Final Prototype

• Project Video

• Final Project Proposal

The main concept of my final project is “water as fashion.” I want to express the fluidity of water in nature by selecting different materials and presenting them through technological forms. The technological elements come from laser-cut wave patterns and 3D-printed shapes inspired by flowing water. The natural quality is conveyed through light, fluttering fabric that imitates the free, organic movement of water. As technology sweeps through our lives, how should we respond to the most essential elements of nature, and how the human body responds to the change? The answer from the dress reveals how technology can reshape our perception of natural elements, not by replacing them, but by reframing the ways we feel, inhabit, and interact with them. Fashion designer Ying Gao believes that both technology and fashion are fragile and easy to be outdated, yet the integration of electronic technologies into fashion can transform the creative process itself. This is what my project seeks to explore. Returning to the essence of things through technological forms, allowing the human body to exist within technology and within fashion.

• Research & Development

  • inspirations from artists

• • • Documentation of Process

• • Conclusion & Next Steps

Throughout the process of creating this prototype, the biggest challenge I encountered was translating imagination and sketches into reality. There are so many uncertainties involved. For example, how should I cut the fabric so it fits the curves of the human body? How should I design the way of wearing so that it can be truly wearable? How can I hide the motor and circuitry naturally beneath such thin material? My mechanism also needs improvement as I still need to guide the fish wires so they won’t stuck together. What I have been able to achieve is producing the pattern I imagined, but I still need to think further about how to integrate it into the overall dress without making it look disconnected. At this stage, the piece does not yet match what I imagined, and it still requires a lot of improvement. But one thing I really love is the freedom I allowed the fabric to have, I mean the way it moves and sways naturally. I’ve learned so much through this process, such as how to draft patterns on a mannequin, and how to manipulate and secure fabric to create the folds I want. Many new ideas also emerged during prototyping. This project truly pushed me to think about how my work can be applied in real-world contexts, and I’ve enjoyed that process deeply.

In the next three weeks, I will rebuild the skirt using other fabric. I’ve also decided to incorporate a light sensor to make it interactive. I’ll place the light sensor at the shoulder, and add tulle inside the lower half of the dress, with LED lights inside. When the person senses light, the LEDs inside the dress will illuminate, and together with the TPU “waves” beside them, the effect will resemble sunlight shimmering across the surface of water (in Chinese we call it 波光粼粼). I also plan to create a 3D model for a bodice and print it with clear material. Additionally, I’ll think about how to add a lining to the dress to prevent from being see-through. I think that the day I can finally wear my work, I will be really proud of myself.