Fashion vs. Machine: Hi-Tech Textiles ~ Trend de la Creme - Trends in fashion, style, beauty, design, and popular culture.

Photo: Clayton Cubitt for Metropop

I am continually amazed (and inspired) by the artists and designers who push the technological envelope. Here are three focusing specifically on textiles that deserve a look:

International Fashion Machines (IFM)

IFM is the brainchild of artist and technologist Maggie Orth. Their 'Plush' Touch sensing technology literally weaves, tufts, sews and embroiders electronic yarns and materials directly into fabric, making the fabric itself a sensor, and transforming it from purely decorative to something that’s uniquely functional. From textile-based home products to one-of-a-kind color change artworks, IFM is forging a new direction in contemporary design.

CuteCircuit

CuteCircuit was founded in 2004 by Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz and focuses on the fields of Wearable Technology and Interaction Design. CuteCircuit products are wearable technologies and smart textile-based intelligent garments that create emotionally rich experiences for consumers in the fashion, sport and communication markets. Keep an eye out for their new interactive fashion collection already underway for 2008.

The Cloth Clinic

Founded by Janet Stoyel, The Cloth Clinic specializes in the creation of unique decorative materials. Two of their hi-tech patented processes were specifically designed to exclude the use of dyes and chemicals and wet processes. Instead, Photon Laser and Ultrasound technology modify the molecular structure and textural qualities to transform surface colouration. The resulting materials are magical, rich and opulent.

Also, be sure to check out these intelligent fabrics from the 2007/2008 Premiere Vision textile show in France. (And since we're on the topic of futuristic fashion, I put together a short list of handmade, future-inspired accessories that caught my eye.)