This article was taken from the August 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
Sick of pulling crumpled clothes out of your suitcase? Issey Miyake may have the answer. The designer's new 132 5. collection includes dresses that are folded flat, origami-style, only to become wearable garments when unfolded.
The design relies on the work of Jun Mitani, a computer scientist whose software creates flat geometric shapes from single sheets that open into 3D creations. A spokesman for Issey Miyake -- the company talks as a collective -- says turning an image into clothing is a unique art: "The designers find fold and cut lines to make the 3D shapes fold flat and, during this process, create the clothing's shape."
As well as highlighting its green credentials -- the dresses are made out of polyester processed from plastic bottles -- the company says 132 5. also pays homage to traditional artisan skills. The collection is on display at the brand's Tokyo store -- if you fly out, be sure to pack an iron.
See the unfolding in sequence within our gallery, below.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
