Clothes are often designed to be practical. They are also designed to be fashionable and enjoyable. Some clothes manage to be parctical, fashionable and fun to wear. With the dawning of cyber wear, the use of computers in clothing, an innovative aspect of clothing design is emerging. A few stylists are creating dramatic looks using LED lights. A LED light bulb can be integrated into clothing to create some astonishing wardrobes as well as serve for practical applications. Fashion Designers and scientists are coming together shedding light on new wardrobes.
A few of the expected uses of illuminated clothing are for safety reasons. A shirt that lights up at night draws attention before a headlight beam from a car gets close. This is far safer than a driver reacting only after the jogger enters the drivers beam. A jogger with a flashing shirt or blinking shoes is much more likely to be seen in advance. There are Many reasons for illuminating clothing besides safety concerns. Gloves that light up would be useful for campers. Headlights are often used by rock climbers and campers. They throw light wherever the person looks. Often that is directly in the eyes of the person they are talking with, blinding them and ruining their night vision. Hand wear with light emitting diodes can cast light on work areas and wherever the person reaches.
Outfits might have Light displays that can communicate messages or display art. A jacket can promote a company logo or message. It can also display scrolling text or flashing images. The displays can be programmed to pulse to audio input, or react to body temperature and pulse, making the rapidly beating heart a visual display announcing attraction. Lights can be used with many accessories. A purse could light up when opened, making finding items much easier. An umbrella could display constellations, lighting the path and keeping the rain off. And then there is lingerie.
Clothing designers can go nuts. Fashion enters a new dimension with the addition of lights and colors. There are lights so tiny the can be worked seamlessly into garments. Hats with directional lighting can literally put a person in the best possible light. A person can go dancing with a blouse programmed to send text depending on the level of interest in the flirt at the bar. LED clothes create a different meaning to the term nonverbal communication. Light emitting Diodes are changing the way we light homes, buildings, cars, planes and boats. They have been used in thousands of ways. Now, with the advancement of fabrics that can be used to create computerized clothes, light emitting diodes are entering the world of fashion. There remain a few obstacles to resolve, such as how to safely clean the fabric power grid and how to handle the rare light burn out, before these items can be mass marketed. In a few years the streets will be literally glowing with innovative fashion designs.