Project Runway star and fashion maven Nick Verreos hosted the the FashionWare runway show presented by Living in Digital Times at CES 2015. The merging of fashion and tech is inevitable and essential.
This color-sensitive extravaganza is Rainbow Winter’s Electric Garden dress is covered in 3D flowers and blossoms which transform in color on whim. Choose your favorite color and watch the color sensor trigger all the blossoms into the new shade.
Designer Amy Winters, founder of Rainbow Winters, is working on her Ph.D. in smart textiles. She explained that if the wearer has on bright pink fingernail polish and places her hand near the dress, the embedded LED lights change colors. The inspiration behind the dress began when, she said, “I was interested in giving a more playful experience to clothing. I want it to be alive.”
Robert Tu, founder of MeU, worked with designer Michael Zoffranieri to create this red evening gown embedded with LED lights. The lights can display images or text that is relayed via Bluetooth through an app and can be changed as often the user’s mood. The lights are encased in fabric pouches and attached to the inside of the dress with Velcro, since the lights aren’t washable. Tu said he’s working on prototypes to use this technology in clothing for cyclists so that they can post a message on their back, such as “Stop” to have a safer cycling experience. “The possibilities are endless. We are open source,” Tu said.
MeU display technology by Robert Tu is built into the laser cut jacket designed by Sam Kong. MeU design technology sends messages, displays logos and even adds LED animation to any design.
The backside of the Sam Kong laser cut jacket with Robert Tu’s MeU display technology.
This evening gown from MeU and Michael Zoffranieri displays messages and animation the user enters through an app.
This Under Armour ColdGear Infrared Henley was part of the tech show, although it doesn’t include specific tech features. It was featured with the Moto 360 smart watch.
Project Runway’s Nick Verreos stands with the models from the FashionWare runway show at CES 2015. Verreos said the MeU tech clothing with messages that the wearer programs into the clothing could prove particularly useful.
“You could propose to your girlfriend just by wearing it. If you’re really shy [say], ‘Read my jacket,'” Verreos said.
Teena Maddox is a VP at Brodeur Partners. She is a former Associate Managing Editor at TechRepublic. Teena's lifelong journalism career has included writing on staff for publications including People magazine, W magazine and Women's Wear Daily.
