find items in bags or other storage spaces
Light up keys /phone by a  touch button/switch in a garment or accessory

ELECTRIFIED GO-GO

Go-go that would straighten your hair / or notify you that your hair looks bad from the back

BIO FEEDBACK ACCESSORY

Pedometer and heart-rate monitor feeding back to a curved display wrapped around the arm.

LISTENING HAT

Hat with build in speakers for convenient entertainment.

ELECTRONIC DISPLAY FEATURE

LED BOOTS

Boots with LED strip around heels, with vertical strips up the height of a pair of knee-high boots, would lit up in accordance to the frequency of movement.

CHANGEABLE PATTERNS

Clothes with full LED light pattern  and motion sensors. Light pattern would change in accordance to a movement while wearing the dress for example fast changes/ when dancing or moving fast and slow subtle changes when walking or dancing slowly.

AUGMENTED REALITY

Simple clothing that would ‘blossom’ under a camera.

LIGHT EMITTING CLOTHING

LED lit ball gown

 

 

 

 

PRESENTATIONS

 

 

 

GET WIRED

ATTIRE’s first event took place last week in Fab Lab. We couldn’t have asked for a more exiting introductory workshop. Presentations went wonderfully and  we got our audience buzzing for whats to come next.

PROCESS

Our speakers gave insight on the project. Mariel spoke about the structure of the workshops, and also gave some conceptually based examples.  Miia told us about the various textiles and also showed us how fabric can be manipulated with the use of the machines available at Fab Lab. Dave talked about the electronics and presented us with information on what can be achieved and Ivor gave an extraordinary end to our presentations telling us about 3D printing and modeling alongside examples of works he had done.

Having tea and cake we mingled and got to know our new collaborators, by the end we left with fully inspired minds and an eagerness to get started. Thank you so much attending. We absolutely cant wait to see you at our Event 02  /LOOKING FOR A CONCEPT / on the 26th of march from 8 -10pm at Fab Lab!

VIDEO

FINDINGS

We got a great mix of collaborators to join our team! Some who came from different parts of Ireland. So far we have 5 people for each of our disciplines – FASHION DESIGN – SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE DESIGN – DRESSMAKING – PRODUCT DESIGN- 3D PRINTING AND MODELING. We are still looking for more people to join us, the bigger the team the bigger the outcome! Make sure if your interest lies in any of these areas to come along to the

next ATTIRE EVENT

 

 

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/events/662960083814369/