Intimacy

Intimacy, developed by Studio Roosegaarde and V2_ Lab, is a project that straddles the world of fashion, wearable technology and the electronic arts, while exploring the relation between technology and intimacy in our contemporary technology-driven society. The ‘e-fashion’ of Daan Roosegaarde works as a second skin that transforms the body of the wearer into an interface. The project consists of high-tech garments made with wireless, interactive technologies and smart foils that can become transparent when electrified. The distance between a spectator and the garments determines the garments’ level of transparency, creating an intimate experience and a sensual play of disclosure. As ultimate statement of exposure, the dress responds to flashlight. If a photographer takes a picture of the dress, for example, it will become fully see-through in the blink of an eye. 

White and Black

Fashion designer Maartje Dijkstra designed the first prototype dress for Intimacy, which is now known as Intimacy White. Made out of white e-foil, the body is revealed based on your interactions with the dress. 

A second dress is designed by Anouk Wipprecht, which is called Intimacy Black. This upgraded e-foil transforms from black to transparent. Anouk's design enables the wearer to engage in a wholly 'super-natural' experience with her own skin. The result is a futuristic gown which any stylish woman living in the 22nd century would want to wear to her party.

Intimacy has been widely featured in the international publications such as Wired and Engadget. The dress series is regularly exhibited in museums. At present, Studio Roosegaarde is collaborating with haute couture designers to create a collection of limited edition items. Intimacy is a series of fashion pieces that will keep on evolving. Stay tuned!

Team

Intimacy is a project by Daan Roosegaarde, Maartje Dijkstra, Anouk Wipprecht, V2_ Lab (Simon de Bakker, Stan Wannet, Piem Wirtz) and the team of Studio Roosegaarde (Peter de Man, João Carneiro). 

Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde and his Studio Roosegaarde are known for several interactive artworks, such as Dune, Liquid Space 6.0 and the Sustainable Dance Floor. During his residency at V2_, which lasted from August 2009 until January 2010, he has been further expanding his artistic and innovative horizon to the world of fashion and wearable technologies, by conceiving Intimacy.

References

Various articles and blogposts have appeared world-wide. A selection:

• The article Smart Textiles Blend LEDs, Circuits and Sensors in Wired's Gadget Lab mentions Intimacy.
• Bruce Sterling in Wired's Beyond the Beyond: "Interesting to see Dutch wearables designers getting dresses to do more of what dresses do — (be provocative) as opposed to getting dresses to do more of what computers do (blink and beep a lot)."
• Read the article in Dezeen design magazine.
• Read the blogpost on fashioningtech.com