Archive - Feb 2011
February 9th
T-shirt messaging
“Play-Shirt ” is a fun and fashionable way to express yourself. You can write any message want on the T-shirt using the Velcro letters provided.
Why it matters
Finding ways for people to add their own creative flair to their clothes enhances personal expression. Whilst personalisation remains such a key consumer trend, will we see more innovative ways of fashion brands handing over the creative control to their consumers?
EL wire
EL Wire is a new decorative material used for clothes that lights up. It is thin, flexible, lightweight and does not heat up.
Why it matters
Technology is beginning to play a larger role in fashion as new gadgets are constantly being invented. Will we one day see hi-tech clothing become mainstream with high-street fashion retailers incorporating El Wire type technology into their designs?
Bomb fragments explode onto the fashion scene
Article 22’s peaceBOMB bracelet is made by upcycling grenade remains from the Vietnam War era. Named after the UN’s Declaration of Human Rights, this design firm is on a mission to assist the economic development of emerging nations by creating products that tell a story about their makers and the legacies of our shared history.
Why it matters
The value we assign to objects increases or decreases based on our emotional investment. Can manufacturers increase the intrinsic value of their products by imbuing them with more emotional touch points, such as the history of the materials used or the life stories of their makers? Do such methods really increase consumers’ emotional connections with products?
