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written by FashioningTech Contributor
Have your say in the Face of Australia National Costume Competition:
 
Head to the sunrise website where you will my design (A) as one of four finalist selected to design the National Costume. The winner is decided by public votes, and the design with the most votes will be worn by Miss Universe Australia 2012 – Renae Ayris at the Miss Universe Pagent in Las Vegas in December this year.
 
Please Support DESIGN A to help me win this amazing career opportunity by 9am tommorrow on the Sunrise Website
 
 
Thanks for you support!
 
Jess
 
http://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/competitions/face-of-australia/
November 17, 2012 0 comment
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Fashion

Chronolien: An Interactive Wearable

written by FashioningTech Contributor

 

Chronolien is created by Mui Rui Yi, as part of her final year project for her degree in Interactive Art at LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore.

It is an interactive wearable created in response to the question “How would time behave in the 21st century?”. A behavioural element as what is proposed as befitting of the identity of time is incorporated, serving as a commentary on the concept of Time.

Inspired by the concept of Rapid Plant Movement, the wearable represents time in 2 states; the first representing the luxury of time in a natural environment and the second state, which puts the user in an assertive hands-on-hips position, symbolises the rush for time in an urban setting.

It connotes two main concepts. Firstly, that it is a representation of time, which is grand and gold when we have lots to spare (inspired by Robert Frost’s Nothing Gold Can Stay) but closes its doors on us when we need more of it, especially in the urban environment where technology rules, the concept of time seems to go alot faster than compared to the natural setting. Secondly, that it is time, to do whatever one wants, to not procrastinate and take firm control of it.

November 8, 2012 0 comment
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Fashion

FLUTTER at ISWC 2012

written by FashioningTech Contributor

Feel your surroundings – Flutter was created by Halley Profita, Nicholas Farrow, and Professor Nikolaus Correll at the University of Colorado – Boulder.

An extraordinary fusing of textiles and robotics, Flutter received First Prize for both Best in Show and Most Inclusive and Usable Design at the 2012 International Symposium on Wearable Computer’s Design Exhibition in Newcastle, England.

Inspired to aid individuals with hearing impairments, Flutter gives vibrotactile feedback in the direction of a loud sound or alarm to help those with hearing loss respond more intuitively to their external environment. Common assistive technologies, such as hearing aids or cochlear implants, have a profoundly negative footprint that often results in abandonment of the technology.

Flutter was conceived to overturn the negative personification of assistive technology by producing an ethereal and functional garment that calls attention to the beauty of the device, not the disability.

Flutter’s bodice is constructed using cotton and polyester textiles and an inner framework of embedded microphones that network together to determine frequencies and their amplitude of incoming sounds. The microphones collectively agree on the direction of sound and, in turn, actuate small vibration motors in the leaflets to simulate fluttering in the direction of the auditory cue.

 

Further information on the implementation of the technology can be found here: http://correll.cs.colorado.edu/?p=2315 or http://halleyprofita.wordpress.com/projects/.

July 30, 2012 0 comment
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Interviews

Midi Controller Jacket Demo & Interview about the jacket itself

written by FashioningTech Contributor

 

Working on the Midi Jacket has been a great challenge. After more than 6 months of investigation and different versions of the jacket we are finally approaching the final version.

 

MACHINA’s launch had a special musican guest to modify, interact and play with the Midi Controller Jacket. His name is Moi from a band called “Los Macuanos”. Los Macuanosare a definition of “latin” and “tropical” music emphasizing experimental and radical mix in their tunes. 

 

Working with a musician gave us the opportunity to have a broad input on the characteristics of the jacket and his opinion about the functionality. Later in the video you can see MACHINA’s electronic artist Leslie Garcia interview Moi about his conception of interacting a full week on the jacket. 

 

The jacket seen on the video is not the only model. There is 5 other design jacket models with the same midi controller technology to be seen.

 

MACHINA (@M_A_C_H_I_N_A) will soon be selling the jacket in two different colors with and without the technology through www.machina.cc

 

For more detailed information of the MACHINA’s Midi Controller Jacket check out my previous post or stay put for more!

