Introducing the first 3D printed bikini

[gallery]Continuum Fashion has launched a new project called N12, which is the first 100% 3D printed and ready-to-wear garment in the shape of a cute little bikini. To get it ready for printing, Rhino 3D CAD software and a specially written algorithmic script are used to create the structure of the 3D printed fabric. The material used to print (N12, which is where the name derives from) is a waterproof Nylon that can be printed on 3D printing machine. Due to the properties of the material, Continuum says that it's the first bikini that actually gets more comfortable when wet.

The bikini's design fundamentally reflects the beautiful intricacy possible with 3D printing, as well as the technical challenges of creating a flexible surface out of the solid nylon. Thousands of circular plates are connected by thin springs, creating a wholly new material that holds its form as well as being flexible. The layout of the circle pattern was achieved through custom written code that lays out the circles according to the curvature of the surface. In this way, the aesthetic design is completely derived from the structural design.” Mary Haung, Continuum Fashion

Sign me up, I would certainly love to try it out!

Continue reading on Shapeways. Images from Shapeways.

A more fashionable spin on the solar-powered bag

[gallery]There are a lot of products out there that attach solar panel cells to the outside of a bag to generate power for your devices. But up until now, they have been mostly messenger bags and backpacks. DIFFUS is changing that by offering a more fashionable spin on the solar-powered hand bag. And what I really love about this product is that the designer carefully considered the implementation of the technology, which helps to inform the aesthetics of the design:

"Instead of placing a single flexible thin film solar module onto the side of a bag, the designers of the DIFFUS Solar Handbag have distributed 100 smaller monocrystalline silicon solar cells over the surface of the bag to resemble oversized sequins. The surface of the bag is also embroidered with a combination of normal embroidery and conductive embroidery that transfers the energy harvested by the "solar sequins" to a lithium-ion battery hidden away within a small compartment."

Continue reading on Gizmag. Photos from Gizmag.

Nancy Tilbury fashion phreaks

[gallery]Wearable technology designer, Nancy Tilbury, has recently launched a project called Fashion Phreaking, which is new form of contextualizing Smart Clothing and Intelligent Cloth. "Most ‘Smart Fashion’ is currently awkward, unwieldy, burdensome, weighty, clumsy and self-conscious, where sportswear is surging ahead." Nancy Tilbury's approach aims to make clothing more valuable and sustainable by integrating playful technologies. Fashion Phreaking integrates playful technologies, conductive textile networks and soft switching into denim garments. The result is a new "digital skin" designed to give fabrics and jewelry extended body communication to the viewer and wearer. More at fashionphreaking Images from fashionphreaking For event photos, go to fashionphreaking Live!

The Illuminated fashion line-up

[gallery] From the stage to the shelves, illuminated clothing seems to be paving the way right now for wearable technology to reach a wider audience. As I was once skeptical about "blinking" garments, these designers are integrating lights in ways that connect emotionally, making this an exciting area in wearable technology. Here's a line-up of incredible explorations along with products that are making it to market:

Vega Jacket by Angella Mackey One of the first illuminated garment to make it to market! This absolutely gorgeous jacket includes integrated lights that help you get around town safely on your bike. "Whether for fun, fashion or visibilty at night, it can be for commuting by foot or riding on a bicycle. However you express yourself, this is something new and exciting to play with—a unique addition to your wardrobe." Continue reading.

Black-Eye Peas Super Bowl couture by Anouk Wipprecht In collaboration with Bea Akerlund, they created stage outfits embedded with technology for the Black-Eye Pea's Super Bowl half time performance. The garments included Luminex shoes worn by the lead singer, Fergie, that Anouk created with master shoemaker Rene van den Berg. Continue reading.

I'm Not A Robot collection by Moon Berlin A collection of illuminated garments created by Brigitte Franken and Christian Bruns of Moon Berlin. The collection includes dresses, tops, and pants with integrated lights and illuminating woven fibers. Continue reading.

Into the Deep collection by Vega Wang This gorgeous collection that consist of light-emitting garments. “The concept for my collection came from watching a BBC DVD called Deep Blue." Continue reading her interview.

Kenetic Dress by CuteCircuit The KineticDress captures the wearer’s movements and interaction with others and display this data through the electroluminescent embroidery that covers the external skirt section of the dress. Continue reading.

Pedal Pusher by Syuzi Pakhchyan In collaboration with Magdalena Paluch, Pedal Pusher is an ongoing investigation into the biking community for women. The stylish shoe illuminates for safetey and is powered by the bike's pedals. Continue reading.

Stage and red-carpet couture by CuteCircuit CuteCircuit has been creating a collection of stage and red-carpet couture including a hand pleated silk chiffon dress embedded with over 5400 LEDs, and displays video from a real-time stream for Safura, Katy Perry's illuminated red carpet dress for the MET Ball, and NYC Boys debut performance trousers and shirts that changed color and brightness in synchronicity with the choreographed performance. All controlled in realtime by the lighting DJ. Continue reading.

Chris Brown lights up the stage

[gallery] Illuminated clothing has been exploding on the stage recently from Tron's drool-worthy illuminated costumes,  CuteCircuits Illuminated performance couture, to Anouk Wipprecht's illuminated Black-Eye Peas Super Bowl couture, light-up clothing seems to be paving the way for wearable technology. The latest on-stage sighting is Chris Brown's performance on Dancing With The Stars that included light-embedded clothing on him and his supporting dancers. Watch the lights synchronize to the movements in this vid:

Exploring soft sensors and eTextiles

[gallery] The DIY community and small research studios around the world are continuously pushing the boundaries on the possibilities of eTextiles. Here are some interesting projects and sensors that are being explored:

Bodyinterface introduces various wearable/installation projects done by SIAT soft-circuit research group members in Simon Fraser University as well as projects from the Body Interface course in the same university. Inspired by Hannah Perner-Wilson’s stroke sensor, they're investigating their own which sense when they are touched and stroked. (images)

Hannah Perner-Wilson at Plusea investigates stroke sensors made out of carefully crafted conductive threads:

She is also exploring interesting resistive fabric sensors that can bend and be washed:

And one of my favorite, also from Perner-Wilson, combines craft and technology by knitting a sensor that measures stretch:

If you want to dive in and start doing your own exploration, Lynne Bruning has an informative video that covers the basic materials that you need to start creating and prototyping your own:

Images from bodyinterface.