03 Sketches & Road Mapping¶
Ideation & sketches¶
Brain Storm¶
While I was working on my concept, I had a lightbulb moment: what if these dresses were more than just, well, dresses? What if they had personalities? So, I created two characters, each with their own vibe
Meet the Characters
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Luma (The Metamorphosis)
Luma's the embodiment of growth, reinvention and constantly evolving. Her dress is a two part creation, the top mimics butterfly wings with 3D printed, nature inspired patterns, and the bottom flows with vibrant, bio dyed silk threads. She’s a symbol of transformation always changing, always surprising, and never staying the same.
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Vera (The Symbiosis)
Vera's the calm, grounded one always in balance and harmony,all about connection and quiet strength Her dress features a transparent top with 3D printed tree veins flowing through her chest, symbolizing unity. The bottom is a light, airy fabric that adds a layered, natural feel. Inspired by tree veins and mashroums in symbiosis.
Even though Luma and Vera are totally different like rock music vs. jazz they’re still united by one thing: nature.
Luma’s the wild transformation, Vera’s the peaceful balance, and together they create this dynamic, moving conversation. Whether it’s through light, sound, or fabric that ripples like a wind breeze they’re always interacting, always telling a story.
Design & Fabrication¶
Material to Experiments¶
- 3D Printing Fabrics (Grasshopper)
- Bio Dyeing Silk Yarn
- Electronics
Exploring Grasshopper¶
As part of my Grasshopper research, I've been diving into different patterns and techniques to bring my 3D print vision to life. Here's what I've discovered so far:
- Leaf Venation: I explored how leaf patterns can influence the structure of my designs. The tutorial shows how to simulate natural veins that can give my piece an organic, yet structured, look. Watch the video here.
- Anemone for Fractals: This technique had me hooked! Using Anemone, I learned how to generate fractal patterns, creating endless variations of intricate designs. Check it out here.
- Recursive Functions: I got a bit nerdy here, exploring how recursive functions work in Grasshopper to create complex, repeating shapes. This method will be essential in bringing dynamic patterns to life. Watch it here.
- Fractal Attractor Curves: By studying attractor curves, I discovered how to control the flow and density of my fractals. This is a key step in creating controlled chaos in my designs. Learn more here.
- Space Colonization: This technique, using both the Dendro and Anemone plugins, is all about how structures grow and spread. It’ll give my project an innovative, nature-inspired feel. Discover more here.
This journey has been all about exploring the endless potential of Grasshopper
Bio Dyeing¶
I am exploring natural dye baths to achieve vibrant colors on long cotton threads for my dress. The focus is on selecting plant based dyes that bind well to cotton, using mordants and modifiers to enhance colorfastness and vibrancy.
Conclusion
- Yellow & Gold: Turmeric, marigold, onion skins
- Orange & Rust: Madder root, annatto seeds
- Red & Pink: Cochineal, brazilwood, hibiscus
- Blue & Indigo: Indigo vat, red cabbage (alkaline)
- Green: Weld + indigo overdye, iron-modified onion skins
- Purple & Violet: Logwood, blackberry, red cabbage (acidic)
- Prepare Threads: Scour and mordant to ensure color absorption.
- Extract Dye: Simmer plant material in water to create the dye bath.
- Dye Threads: Submerge cotton threads in the dye bath and let them soak.
- Modify Shades: Use iron, acids, or alkalis to shift colors.
- Fix & Cure: Air-dry threads to set the dye before rinsing.
This research will help determine the best combinations for achieving deep, lasting colors while maintaining the sustainability of bio dyeing.
The Connection (Electronics) ⚡️¶
So here’s the thing: twins have this insane ability to sense each other’s feelings even when they’re not physically together. They hug, hold hands, and somehow know what the other is going through. I thought, “Why not try to translate that connection into wearable tech?”
Here’s where things get fun: I'm exploring how to make these invisible twin bonds visible and interactive through electronics embedded in clothes.
Now, let’s take it up a notch: the thread itself is the bond, but what if we could reflect this powerful connection without actually connecting them with a physical thread? Think of it like representing that invisible thread showing how it’s felt even if it’s not there.
1. Biofeedback LED Bond (Dresses Sync to Heartbeats ❤️)
- Dress pulsing with your heartbeat, like it’s in sync with your twin’s emotions. This isn’t your average dress, it’s a heart monitor in LED form!
- The idea is to create a biofeedback loop using heart rate sensors that capture your pulse and sync the LEDs on each twin’s dress. The ESP32 will handle the communication and sync between the two dresses. The LEDs will pulse at the same rate as the wearer’s heartbeat. 💡
- Pulse Sensor Amped detects the wearer's heart rate.
- The ESP32 processes the heart rate data received from the sensor.
- Bluetooth wirelessly transmits the processed data between the two dresses.
- WS2812B LEDs pulse in response to the transmitted heart rate data, visually representing the heartbeat.
- 👗 Far apart → No light.
