A Fusion of Fashion and Technology CuteCircuit

CuteCircuit combines technology with fashion by using LED lights, computing, sensors, and smart textiles to make interactive, flashy apparel. Their clothing is often described as, interactive, especially because they dabble with iPhones, motion sensors, and GPS technology. (Kinetic) Introduction

The founders of CuteCircuit, Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz met when Rosella had trouble pitching her unconventional ideas to Valentino and Espirit. Genz is an interface designer who was inspired by wearable technology at the Interaction Design Institute Ivrea. (Holmes)Interaction Design Institute Ivrea They met together and decided to make their own line. Beginnings of the Small Company

Their achievements include, the Hug Shirt, that sends a physical simulation of a hug from one shirt to another. This involved sensors and new fabrics to circumvent the problem of using wires that would not be washable or comfortable. Another product in progress is the T-Shirt OS; a programmable LED shirt that can display anything, play music, connect to the internet, and take videos. (The World’s) All of their products are washable. They made an evening gown for Katy Perry that had 3,200 extremely flat LEDs so that they feel comfortable against the skin. Silk and silk chiffon made the dress glow softly with a romantic feel. 1

The K-dress was designed so that the dress lights up according to the wearer’s movements. For instance, when the wearer is sitting down, the dress is dormant. When the person stands up to walk around or dance, it lights up. This dress is chargeable through a USB. (Pink) K-Dress

In the future, I think the tangible smart phones we carry around will disappear. I think it would be replaced by smaller technology that can be embedded into apparel, so that the human does not have to worry about breaking, losing their technology. Conclusion

Holmes, K. (n.d.). Designing Tech Couture For Katy Perry: A Q&A With CuteCircuit | The Creators Project. Retrieved April 20, 2015, from igning-tech-couture-for-katy-perry-a-qa- with-cutecircuit igning-tech-couture-for-katy-perry-a-qa- with-cutecircuit The World’s First Programmable LED T-Shirt. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2015, from the-worlds-first-programmable-led-t-shirt/ the-worlds-first-programmable-led-t-shirt/ Movie: CuteCircuit on smart textiles and digital fashion. (2014, August 29). Retrieved April 20, 2015, from -francesca-rosella-cutecircuit-digital-fashion- smart-textiles/ Kinetic and cameleon garments. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2015, from make-money-not- art.com/archives/2004/11/cute-circuit- an.php#.VTRWbSgbhk0http://we- make-money-not- art.com/archives/2004/11/cute-circuit- an.php#.VTRWbSgbhk0 Pink & Blush K Dress. (2010, December 20). Retrieved April 20, 2015, from dress/ Works Cited