Successful fashion/tech mashups are tough. Maybe it’s because fashionistas and code monkeys don’t mix, or because the luxe feeling of a silk Hermès scarf can’t be simulated via Android. Still, once in a while, the two industries blend seamlessly. This post is part of a series on tech and fashion collabs that got it right this Fashion Week.
CuteCircuit's mission of integrating shimmering LED lights into eveningwear is laudable, to be sure. The only problem? The designs they showed at the Hudson Hotel yesterday keep wearable tech firmly in the category of novelty.
Of course, it is tough to reconcile clunky electronics with apparel in a non-hideous manner. The two British designers behind CuteCircuit, Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz, have been trying to do it since 2004. They've had a few high-profile clients wear their dresses on the red carpet, but we've yet to see LED dresses incorporated into the average woman's sartorial wardrobe.
So there's still some work to be done. While the LED displays were intriguing, the clothes themselves weren't so interesting. If CuteCircuit might tone down their designs, the LED lights would be an accent, not just another loud design motif competing with sparkles, satin and other shimmery fabrics.
