Computational Fashion in New York is an Eyebeam initiative bringing together artists, scientists, technologists and the fashion industry to explore possibilities at the convergence of fashion and creative technology. The lead consultant is Dr. Sabine Seymour, owner of Moondial and professor of Fashionable Technology at Parsons The New School for Design.

The goal of the project is to support research, collaboration, and the presentation of experimental and cutting edge technology that can be applied to all aspects of the fashion industry. The project includes artist commissions, bi-monthly meetings and workshops, a toolkit on new techniques and materials, and a culminating symposium and exhibition of work developed over the course of the project.

Four artist/scientist collaborations will be supported by the project, two a year.

2012-3 Computational Fashion Fellows

Sculptor and interactive installation artist Carrie Mae Rose is collaborating with Dr. Dan Steingart, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at CCNY and the CUNY Energy Institute, and an expert on highly flexible, printed alkaline batteries. Carrie Mae Rose is developing a series of wearable sculptures that visualize the movement of subtle electric circulations around the physical body and how they interact with the pulse, breath and voice.  Dr. Steingart and his graduate assistant, Abhinav Gaikward, will be building custom battery fabric that will be underneath or embedded in textiles to power LED lights, sensors, and circuits.

Artist/Game Designer Kaho Abe is collaborating with Dr. Katherine Isbister, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the Polytechnic Institute of NYU, to explore how wearable technology can act as both game controller and costume, in order to create a far richer, more immersive game experience. Abe and Isbister will build and design games that utilize various sensors, and switches, and other embedded technology in wearable controllers to enhance game play and playful interaction.

2013-4 Fellows will be chosen through an open call for proposals. Check back later in 2013 for further announcements.

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Computational Fashion is supported in part by the Rockefeller Foundation NYC Cultural Innovation Fund.