Automatically generating crochet patterns

Matt Gilbert, a grad student at Georgia Tech, created a program that automatically generates crochet patterns. Gilbert says that "this experimental work was inspired by the intimate historical ties between textiles and computation, as well as the propagation patterns of acoustics.

On one level, this project is an experiment in appropriating technology for mass production for the purposes of small-scale production, while maintaining a connection between the producer and the produced good. This is what [Gilbert] calls "augmented craft", as distinct from automated production. The computer plays a role, but it does not displace the person." source

Similarly Mashallah Design and Linda Kostowski created incredibly beautiful polygon textile patterns that are generated programmatically using computer 3D modeling. See Digitally printed fashion that I posted last month.

Illuminating heavy-knit dress

Designer Mary Huang created this heavy-knit dress that illuminates a soft white light. Conceptually, there's not much there, but the LEDs that Huang has integrated into the textile makes for a lovely glowing aesthetic. According to Dvice Huang says, "Integrating technology into a wearable piece can often be cumbersome, so in a successful piece, the design must outshine the technology." It should also have some sort of concept. Even so, the LEDs in this implementation are subtle enough that they would be intriguing in a place with dim light, such as a restaurant or lounge, and it makes a pleasing aesthetic.

For more light dresses, see my earlier post on Illuminating textile madness.

Bubelle blush dress reacts to emotions

Philips design probe program has created a variety of projects under the theme SKIN. The concept behind these experimental garments is to investigate the expression of emotion and personality through reactive wearable technology. The futuristic garments "show emotive technology and how the body and the near environment can use pattern and color change to interact and predict the emotional state" of the wearer. 

One of my favorite dresses is the gorgeous Bubelle Blush Dress, which uses biometric sensing technology that senses your emotions on its inner layer and projects them onto the outer layer. The result is a beautiful dress that illuminates light patterns within its textiles and reacts differently to every individual.

source via popgadget, we make money not art

Fashion technology as narrative

Fashion designer Angel Chang combines technology, data visualization, and narrative in a unique way that influences the aesthetics and function of her fashion collections. She's been experimenting with color-changing inks, 3-D images, iPod clothing, and light-up gear in her recent fashion lines to help tell stories about her garments.

"I think of all the ways my generation of women are different from previous generations: we're working more, traveling more, dependent on our cell phones, hooked on the Internet, and obsessively checking our e-mail. In short, we are more mobile and heavily depend on technology for all the things we do in our daily lives. My aim is to show that clothes can actually do something -- beyond just looking good; they ought to facilitate and improve the way we live." she says. 

She uses technology in many ways to create textiles for her garments. In her Spring 2008 collection, she uses a variety of mapping data that she visualizes and turns into textile patterns. For example, this dress uses maps of battlegrounds that she prints using 3D and embroidery:

Chang collaborates with technologists to integrate smart materials and technology into her garments. The below dress from her Fall 2007 collection shows integrated circuitry for an iPod.

Chang also uses smart materials as narrative. In the below dress, she uses thermochromatic inks that disappear when heat is applied to them to tell a story about the history of military camouflage. 

More info via AngelChang.com

Liquid crystal textiles

Fashion designer Joshua Hupper of AlphaMicron is working with liquid crystal technology that he's applying to garments. The technology is similar to that found in many flat-panel HDTV displays. AlphaMicron originally applied the technology to sunglass lenses, which tint when exposed to sunlight or with a push of a button.

But Hupper wanted to go beyond just eyewear by asking: "How could we use [liquid crystal technology] to serve sort of an aesthetic that people hadn't really seen before?" (source). So he began experimenting with the technology by applying them to fabrics. The fringe on the above skirt gradually changes color. And in the dress below, the sequence gets darker when the sunlight shines on them.

 (image source via CNN)

I've seen a lot of experiments with color-changing textiles using thermochromatic inks that change color when heat is applied. However, integrating liquid crystal technology into fabrics could result in a beautiful aesthetic that offers new opportunities for reactive textiles.

Sources via CNN and Business.

Challenging the aesthetics of circuitry

Once again, Leah Buechley, a pioneer in soft circuits and the creator of the LilyPad developers kit, has been experimenting with painted electronics that ultimately challenge the aesthetics of circuitry. She's got a new Flickr set of her painted digital wallpaper installation where she's using multiple LilyPads and conductive paint for the circuitry. I can't wait to see what the final outcome will be.

Last month, we talked about Buechley's paper computing and circuits and Becky Stern's embroidered circuit titled “A Tribute to Leah Buechley“. Both challenge our notion of how circuits can look as well as behave. Read the posting here and see a video of Buechley's paper circuits in action.

Resource via Make Magazine.