Technology & Fashion

With most things converging in our visual culture, digital and information age, it's interesting to see what type of developments arise as different fields combine together. Cultural Studies writer Pamela Church Gibson, finds that in order for us to gain a better understanding of our time, it is necessary for scholars and theorists alike to take on a ‘sideways’ view on cultural phenomena.

In this case pop star Nicole Scherzinger, was rocking this LED dress, aka 'twitter dress' last week, at EE's 4G mobile network launch in London; how relevant. I suspected that it may have been a new Hussein Chalayn piece, as he is renowned for incorporating technology in his designs (see this post), but the dress was actually made by fashion design company Cute Circuit. The dress is eight meters of French silk chiffon, infused with Swarovski crystals and over 2000 LED lights. When people tweet with the relevant hash tag, the LED lights on the dress display the tweeted message; pretty cool huh?

I doubt people are going to start walking around in LED dresses and suits (or will they? o_O ), but it does make me wonder how future developments and innovations like this could potentially change and open up more ways to communicate. I can definitely see something like this working in an advertising/PR campaign, well is this not one. What are your general thoughts?

Diamond Jubilee

Credit: Taken by Ham at londondailyphoto

It is the Diamond Jubilee weekend and parties and celebrations are in full swing here all over in London and the UK. The Union Jack, in its red, white and blue glory has saturated every major and minor brand, store front and high street. It's a souvenir and merchandise galore on steroids. I think its now safe to say that we have seen the Union Jack fit every possible form, shape and size known to man; haha.

So I was down in Oxford Street on Saturday and keeping to the theme and occasion, I came across this awesome wall mural outside Selfridges side entrance by Graffiti Artist Paul Don Smith.

With all eyes on the UK this year as the Olympics also draw near, no doubt we will see (and have already been seeing) fashion, music, art and design being heavily influenced and inspired by the UK and its culture.

And on that note, hope everyone is enjoying their Jubilee weekend / holiday! :)