The Galaxy Dress embroidered with 24,000 LEDs

The Galaxy Dress embroidered with 24,000 LEDs that is guaranteed to light up any room
By Claire Bates
Last updated at 1:49 AM on 20th November 2009
Comments (13) Add to My Stories Women could soon literally 'light up a room' thanks to a high-tech dress embroidered with 24,000 tiny LED bulbs.
The Galaxy Dress is the largest wearable display in the world and was created by designers Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz from the London-based fashion company CuteCircuit.
They created the iridescent dress for the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago after they were commissioned to design a special garment 'to represent innovation in the field of fashion.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1229147/The-Galaxy-Dress-embroidered-24-000-lights-guaranteed-sparkle.html#ixzz0YNcBoQIJ
(Also see YouTube video)
To make a show-stopping but practical gown the duo used the smallest full-colour LEDs available. These are flat like paper and measure only 2mm in length.

The circuits are extra-thin and flexible and were hand-embroidered on to a layer of silk in a way to give it stretch.

'The LED fabric moves with the lightness and fluidity of normal fabric,' Ms Rosella told the MailOnline.

'Four layers of silk chiffon are used to diffuse the light and move really beautifully as well.'
She added: 'The heaviest part of the dress is not the technology but the 40-layer pleated silk crinoline that makes the skirt wide.'

Fashionistas shouldn't become too toasty inside the light-weight gown as the designers said the dress would not overheat due to the LED technology.

The LED bulbs also consume little electricity so can be powered by a number of small iPod batteries placed inside the crinoline skirt.
The Galaxy dress glows for around 30minutes before it needs recharging, but should look good even when it has powered down.
'The areas without LEDs are decorated with more than 4,000 swarovski crystals - from clear crystal to bright pink,' said Ms Rosella.
'So the dress looks good even when it is switched off.'
The designer said the fabric could be potentially be used for advertising but said: 'At CuteCircuit we believe that real personal expression is the key aspect of interactive clothing.

'Human connectedness and sharing of experiences is more valuable to the wearer than a scrolling advert.'
CuteCircuit are no strangers to hi-tech fashion. In 2006 their 'Hug Shirt' was named one of the Best Inventions of the Year by Time Magazine. It works by sending hugs over distances using sensors embedded in the shirt that recreate the sensations of touch, skin warmth and heartbeat rate of the sender.

The designers remain tight-lipped about when the Galaxy Dress may hit the catwalk, but are launching a preview of their 2010 collection next week.
'It will definitely add sparkle to fashion forward wardrobes,' Ms Rosella promised.

For more information visit www.cutecircuit.com