Context
Digitalization is transforming traditional practice of fashion design to the point where garments no longer have to exist in physical form. Virtual fashion offers innovative opportunities for designers to apply creativity and connect with users in a new way. Due to its virtuality and the absence of any material, this approach is inherently conserving resources and is not producing any waste. Ultimately, it creates new forms of value for consumers and enables greater creativity and self expression. The aim of this project was to create a tool that would enable us producing virtual clothing in a simple and fast manner. We used a well known photographic technique, adapted it and tailored it to our needs.
Concept
“Halo” are light drawable virtual textiles and clothing that are created directly live utilizing smart light technology. Just within moments, the device enables us to create multiple unique designs with distinctive aesthetics.
Even though not apparent at first glance, the hologram-like patterns are fully virtual and only exist on the final picture. The futuristic looking creations have fluid and light dynamics that appear to be computer-generated in post-production, but are actually crafted live by the hands of the designer. Incontrast to most other digital-only clothing approaches, “Halo” creations come to existence in mixed reality, in which they directly connect the virtual and the actual. Drawn by hand using a light draping device, folds fall naturally and wrap the body with experimental, yet tactile and authentic looking shapes.
Implementation
The technique allows the designer to form artistic creations in an almost performance-like manner that is not feasible with common techniques. It combines light, motion and long-exposure photography. While the shutter of the camera is left open, a light point is used to draw into a scene. Traditional light-painted images are hand-drawn by the artist with a single source of light, but by means of a RGB light emitting diode (LED) array in combination with a micro-controller, we are now able to use dozens of synchronized points of light in individual, arbitrary colors.
With these devices, we created a compact, flexible light drawing tool, which is able to transform any digital image to a light drawing. We developed a software that transmits any given image to the micro- controller addressing the single LEDs over WiFi. This transfer is made in real time, so the parameters, filters or exposure times can be easily changed while performing, overcoming many of the limitations in traditional light painting.
Prototype
The final one-off piece only comes to “existence” while taking the photograph in one single take. It unites the design and the making while light draping the piece around and onto the model. In contrast to traditional dressmaking, the creative process is reduced from the usual steps of sketching, pattern making, and tailoring to directly creating the finished garments. The proposed technique can be used for whole photo editorials, live performances or fast prototyping. The simple process makes fast iterations of review and repetition possible and therefore allows for rapid adjustments to achieve
desired results.
Economical Estimation
The “Halo” technique is simple, scalable and sustainable. The mobile, light-weight device is easy to manufacture and reproduce. In the process, any digital photo-camera can be used. The overall economical estimation for material costs of the light drawing device (including battery and router) are under 80 euro. An unlimited number of designs can be created by one single device.