When I was on Project Runway there was a “clothes off your back” challenge where you had to make a new outfit out of everything that you were wearing. We were all wearing wireless microphones and I wanted to hack mine and put it in my garment. This prompted a discussion with Tim Gunn over if hacking the microphone was the easiest way to achieve what I wanted. Or was I just using the technology as a gimmick because it was there. It turned out there was an easier way that didn’t involve the microphone.
This is something that I always keep in mind when designing. There is a huge debate over whether tech belongs with fashion or if the combination is gimmicky. Soft circuits are very popular in the craft/DIY realm because there is a certain joy to doing-it-yourself. That’s why I like to play with ham radio instead of just using the internet or a cell phone.
For my line, I don’t want technology to be the focus. I want the focus to be the design. I like to use technology because it offers a way to create real life things that seem like they should be imaginary. It is whimsical and can really make a garment special. This is really what I want to design, something special. Technology is a means to an end. Whether I use technology or not, my products will be special.
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I couldn’t agree more – let the design drive the technology, not the other way around. A while back, I took a metal arts class, and incorporated some surplus fiber optic strands into a sunburst candle holder. My classmates loved it, and made quick work of the remainder of my fiber – but they were coming at it from the opposite angle. Tech for tech’s sake isn’t the objective!
I was a big fan of yours on Project Runway – I think you are absolutely looking at it the right way. But I still think it would be cool if you had some tech-y goodness in the final piece — something that ties back into your line, but you could dim the lights and it just glows like the bioluminescence of a deep sea squid or something
But definitely the design comes first!