Constructing Designs for Fairytale Fashion

I am getting ready for my first NYC runway show, the Fairytale Fashion Show, on February 24th at Eyebeam. I am writing about some of the preparations, on CRAFT and Make: Online. This show will be a technology fashion collection developed at FairytaleFashion.org, where technology is used to turn make-believe into reality.

This week I am finishing up some last minute sewing. There’s been a lot of work going into LED embroidered garments. I’ve been laser cutting stencil for our conductive thread circuit patterns. I’m using disappearing ink to trace them onto the fabric. Then I hand sew twinkle pads and LEDs using silverized thread. I think it is a nice touch that the circuits are embroidered with silverized thread instead of steel treated thread (which also happens to be less conductive). I am thinking about selling some of the garments later on.

I am also finishing up all the garments. My assistant Meredith Zuchman is helping to cut out our deployable structure jacket, which has a deployable hood. I can never find my pattern weights, so we usually use things around the workspace. I finished up the inflatable dress, which I am testing in the photo above. I like to use portable mattress inflators for my inflatable clothing.
I’ll be back after the Fairytale Fashion show with a recap of the event with lots of photos!