Fashion Sensing
FASHION SENSING / FASHIONING SENSE
A CONVERSATIO N ABOUT A ESTHET ICS WITH INTERNATIONAL
FASHION MACHI NES' M A G GI E ORTH
b y A n ne G a l l o w a y
Textiles are one of humanity's oldest technologies, and costuming has
always been central to cultural and personal identity. Clothes and
accessories mark and communicate our similarities and differences. In
terms of social interaction, cross-cultural encounters are both
facilitated and constrained by fashion, be it external body modifications
like tattoos and piercings, or clothing and accessories like jewellery,
bags and - increasingly - technological devices like mobile phones.
Social and cultural researchers often approach the question of
consumption in capitalist societies as a primary way for people to
express and negotiate identity, preferences, and social status. As
computing and communication technologies become increasingly
mobile, they also become increasingly wearable. That is, we can
personalise the looks and sounds of digital devices, and use them as
fashion accessories. The practical functionality of these devices is
increasingly being augmented by their ability to explore and express
our aesthetics and identities.
Maggie Orth is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of International
Fashion Machines [www.ifmachines.com/] - an artist and technologist
who designs and invents interactive textiles in Cambridge,
Massachusetts. Her doctoral work at MIT's Media Lab (1997-2001)
included patents, research, publications, and design in new physical
interfaces, wearable computing, electronic textiles, and interactive
textile musical instruments. Orth describes herself as someone who
"looks forward to the challenge of making beautiful, practical, and
wearable art fashion and technology products a reality". I spoke to
...
Please login to view the full essay...