- ✨ Moving closer → The LEDs on both dresses pulse at a slow, synchronized rate.
- 🔥 Holding hands → The pulse rate increases, creating a vibrant visual heartbeat effect.
- 👗 Visually dynamic: Your heart rate is translated into light.
- ✨ Fun, interactive, and emotionally resonant.
- 🔥 Wireless (via Bluetooth).
- 💥 If you get too excited, your dress might start flashing like a rave.
- ⚠️ Bluetooth range can be finicky, leading to syncing issues.
Consideration
- 🔋 Power consumption of the LEDs.
- 📶 Bluetooth signal strength to maintain synchronization.
2. Electromagnetic Aura Glow (Invisible Connection)
- 💡 Each dress creates an invisible electromagnetic field. When they come close, LEDs softly glow, and when they touch, they create a bright, radiant aura.
- RFID/NFC Sensors: Detect the presence of the other twin's dress.
- 🔗 Component: Adafruit RFID/NFC Module
- 🎛 Integration: Sew RFID tags inside the fabric, with the reader hidden in a structured part of the dress.
- Electroluminescent Panels: Emit a soft, eerie glow when activated.
- 🔆 Component: Adafruit EL Panel
- 🎛 Integration: Hidden between layers of organza, chiffon, or mesh.
- 👗 Far apart → No light.
- ✨ Moving closer → A soft, mysterious glow starts forming.
- 🔥 Holding hands → A bright electric burst of color.
- 🌟 Subtle, futuristic effect with an "invisible bond" concept.
- 🛑 RFID range is limited, meaning close interaction is required.
- ✨ No need for Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (self-contained interaction).
Consideration
- 📏 RFID range limitations.
- 💡 Ensuring the glow is visible in various lighting conditions.
3. Distance Based LED Pulsing (Heartbeat Bond 💓)
- 🔥 Forget syncing heartbeats let’s sync your dress’s pulse with how close you are to your twin. The closer you get, the faster it flickers. It’s a literal heartbeat visual, based on distance!
- This system works by measuring the distance between the two dresses. The ESP32 will calculate the distance and adjust the pulse rate of the WS2812B LEDs accordingly. The closer the twins, the faster the LED pulse. 💫
- 👗 Far apart → No light.
- ✨ Moving closer → The LED pulse starts slow and soft.
- 🔥 Holding hands → The LED pulse becomes fast and vibrant, creating a burst of color.
- 💞 Dynamic connection based on proximity.
- 📏 Distance measurement might not always be precise.
- 👗 Easy to integrate into any garment design.
- ⚙️ Needs careful calibration for smooth LED pulse transitions.
- 🔌 Not Wireless (requires direct connection between sensors).
Consideration
- 🛠 Sensor accuracy and potential interference in crowded spaces.
4. Hand Holding Triggers Color Change (Thermochromic or Electroluminescent)
- 💡 When the twins hold hands, their dresses change color or light up, symbolizing their unified bond.
- Thermochromic Ink: Heat-sensitive ink embedded in painted fabric panels changes color upon touch.
- 🎨 Recommended Component: Thermochromic Pigment Powder
- 🎛 Integration: Use conductive thread to create heat zones in printed sections of the fabric.
- Electroluminescent (EL) Wire/Panels: Soft glowing lines light up the fabric when activated.
- 🔆 Recommended Component: Adafruit EL Wire Kit
- 🎛 Integration: Sew into seams or laser-cut shapes on the dress.
- 💛 Holding hands → Colors shift from one hue to another or the fabric glows softly.
- 💜 Dresses glow softly when near each other.
- 💙 A full-color pulse happens when they separate and then reunite.
- 🌟 Beautiful and symbolic transition between phases.
- ✨ Subtle, no mechanical parts, keeping the dress comfortable.
- 🛑 Thermochromic effect fades over time.
- ⚡ EL wires need careful power management.
Consideration
- 📅 Thermochromic ink fades over time with exposure to heat.
- ⚡ EL wires require power management for consistent illumination.
💫 So here I am, still deciding which direction to go with this challenge turning the invisible, unspoken bond between twins into wearable tech that actually moves, glows, and pulses with their emotions. From heartbeats syncing to glowing auras, these garments aren’t just clothes they’re an interactive, emotional experience.
References¶
- Bio-Dyed Threads Inspiration 1
- Sustainable Fashion Project Ideas
- Natural Dyeing Techniques
- Eco-Dyeing Textile Designs
- Plant-Based Dyeing Ideas
- Handcrafted Textile Designs
- Geometric Pattern Inspiration
- Textile Color Inspiration
- Nature-Inspired Fabric Pattern
- Organic Shape Design
- Circular Pattern Exploration
- 3D Textile Sculpture
- Fractal Design Influence
- Textured Fabric Surface
- Inspiration for Layered Textiles
- Mann, S., & Niedzviecki, H. (2001).
- Wikipedia Contributors.
- Vogue.
- Liu, Z., Wang, J., Wei, X., & Yang, S. (2022).