Shower Curtain

This is the shower curtain that changes when wet. When the water hits the white parts of the curtain it turns colourful, as the shower curtain turns dry it goes back to normal again.

Fairy Lights

After experimenting with the glow in the dark embroidery thread, I decided to experiment with fairy lights, still using tights to experiment with.

My photographs havent came out very good here.

My idea is something that will grow brighter the darker it becomes. I tried to portray this however the fairy lights I had could only either be off or on, therefore it didnt really work. I would like to try my idea in different ways and maybe use stop motion animation to record something getting brighter as it becomes darker.

Glow in the Dark Embroidery Thread

I decided to steer away from thinking about everyday garments, and started experimenting with tights. I bought some glow in the dark embroidery thread and sewed into some skin coloured tights.

I photographed the embroidery thread by itself and it seemed to glow really well. However when I photographed the tights which I had sewn into the camera didn't pick up the glow. I think that maybe I need to either take the photo in a darker place or learn more about photographing it as I'm maybe using the wrong setting.

 

Unexpected climate change.

The focus;  the concept of creating a dress that reacts to weather change.

 

Colour changing clothing

Here I have found an idea that fits in with the group idea really well. Below are two pictures of dresses designed by the company Rainbow Winters. The dress changes colour due to sunlight hitting it. For example, The flowers in the left side picture are plain white and not in sunlight, however as the dress hits sunlight it reacts and changes colour.

I decided to focus on the light/dark problem, researching various smart textiles and designers/artists. At first I started playing around with glow in the dark paint, but at some point I came a cross a fashion designer, Ying Gao, who had created a light responsive, moving dress. I was really inspired by this, and wanted to look in to it further. I started imagining our clothes resembling a flower, in terms of being closed at night and open in the daytime. You would have details in the clothing that unfold and become visible in daylight. I don't really know how I can make a connection between this idea and pollution yet though...   

I had a go at creating a simple white top that would start to grow and change, and continue to do so for the rest of the day, once you step outside in the morning.  

Glow in the dark paint

I have been experimenting with glow in the dark paint onto different fabrics. I experimented with dots to see what the result would be. I then exposed them to light to allow the paint to react and then turned the lights off to see how well they glowed. Some fabrics worked better than others. I took photos however my camera didnt pick up some of the reactions very well.

Experiment 1.

I've been experimenting with stop motion and dresses that react with a number of scenarios.

I created a template of a concept that changes shape and design when reacted with heat, the idea behind this is an all in one garment for all weather conditions, which has built in thermometres that controles the style of dress by becoming cooler or warmer for whoever is wearing it.

 

 

Just a preview of a few of the still images that capture the growth of the garment.

 

 









embedded temperature sensors

Elena Corchera

 Fashion that incorporates organic solar cells. These cells charge when you go out in the day wearing them and when you get back home they transform into a decorative ambient light display for the home. When they are brightening things up for you they use nothing more that what they gained during the day.



Ying Gao

'Based on specific triggers of movement, wind and touch, each item moves in it’s own way, expanding, contracting and articulating in a way rarely seen in clothing'

Ive done more research into the designer to find out how exactly her clothing moves, she uses light sensitive fibres and small motors. Unable to access these mysef ive decided to digital effect the garments and fabrics by taking a series of photos using stop motion



Science meets fashion

Amy Winters

"Her trick is to wield technology the way a couturier wields a needle and thread. Much of the line, including the Mondrian coat, is printed in a patented, light-sensitive ink. Sunlight and ultraviolet rays alter the molecular structure of the ink, changing the fabric?s color. Take UV Blue Textile Ink Water, which appears invisible during the day but glows electric blue under a black light at night. But the dazzler here, the head-trippy Picasso dress (slide five), lights up to music thanks to electroluminescent (EL) technology and a sound-reactive sensor. Sound triggers the sensor, zapping EL panels attached to the dress with an electrical current. The current charges phosphor crystals pressed between conductors. Then the crystals radiate light, illuminating a Cubist pattern printed on top. Et voila: a Picasso Explosion"

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1664086/science-meets-fashion-in-amy-winters-s-light-reactive-clothes

I came accross her when i was researching into Reactive clothing and thought those who discussed using paints and inks might find it useful.

Each one either reacts with light,sound or moisture.

Stop Motion Images

Here are some images of the stop motion videos ive been experimenting with:

Experimenting with a real flower - the flower starts off as a bud and then gradually becomes a flower

Below I experimented with stop motion by drawing out the design already in black and white and then it gradually gaining colour. The second picture shows the design when all the colour has built up

Images of the process of stop motion

I did a stop motion of a flower growing up the page - if it were on a garnment it would start at the bottom and gradually work its way up the garnment

Images of the process of stop motion

Attempting to make fabrics water resistant

For this experiment I used another spray that is meant to make leather and suede water resistant. I used it on denim, cotton (printed and calico with machine embroidery on), felt i made and a synthetic fabric with a heat press design on. I used fabrics with added features, embroidery and heat press, to see if it would affect the outcome. Here is what happened...

All the materials became water resistant, so this spray works on more than just leather and suede. The synthetic fabric was the most water resistant, but I think that is beacause it was the most resistant when I tested them without being sprayed. The resistance of the felt suprised me the most, massive globules of water collected and sat on the surface for over twenty minutes without being absorbed.

Although this experiment worked out really well for my project, I realised that I do not want to use a technology for water resistance that has already been created and manufactured. Even though I have used it in a way that was not meant for it, it's still not my own enough.

Water resistance

I got the idea of using spray plaster (it's water and dirt resistant for covering minor cuts) to make a kind of shell of a body part, thinking I would be able to peel away the spray after it dried. Unfortunately it did not work out as planned- it merely made my finger cold and scaly. So this idea failed, even after numerous aplications of the spray plaster it was still impossible to peel  away.

Scaly dry spray plaster