i taped barabara layne’s ‘jacket antics‘ at the siggraph 2007 unravel fashion show – a set of jackets woven with LED marquees on their backs. the displays are an extension of the woven fabric, with the added ability to connect two people holding hands into a single display. from the catalog:
Jacket Antics feature unique texts and designs scrolling through the LED array on each of the backs. Traditional black linen yarns are hand woven alongside light emitting diodes, microcontrollers and sensors. When the wearers hold hands, the LED arrays presents a third, synchronous message that scrolls from one to the other, presenting a new pattern of communication. When the wearers release hands, the message reverts back to the individual themes. The capacity for interactivity in the animated cloth displays extend the narrative qualities of cloth and provide new possibilities for dynamic social interaction.