"CUTE CIRCUIT": THE MAGICAL HAUTE - COUTURE
- Nov 12, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 14, 2023
From the haute couture gown made by Magic Fabric which displays the masterpieces of museums, to the fabrics that light up or reply to a tweet, up to the interactive garments that recreate the feeling of every note of song into a tactile sensation on the skin. This is the new frontier of fashion established by CuteCircuit.
CuteCircuit is a pioneer in the wearable-technology fashion field. Founded in 2004 by Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz, the London-based brand has relied on its cofounder’s different background to integrate emerging technologies and smart materials into edge designs. Francesca comes from an Italian heritage couture house, while Ryan comes from the field of Interaction Design and Anthropology, so the final result couldn't have been different from avant-garde pieces.
With the exclusive collaboration of Chanel's SS17 the brand has created a luminous handbag design in which colourful Micro-LEDs have been applied in the inner part of the bag creating animations feature patterns with the name of the brand that creates a fascinating play of lights and colours which makes the fabrics of the collection more alive especially with the contrasting colours of bright pink and acid green.
Their pieces are exhibited not only on the catwalks but also in museums. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts commissioned them to create an interactive dress that, because of the embedded lights, is able to create a dazzle display of images inspired by the masterpieces of the museum such as the “Great Wave Off Kanagawa” by the legendary artist Hokusai, and the marvellous multicoloured “Blue Green Yellow Orange Red” by Ellsworth Kelly.
Last but not least, they also thought of technology as a way of inclusion. The Soundshirt is a shirt which allows to convert the sounds into a haptic sensation, it's literally like feeling the music on the skin. Wearing this shirt, deafs can experience a musical performance through other senses. Probably you are now picturing a really complicated system full of wires and batteries, but actually it was designed with smart textiles, which which doesn’t require wires and makes it comfortable and soft.
CuteCircuit has been using technology in different fields and contexts, enhancing the beauty in of the pieces, visually enriching the users experience or making them more interactive. The question that remains is what is coming next ? It seems there are no barriers they cannot overcome.
To know more about the Cute Circuit, click here.
Article by
This shifted how I think about the whole subject, which doesn't happen often from one sitting. The reasoning was clean enough that the change felt natural, not forced. It left me determined to read more and see where else your thinking goes. Sharp, thoughtful work throughout. Genuinely refreshing.
This new post handles the subject with a level of care that's immediately apparent. The author doesn't just cover the obvious ground — they address the nuances that most similar content glosses over or ignores entirely. I found that depth genuinely useful rather than just impressive on paper. The tone is consistent throughout and the writing never gets in the way of the ideas. I took notes while reading and have already used one of them in a practical context. The kind of content that earns a place in your regular reading rotation.
I was trying to figure out how to get started with this topic and this post gave me a foundation that would have taken me considerably longer to build from other sources. The author clearly has genuine familiarity with the subject and that comes through in how the ideas are framed and explained throughout. Nothing feels padded and nothing important gets glossed over. The progression of ideas is particularly well-handled from beginning to end. I've forwarded the link to three people already. Really well put together.
Finding a complete guide on this subject that actually delivers on that promise without padding things out or cutting corners is harder than it should be. This one manages both. The balance between depth and readability is well-judged throughout and nothing gets oversimplified just to make it easier. I appreciated the honest handling of the more nuanced aspects of the topic. A few ideas here will influence how I approach this subject going forward. Already pointed three colleagues toward it. Good work.
Not every article leaves a lasting impression, but this one certainly did. This interesting post covered the topic in a way that felt both practical and inspiring. I liked how the discussion evolved naturally and introduced new ideas along the way. The content was detailed enough to be useful while remaining accessible to a broad audience. It is clear that the author cares about providing value. Great work and thank you for sharing.