Ester: Wearable Tech Dress

Ester is a handcrafted wearable technology garment that was a finalist in the World of Wearable Arts 2016 Show. It won the People's Choice Award and was featured in the High Fructose book of New Contemporary Fashion. Ester is made from over 1000 hand-cut paper petals and is lit from within by 340 LED lights.

My Responsibilities

I co-created this dress with Ashleigh-Jean King. We designed the concept together, my role was to craft the dress from cane and paper. I was also the photographer and video editor.

The Brief

Ester was created for submission to the World of Wearable Art, a design competition of immense prestige that attracts entries from around the world. Ashleigh-Jean and I set out to create a garment that was sturdy enough to survive on stage, with a level of craft and detail that would make it a worthy entry into the show.

It was extremely important to us to make our piece of wearable art into a piece of wearable technology, by integrating lights and circuitry seamlessly into the design. Because garments in the World of Wearable Art show move between light and dark spaces on stage, it was crucial that the garment was striking in both environments.

The Response

For three months we crafted cane, etched and cut paper, and wired circuitry. The result is a timeless and feminine silhouette, featuring a cinched waist, accentuated bust and a full circle skirt with a petal-like rim. The cane skirt is a light but durable skeleton, making it easy and buoyant to move around in. Covering this and the bodice are 1000 hand-cut paper petals. The paper covering can be seen as feathers, petals, or scales, allowing each viewer to make their own interpretation of the garment.

Integrated into the edge of the dress and bodice are hundreds of addressable NeoPixel LEDs. An Arduino Lilypad controls the functions of the lights, allowing each individual LED to be programmed to any behaviour or RBG colour. These lights diffuse underneath the paper dress, allowing the garment to bloom, transforming it into a wearable light show. A switch runs through the different light behaviours, from a simple fading breathing pattern to a rainbow light chase.

The word ester comes from the group of chemical compounds known for their floral fragrance. They vaporise easily, releasing scent. The ester compound was the inspiration for the dress’ floral shape, and for the way the garment releases light. It is also a homophone of the given name ‘Esther’; bringing a traditional feminine name into an elegant, modern context.

The garment combines delicate handcrafting with cutting edge wearable technology, creating a unique visual experience.

Critical Reception

It was an enormous honour that Ester won the People's Choice Award in the 2016 World of Wearable Art show. Ashleigh-Jean and I are very grateful to everyone who showed their love for our garment. Ester was exhibited in the World of Wearable Art museum in Nelson during 2016-17, and was featured in the High Fructose book of New Contemporary Fashion. Ester has also been featured in the following articles and blogs:

• ‍Dominion Post: Bright spark designers claim World of WearableArt People's Choice award for light-up dress
• Victorious Magazine: Finding the Light
• Adafruit: This tech dress will make you a paper doll

Collaborators

Flavia Rose: Cane and paper sculpting, photography, video editing
Ashleigh-Jean King: Electronics, videography
Victoria Hopgood: Hair and makeup
Alexandra King: Model
Anne Niemetz: Supervision and support, Victoria University of Wellington School of Design