TechFashion Design Challenge 2023

5 winners will be selected from the following categories to win a $10,000 value package of technical and go-to-market consulting and development services on productization and manufacturing and campaign marketing production. Note this is not a cash award.

Dr. Kitty Yeung is a physicist, engineer, textilist, and artist. With over 15 years in STEAM disciplines and a lifelong passion for art and music, Dr. Yeung is constantly pushing the boundaries between art and science to discover how they connect. Having worked across the latest technologies including developing computational textiles, solar powering, 3D printing, micro-controllers, edge computing and wearables, Dr. Yeung combines her love of art with her experience in science to push the bounds of fashion. She received her Ph.D. in Applied Physics at Harvard University and her M.Sci. & B.A. in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge. Dr. Yeung frequently gives technical and career talks reflecting her passion and experience in quantum computing, wearables, digital transformation, fashion technology, and startups. Check out her talk on sustainable fashion with us here.

With a background in Couture, Interaction Design and Electronics - Dutch FashionTech Designer Anouk Wipprecht intersects fashion and technology on topics as such interactive couture, wearable devices and smart textiles. Combined with Robotics, Sensors, Machine Learning and A.I. Her famous Spider Dress is a perfect example of this aesthetic, where sensors and moveable arms on the dress help to create a more defined boundary of personal space while employing a fierce style. Anouk researches and develops how our future wardrobe will look as we continue to embed technology into what we wear.

Chelsea Klukas is the co-founder of the interactive fashion label, Lumen Couture, and the internationally-acclaimed fashion technology organization MakeFashion. Chelsea is known for creating light-up clothing that incorporates embedded LED technology for fashionable glow that transitions day-to-night. Her designs has been featured in numerous fashion shows and events, including the Vancouver Fashion Week, the Wearable Technology Fashion Show at the 2014 CES Conference, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum's "The Art of Video Games" exhibition. With MakeFashion, Chelsea has produced 6 years of runway fashion shows over the world and has produced of over 100 fashion-tech garments. MakeFashion also contributes to introducing young girls to STEM through hands-on education in creating wearable tech fashion.

Amie DD is based in Seattle, WA with a background in Game Programming and Simulation. She started her career at Marvel Studios as the first female intern inthe video-game department at Marvel ever hired, working on Captain America and X-Men Destiny, she transitioned to Research and Development for development work on the Xbox and Playstation. She is a full-time senior software developer at Microsoft and is active in the maker, LEGO, hacker, and cosplay communities, and continues to obsess over new technologies. She is no stranger to viewing the future, projects, and the world for more than they could be. From her Tesla chip implant hack to being on LEGO Masters, to hacking a government satellite, she continues to push the boundaries of tech and doing something that hasn't been done, even when others didn’t always see her vision. The one thing that makes dreams impossible to achieve is the fear of failure. The adult that still play with LEGO and makes/dresses in costumes. Working on cosplay costumes has helped her become a better programmer, teaching her to finish a project, and always better herself, and never be afraid to be a beginner. Amie started and fully funds a scholarship for girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) through the National Videogame Museum located in Frisco, TX.

Francesca Rosella is a visionary entrepreneur, fashion technologist, and creative powerhouse, known for her groundbreaking work at the intersection of fashion, technology, and design. In 2004, Francesca co-founded CuteCircuit, a pioneering fashion tech company and among the first to explore the possibilities of integrating electronics and smart textiles into garments, creating awe-inspiring pieces that combine technology and fashion in ways never seen before. Under Rosella's leadership, CuteCircuit has garnered numerous accolades, such as TIME Best Inventions twice, UNESCO Netexplo Innovation Award, and has collaborated with leading fashion houses such as Chanel, renowned artists, and global brands. The company's innovative designs have graced fashion runways, museums, and events worldwide, captivating audiences with their blend of cutting-edge technology and avant-garde fashion. Beyond her contributions to the fashion industry, Francesca is also passionate about promoting diversity and inclusivity in technology and design. She advocates for the importance of empowering individuals to express their unique identities through fashion and technology, fostering a more inclusive and creative society. Francesca is the recipient of the Everywoman in Technology Innovator of the Year Award 2023.

Example Projects and Tutorials

Written by Kitty for contest participants as a reference

• Custom wearable organic solar films - ASCA
• Light-up raincoat no-code no-solder - nLiten, Bekonix

The amazing wearable-tech tutorial website by Chelsea gives step-by-step guides from foundations to level-up techniques.

And these other inspirational #blinky projects by Anouk & AmieDD for you to get started with #wearablefashion

• Light Up Kitty Ears!
• LEGO Dots Cyberpunk Belt
• Revenge of the Sith Glow PCB Necklace
• Cyberpunk 3D-Printed Fabric Light-Up Corset

Discord

Join the contest discord channel here for community support and collaboration!

Art by Physicist is a sustainable fashion brand, dedicated to elevating wearable tech for women. Created by physicist, artist and creative technologist Dr. Kitty Yeung, Art by Physicist’s designs are inspired by the intersection of art, science, technology and fashion. Passionate about reducing fashion’s environmental imprint and industry waste, Art by Physicist works to reduce its environmental footprint through digital printing, open-source technologies and by working with sustainably conscious partners. Made by women for women, the brand is mission-driven to promote the intellectual representation of women in STEAM and support the next generation of female creators.

ASCA designs and develops smart, customized and flexible solar energy solutions with a low carbon footprint on an industrial scale for its international partners. The 60-strong team of experts is spread across sites in France and Germany. ASCA is a subsidiary of ARMOR Holding. ARMOR is a manufacturer specializing in the formulation of inks and in thin film coating. The group is the world leader in the design and manufacture of thermal transfer ribbons for variable data printing for traceability on labels and flexible packaging. ARMOR has a global presence and employs approximately 2,450 people in more than twenty countries.

Launched in June 2012 by a trio of Calgarians, MakeFashion is the world’s largest Fashion Technology community, having developed over 250 wearable tech garments and showcased at over 60 international events. MakeFashion introduces fashion designers and artists to the exciting world of wearables through a series of informative, hands-on, designer-led workshops. The annual gala hosted in Calgary, Canada debuts new collections of innovative fashion technology combined with theatre and performance. MakeFashion has showcased unique projects at fashion and maker events around the world including New York, Rome, and Shenzhen.