June 22, 2012 0 comment
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“SmartPurse”

written by FashioningTech Contributor

https://www.etsy.com/listing/100408150/iphone-pursedroid-purse-crossbody

The SmartPurse is a purse for the future. Don’t you hate constantly digging through your bag to find your phone and then realizing you don’t have any new texts? With the SmartPurse you know exactly where your phone is and can respond to texts, play music, or simply check the time without ever having to search for your phone in the depths of your purse! 
-Have easy access at all times to your iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone 3gs, iPhone 3, iPod, Droid, or other touchscreen phone! 
-Front pocket for extra easy access
-Protect your phone from scratches from keys or rain when outdoors
-Use all touch capabilities without taking your phone out
-Designer Fabric (Amy Butler 100% Cotton)
-Know that your phone is secured (zipper closure)
-Keep your phone concealed with the protective flap 

May 23, 2012 0 comment
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Fashion

Midi Controller Jacket

written by FashioningTech Contributor

M_A_C_H_I_N_A is a wearable technology brand that merges fashion and technology in a practical and visually appealing way.

We are creating a world where wearable technology is no longer a novelty item.

M_A_C_H_I_N_A uses the existing culture around cutting –  edge technology to create a menswear fashion brand with wearable technology.

One of our products is a MIDI CONTROLLER JACKET that will hook up to a tablet or a smart phone.  It has 3 position sensors, an accelerometer, and flex sensors.  It can be used for performances, to create and mix music.

The sounds will be replaceable by different sets (of different genres) and the software will be modifiable so that it can be used to control other types of devices (mixing video, for example).
M_A_C_H_I_N_A’s principles are functionality, design and usability.  
We are currently selling t-shirts with thermochromic and photochromic ink at http://machina.cc.  (Well, only one as of now but in a couple of weeks we’ll have 4 more up).  They all center around freedom of speech and freedom of information.  
More products to talk about soon… for more information @M_A_C_H_I_N_A
May 7, 2012 0 comment
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Materials

Graduate Collection 2012- Heriot Watt University: School of Textiles & Design

written by FashioningTech Contributor

The recent trend for haute-tech clothing really interested me and I wanted to explore the possibilities of integrating different types of technology into performance costume.

I wanted to produce a set of garments that were visually appealing, incorporating some type of smart technology but remained fairly comfortable and functional for the purposes of a performance on stage.

Due to these restraints I could really make some visually striking clothing, but had to carefully think about the comfort factor, especially with the edition of power-boards in the LED Bodysuit. For this outfit and the LED Jumpsuit I used Kitronik sew-able light kits.

Also, for the EL Jacket, many technical difficulties were constantly being fought against, with the technology still remaining vastly temperamental. Glowsafe wire was used for it’s sew-able lip which made manufacture very easy. On this garment a battery belt is worn underneath to power the wires.

For the Photochromic Bodice I used a specifically designed filament which changes from either transparent to purple or orange under ultra-violet light. This filament was made by a research postgraduate student at my University.

Overall I am really pleased with the final outfits as I feel they could be worn by a female performer for one or two songs to really push the boundaries of how a singer or artist communicates with their audience and fans. In today’s competitive performance industry, it is becoming more and more important to show that you have a unique vision and a clear style that pushes the boundaries of the norm. Wearable technology is slowly becoming more a more popular to further push these boundaries.
Find more photos like this on Fashioning Technology

April 8, 2012 0 comment
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Uncategorized

“Digitized collection” by Alba Prat

written by FashioningTech Contributor

After her first  project “Synthetic Oceans”, the spanish fashion designer Alba PRAT come back with a new incredible collection “Digitized”.

Inspired by the first Tron film of 1982, she kept the futurist concept, androgynous aspect and straight silhouettes in her design pieces with the touch of the avant-garde glamour and under the futuristic shapes and laser-cuts.

Through various techniques, she has created cube patterns on the surface of some of the materials  : wool, leather or cotton and neoprene.

March 4, 2012 0 comment
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