This article was taken from the September 2011 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Clothes are inherently binary -- they're either on or off. That's had some designers searching for greater possibilities (think embedded LEDs and hidden microphones). But 27-year-old London-based designer Amy Winters isn't completely sold. "Wearable electronics are really exciting," she says, "but there are big issues with it" -- such as bulky power supplies and inflexible components. Having found as much while working in "smart textiles" from 2007-09, she decided that the focus of her label, Rainbow Winters, would be fabrics that respond chemically to their environment. Such as the colour-changing Orange Mondrian coat. "Technology can be really clinical, so I wanted to mimic nature," explains Winters. That said, of the 32 pieces she has produced, some include circuitry, but she's working with researchers to develop more malleable electronic parts for the garments. The results could be electrifying.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
