What do Twitter, LED lights, and Swarovski crystals all have in common? The dress that Nicole Scherzinger wore. The fashion technology company CuteCircuit created a "smart" dress.While wearing the 'Twitter' dress, Scherzinger made history by wearing the first wearable technology.The brand took 2,000 LED lights and 3,000 Swarovski crystals and turned them into a gown that projected live tweets across the entirety of the dress. The tweets were coming in real time from those in attendance at the launch party for EE—the UK's first 4G mobile network at Battersea Power Station. The tweets were showing up from the EE's official account or from those using #tweetthedress.Luckily nothing defaming scrolled across the dress because that would make for an interesting photo-op. It's unclear whether or not someone was monitoring the tweets or if it was a free for all.
Who is CuteCircuit?
CuteCircuit was founded in 2004 as the "world's first wearable technology fashion brand." The brand describes itself as a pioneer who weaves fashion designs with emerging technologies and smart fabrics to create clothing.
The co-founders, Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz, have a fashion background. Rosella is an architect and graphic designer. At the same time, Genz is an artist and anthropologist who worked as an art director for Signal Interactive and ASAP Media Services in the US.
In 2006 their Hug Shirt was named one of the Best Inventions of the Year by Time Magazine. The Hug Shirt allows wearers to send a hug over distance making it the world's first telecommunication wearable piece of clothing.
The brand states on its website, "At CuteCircuit, we believe that in the future our bodies will become the interface to data, and clothing will become an intelligent second skin enabling the wearers to connect with each other in a more intuitive and intimate manner."
How Did Nicole Scherzinger's Dress Work?
The dress works with a rechargeable USB and is embedded with lights. Yes, that means if the dress isn't charged, it could potentially 'die' while worn. But, the wearer can control their garment through their phone. They can decide what colors to use, when to turn it on and off, etc.
For Scherzinger, her dress had projections that were connected with a specific account and hashtag. In this case, she wasn't controlling the colors or display appearing on the dress. However, the smartphone app typically controls the functionality of the garments at the touch of a button.
The brand describes it as "internet-connected clothing and touch (haptic) telecommunication with products."
Nicole Scherzinger Turned Heads In The Dress
The chiffon dress is "made from 8 meters of the finest French silk chiffon." CuteCircuit made it so the tweets were live and showing up on the gown in real-time.
The cinched-in waist and floor-sweeping material featured a metallic embellished neckline. The dress was not only revolutionary but also flattering on the singer.
Scherzinger tweeted before the event, "I've been asked to wear the UK's first-ever Twitter dress tonight for the @EE Launch Party @BatterseaPowerStation #tweetthedress So EXCITED!"
She looked wonderful in this tech-savvy gown that speaks for itself—literally.
Other Celebrity Clients
In 2010, Katy Perry wore a CuteCircuit dress to the MET Gala. The gown was a one-shoulder with white and pink fabric that was lined with flashing colorful rope lights and a dramatic slit.
While wearing the gown and speaking to US Magazine about the night, Perry couldn't contain her joy for the dress. "I love it; it's so much fun."
She also said, "I feel like I really have to represent those girls that just go for it and do their own thing and, you know, have their own bit of spontaneity and self-confidence." She continued, "I sometimes think in fashion, it can get a little stuffy, so I wanted to lighten up!"
This dress was also remotely activated, so Perry could turn on or off the LED lights at her leisure. However, she kept the remote control in her bra, saying, "I don't know if that's a good place for it or not."
This gown and company are the first of its kind and with AI becoming increasing popular, it only makes sense that it translates to our clothing.
