Cooling Tech
How can clothing help keep the body cool in an increasingly warm climate? Cooling Tech explores the possibilities of wearable cooling technology. Students from Fontys and Summa combine their knowledge of engineering, fashion and design to translate technical solutions into wearable garments, mentored by fashion-tech designer Anouk Wipprecht.
The project emerged from a challenge around extreme heat and humidity in Saudi Arabia. Different teams developed prototypes exploring and integrating various cooling principles into clothing. The focus is not only on technical performance, but also on comfort, appearance, usability and the way technology can become part of the design.
Cooling Tech demonstrates how collaboration across disciplines can lead to new applications for fashion. By designing technology and clothing together from the start, the project creates space for solutions that are both functional and wearable.
Like Insects
Like Insects explores the fascinating world of insects. Their movements, forms and natural characteristics become the inspiration for a collection where fashion and technology come together.
Students from Fontys and Summa Fashion developed seven interactive designs under the guidance of fashion-tech designer Anouk Wipprecht. Inspired by insects including a dragonfly, butterfly, firefly, centipede, bee, beetle and moth, the garments use electronics, sensors, microcontrollers and mechanical systems to create their own dynamics. They can move and respond to their surroundings, turning the body and garment into one interactive system.
Like Insects explores how technology can create new forms of expression in fashion. Rather than hiding technology, the project makes it a visible and tangible part of the design.
