Now available: Fashionable tech report

Dr. Sabine Seymour of Moondial has released another fashionable technology report which focuses on the intersection between design, fashion, science and technology. The report is published twice a year. It will set you back 100 bucks, but it's worth the investment. Here's her latest: "SCIENTIFIC FASHION concentrates on scientific explorations that manifest themselves in bioart, research projects, and product explorations focusing on the body as metaphor. It touches upon the history of synthetic biology and exposes ethical implications. The chapter second skin features BioLace from Carole Collet, sneakers from Rayfish are displayed in artificial extensions, and the project Hylozoic Ground by Rachel Armstrong and Philip Beesley is an example presented in synthetic senses. 59 Pages." Continue reading on moondial.com

Images from moondial.com

Sabine Seymour publishes a new book

I met with Sabine Seymour at the Smart Fabrics conference in Miami this year where she told me about a sequel to her highly acclaimed book 'Fashionable Technology' (Springer 2008) titled Functional Aesthetics. After the torturous wait for the book to be ready, it's finally available the end of this month! It will definitely be a requirement for every wearable technology designer's library. Pre-order it here. "Functional Aesthetics ... contains new state-of-the-art and revealing artistic and design examples focusing on the aesthetic and functional aspects. Chapters like Contextual Prerequisite, Body Sculpture, or Transparent Sustainability provide in-depth studies of often visionary projects seen as stimulation for new developments in the matured field of 'Fashionable Technology'. The book presents inspiring projects between the poles of fashion, design, technology, and sciences. It includes a list of relevant information on DIY resources, publications, inspirations, etc." continue reading.

Image from amazon.

Sabine Seymour talks about the future of wearables

Piem Wirtz interviews Sabine Seymour at V2_lab as they discuss the history of wearable and what they think will come next in 2010 and beyond. Seymour gives a brief, yet intriguing analysis of where she thinks fashionable technology (as she defines "wearables") is heading. "Before 1995 we had the Steve Mann type of wearables, made from an engineer-technology perspective by computer science people. In 1995 Maggie Orth made her Firefly dress... In 2010 we need to have a second wave, which is the wave of well designed, well executed fashionable wearables that have the ability to convey a story..."

...and reach a broader market. Seymour talks about how designers, artists and DIYers use labs for experimentation, which aid in the refinement of their craft and build knowledge. She then goes on to discuss what it will take to get the explorations to the next level and toward a broader audience.

This interview is definitely worth the read. Continue reading on V2_Lab.

More about Sabine Seymour: Fashionable Technology (her book): fashionabletechnology.org Moondial (her studio): moondial.com Photo from V2_Lab