Most of us who were around in the ‘90s remember those light-up sneakers that every kid just had to have. With their flashing red lights, blinking with every step, those shoes seemed like the epitome of cool.
Today, light-up clothing is not just a nostalgic remnant of childhood – it’s at the forefront of innovative design. With new LED technology, light-up clothes can reach new levels of constructional and aesthetic sophistication.
Enter CuteCircuit, a fashion tech company created by Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz. CuteCircuit first came to my attention when Katy Perry wore one of their light up dresses to the Met Gala in 2010. Check it out:
They’ve made a name for themselves as true fashion revolutionaries. CuteCircuit’s motto is “future fashion now,” and their dresses feature thousands of LED lights. Many allow the wearer to program the lights on her outfit by herself, and the dresses are rechargeable via USB.
LEDs are the perfect light source to use for these dresses because they require very little energy and stay lit for a long time (longer than standard incandescent lights and even fluorescents). The lights can take many different forms, are easily programmable, and they don’t generate all that much heat – keeping the wearer cool and comfortable.
Recently, Nicole Scherzinger, a former Pussycat Doll, stepped out on the red carpet in this LED dress designed by CuteCircuit:
It featured 2,000 LEDs, programmed to display tweets scrolling across the dress. The public response was impressive.
The possibilities here are endless. Would you ever consider wearing a piece of clothing featuring LED lights? Please share in the comments section!