10 Places To Get Your Fashion Fix At Maker Faire

Designers are always pushing the boundaries with fashion and the place to see this happening is Maker Faire Bay Area. Every year there is always something interesting to see. People are continuously experimenting with new ways to upcycle old clothing and incorporate technology into designs that stretch the imagination.

Last year, fashiontech designer Anouk Wipprecht dazzled the crowd when she showed off her Faraday cage dress while engaging the Tesla coils onstage. This year, there will be plenty of fascinating fashion that you won’t want to miss. Check out this collection of 10+ fun exhibits and make sure you add them to your list so you don’t pass them by.

1. Imagining Wearables Showcase

Wearable technology is evolving rapidly and Maker Faire Bay Area 2015 is the place to see the new and interesting creations people are designing. To make it easier on attendees, there will be an exhibition of wearable tech from makers, artists, designers, researchers, and inventors. Expand your knowledge on how technology can enhance fashion with the different clothes and accessories that will be on display at the Imagining Wearables Showcase.

2. MetaWear

MetaWear co-founder Laura Kassovic was inspired to combine her love for sewing and soldering to create fun wearables. If you want to be able to try out, touch, and play with new wearable tech, then you’ll want to make sure to check them out at the faire. MetaWear is going to show off many awesome projects including heated hoodies, headbands that let you know when you have received a traumatic blow, light-up and neopixel jewelry, and a sun hat that knows when you need to re-apply sunscreen. Make sure to check them out if you want to hear more about what they have done and how you can make your own wearables.

3. KikiMaker’s e-Fashions

Annika Lo has been a maker since she was just a toddler. When she was only six years old, she received the book Fashioning Technology which sparked an interest in soft circuits that has only grown over time. Her exhibit will consist of various pieces of clothing that she designed and sewed herself. She combines soft-circuits and lights powered by Lilypad Arduinos to make some pretty fun creations.

4. Sunol Glen School Trashion Collective

 
Sunol Glen School Trashion Collective first started during Earth Week in 2007. They had see Trashion shows popping up all over and were inspired to start a group of their own. They have since grown exponentially and become an annual group of K-8th graders that creates fashion from trash. They concentrate on reusing, designing, mathematics, engineering, fashion construction, and have recently explored using trash plastics in 3D printing. What started as a one time event has blossomed into something bigger because of the enthusiasm it generated in its participants. Last year they took part in the Maker Faire’s TrasHion Show and they plan to do it again this year. Make sure you stop by to check them out and be inspired.

5. Illuminated Wearable Art

Tatiana Elliston has been combining technology and fashion since 2006. She has made quite a name for herself since and is an award winning Bay Area fashion designer. She has a background in engineering and her experience has enabled her to make many amazing fashion designs that incorporate EL wire and LEDs. With small battery backs hidden in pockets, she is able to light up the runways with her illuminating designs. At Maker Faire, Elliston will be showing off her original costumes and accessories.

6. Miss Velvet Cream: Neo-Couture Clothing

Scatha G. Allison has been participating in the Bay Area Maker Faire since 2006. Previously, Allison has found great inspiration in the energy and enthusiasm that the Maker Faire generates. Over the years, she has participated in various fashion and trashion shows, vending, booths, and presentations. She is excited to return to the faire to show off her new clothing line: Miss Velvet Cream. With her neo-couture clothing, she wants to show off her new designs that incorporate upcycled clothing and unusual materials including plastics and organic matter. Make sure to stop by to see what she has been up to.

7. To Green and Beyond

Rajee Shah is only 14 years old, but she has already accomplished so much. In December of 2013, she started a (unregistered) non-profit organization called To Green And Beyond. Rajee has always loved making and it was when she started making paper earrings that she discovered what she wanted to pursue: upcycling. She began making her jewelry from recycled materials and decided to focus on the green aspect of jewelry making. From the money she earned when she participated in Maker Faire last year she was able to sponsor a girl from Tech Trek. This year, she is hoping to earn even more so she will be able to sponsor another.  

8. The Future of Festival Fashion / Steampunk Hatter

Two great California-based companies will be showing off their fashionable leather accessories at Maker Faire this year: The Future of Festival Fashion and Steampunk Hatter.

The two inspiring people behind The Future of Festival Fashion are Arianna Feldman and Trevor Tarin, also known as the Mad Hatter. Along with their small team of Makers, they have been showing off their signature leather top hats, festival belts, and feather adornments at Burning Man, the Edwardian Ball, and numerous music festivals around America. Now, they are back to show off their amazing creations at this year’s Maker Faire.

Steampunk Hatter is the steampunk line from a bigger company: Head ‘N Home. This group truly is family-based as it all started with dad, Gary Watrous, and has grown to include more of the family including Uncle Lee, son (Garth), daughter (Heather aka Mack), and mom (Merry-Lee). Their Steampunk brand was born in 2010 when Mack started designing and developing the steampunk style. Her fresh outlook “catapulted Head ‘N Home forward into the past century.”

9. Cinder Garden Steampunk

Judi Morales Gibson is a indie designer, firm believer in recycling, and creator of Cinder Gardens Steampunk Designs. For over 10 years, she has attended Burning Man where she has found inspiration for her upcycled steampunk clothing. She creates stunning designs using no new fabrics. She designs both clothing and accessories for men, women, and children. Some of her most popular items include Utila-Bustles, Bedsheet Bloomers, and Upcycled Wraps. She has also recently introduced quality top hats into her collection. Make sure to stop by and check out her affordably chic designs.

10. Steadcraft: Timely Fashion

Grant Diffendaffer has been fascinated with ornamental, wearable arts for a long time. He enjoys combining digital technology with handcrafted designs by utilizing 3D printing, CNC embroidery, metal clay, and natural materials. At his Maker Faire booth he will be selling products and giving demonstrations of their Printrbot 3D printer, moldmaking process, and CNC embroidery machine. He’s going to have a lot to share, so make sure you don’t miss out.

*Bonus* Swap-O-Rama-Rama

You can’t have a post about fashion at Maker Faire Bay Area without mentioning the Swap-O-Rama-Rama. It is a huge clothing swap that encourages people to upcycle their used clothing into something new and amazing. This year there will be workshops by local designers to teach you fun and exciting ways to make old fashions new again. Make sure to check out the different presentations and demonstrations so you can make the most of what you have and don’t miss out on the Maker Faire’s TrasHion Show which will feature fun upcycled fashions by local designers of all ages.