Balance Memory Ambition Communication
Spring / Summer 2013 Sophie Baker-Stroud
Introduction The combined use of technology and creativity has become inspiring. Within today's media and economic climate, the focus on the use technology has to enrich interaction, attention and communication plays an important role in our everyday lives. The quest for inner values is growing. Functional objects can be transformed and integrated with digital technology to create an esthetical piece of wearable art, designed with purpose. The amalgamation between fashion, technology, science and design are contrasting notions, with wearable technology defining an emerging trend on the potential digital technologies can have, and the possibilities for new forms of design through the integration with the human body. This practice enters new boundaries and breathes life into today’s functionality, defining a revolution. Each story throughout this book offers insight into this new revolutionary design, comprising of 4 handmade pieces of wearable technology, providing new ways to enrich Ambition, Connection, Balance, and Personal Memories. An eclectic mix of re-born contemporary and vibrant colour and texture inspired by current fashion trends are rejuvenated to uncover 4 inspired trends for Spring/Summer 2013.
“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.� Alan Kay
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Ambition
Connection
Balance
- Desire to achieve
- Join to unite
- Harmonious stability
A leaf grows to represent an achieved goal
Each hand signal represents new forms of communication
Earthy natural tones combined with bold animal print and rough textures
Vibrant matte textures add futuristic qualities with sophisticated bold reds and royal gold
The balance of objects create certainty Sheer overlapping fabrics, with subtle hints of neutral pastel and white tones create a mystical mood
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Memories - Recalling past experience
Scent is held and released Dusky greys and indigo combined with sheer plastics and panelled layering
Balance The tradition of craftsmanship, and functionality creates a piece in the form of a mobile to symbolize balance. With a growing need for sustainability within the current economic climate, recycled sources within design are becoming the new innovation for consumers who are surrounded by today’s recession. Inspired by found objects sourced at Hengistbury Head beach, driftwood, glass, paper and shells create the piece, combined with the use of a light sensor in the form of a bulb. Powdery tone-on-tone colours create shadow effects through the layering of DIY sheer fabrics and light. Neutral translucent pastels and icy tones contrast with hints of vibrant salmon reds, create an insightful Spring / Summer trend.
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“In art and dream may you proceed with abandon. In life may you proceed with balance and stealth.� - Patti Smith
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The below design has been made in the form of a mobile. The idea of this is to monitor balance. When the mobile is held it reacts to the well being and inner balance of the individual holding it. This works in line with the heart rate and pulse. Once the mobile is held it monitors your pulse and reacts to this within the balance of objects. If ‘in-balanced’ the mobile will lean in the direction of the light bulb, which will be lit with subtle light.
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“Moment of Clarity”
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Untypical DIY
Colour Block
Ambition Inspired by growth of our natural environment and habitat, the use of enriching ethnicity have been incorporated within this Spring / Summer trend to symbolize ambition. Recycled plastics and metal, cotton, forest cones, ivy and water make up the accessory in the form of a pendant. Bold animal prints inspired by Prague Zoo combined with rustic woods, slightly faded whites and skin tones with denim textures to mimic a natural mood. A mix of feathers and fabric create a headpiece of yucca elephantipe leaves to blend within the natural tone of the environment.
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“The very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.” - William Shakespeare
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The objects below have been designed to represent ambition. Three adaptations of the pendant are shown below. Each leaf / cone segment grows once an ambition has been succeeded. Each growth represents an achieved goal.
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“She’s a wild thing”
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Eclectic Print
Ethnicity
… What does the term revolutionary mean to you? with Elodie Jovilet at Pecelers Paris - ‘Fashioning the Future’
Q. What does the term revolutionary mean to you in fashion? … Peclers Paris’s expertise is based on 30 years experience in style, design and analysing the
evolution of society. Our jobs is to decipher today’s trend, to picture the future and infuse added meaning to products.
Q. How have Peclers Paris demonstrated this and how can it continue to be achieved? …Our difference is a combination of creative intuition, keen ovservation and solid market insight. From concepts to products, from trend identification to its application, Peclers Paris is the first to sense new impulses, to analzye new options and recommend new creative directions.
with Anya Pearson at Frank + Faith - ‘Fashionable Clothes Ethically Made’
Q. What does the term revolutionary mean to you in fashion? …Revolutionary to us, here at Frank & Faith, means that we are able to revolutionise the way we see and use clothes not just from a creative impact but from a socially conscious perspective too. For me the two go hand in glove. You cannot want to wear and be excited by beautiful clothes if you have no understanding on how and where they were made and by whom.
Q. How have Frank and Faith demonstrated this and how can it continue to be achieved? …Frank & Faith is a small brand, growing year on year but by establishing Frank & Faith we give people a choice and the small changes we make now with our shopping habits will have a huge impact on our futures and even more importantly our children’s futures. So make your money talk, consumers are the reason for the move towards ecologically and socially conscious choices.
Connection Within today’s new media environment, we are surrounded by ways in which to connect. Pushing the boundaries between functional computerized phone and computer technology, this new trend combines the use of technology and imagination, allowing experimentation and expressive potential. Shimmering metallic surfaces, and rich sophisticated reds and royal gold compliment each other to create a refined modern take on 80’s glamour. Gold plated copper wire, recycled plastic, foil, cotton and electronics make up the bracelet that creates connection. DIY wrapping of fabrics compliment the futuristic qualities of this Spring/Summer trend.
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“Beneath words and logic are emotional connections that largely direct how we use our words and logic.� - Jane Roberts
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The below accessory has been designed to provide connection. It has been made in the form of a bracelet / wristband. The bracelet works in line with the movement of the fingers. The copper wire holding an electronic reactor is worn in place to the back of the wrist and reacts to the movement of the bones of the fingers. When a hand signal is gestured, the reactor acknowledges this and sends the information to your social network provider, updating your personal status.
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“Spanish Sahara”
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Metallic Matte
Royal Red + Gold
Memories Inspired by our senses, craft and our climate. This story has been made up of the importance of our inner values, our natural surroundings and our reactions to these. An accessory in the form of a brooch has been created to hold our memories of specific places that represent who we are. Silver beading wire, plastics and metal make up the structure of the brooch. This Spring / Summer trend is brought to life through the quality of attention to detail. A mix of fabrics, and texture including plastics, panelled layering of dark and light coloring collate in an elegant serene manor.
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“Memory... is the diary that we all carry about with us”. - Oscar Wilde
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The below design has been made in the form of a brooch to provide memory. Once pinned into place, the brooch is effectively turned on. The segments of wire holding particles react to the current surroundings by storing the scent in which you are surrounded within, in the metal tube. At any time once activated, the scent can be released.
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“Weather to fly”
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Panelled Layering
Dusky Tones
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Similarly, Leonardo Di Vinci had visions expressed through his drawing, that endeavoured to become inspiration to modern day technologies..