The Knitted Radio (http://www.ireneposch.net/the-knitted-radio/)

Besides liking the way the sweater is portrayed and styled as well as the potential showcase of many cultures through knitting designs merged with digital technology, the Knitted Radio makes me think of a critical tool for us to expand the arts and culture in a whole new way. I can picture  sweaters like this one at public parks where poets, musicians and performers could broadcast from. But I also think of what if everyone’s thoughts were broadcasted. Many people including myself think out loud or day dream. This type of project, or another where textile crafting could be used to allow us to communicate with others through live streaming would change our habits of public expression. 

http://fashioningtech.com/2013/07/15/smart-textiles-youve-yet-to-see/

The water-soluble textiles and environmentally responsive fabrics are particularly exciting to me. As part of my thesis research, I’m looking into the realms of sustainability, feminism, and designing for the apocalypse. Searching around on these wearable tech websites, it was hard to pick just one project that intrigued me, because I found so many that combined these three interests. I ended up choosing these two (I know I cheated), because they fall into the field of “low tech,” so while they aren’t embedded with LEDs or connected to a smartphone, for examples, they do demonstrate technical thinking and design, and, most importantly to me, are made with the textile’s life cycle in mind.

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