Adobe unveiled a dress that can change patterns at their Adobe MAX Sneaks 2023 event in October. Christine Dierk, the research scientist who leads the team that created and developed the technology, modeled the dress for Adobe at the event. Adobe products such as Illustrator and Photoshop have long been staple programs in clothing creation. However, this technology extends Adobe’s involvement well into a finished product.
The research project that Christine leads is called Project Primrose, and her goal is to change clothing from static (meaning not moving) to dynamic (meaning moving or animated). Dynamic clothing is not a new concept within the fashion industry. Transforming dresses and other articles of clothing have been wonders at magic shows and runways. Moreover, clothing with programable LEDs exists as well.
The Project Primose technology differs because it’s more than transformative and programable lights. Small sequin-like screens that utilize polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLC) make up the interactive part of the dress. The screens currently only operate in grayscale, and the darkness/saturation is programmable. Moreover, the “Project Primrose” technology is capable of movement detection. As such, it has the ability to create reactionary displays.
Christine and her team previewed the technology in an article published in a conference in October 2022. It is possible to cut PDLC screens “in any shape,” according to the article. The Project Primrose team detailed and showcased the capabilities of technology in a small ad-like demo reel. The reflective PDLC screens adorn sign-like structures along with an incredible-looking handbag. However, one substantial detail seen but not mentioned in the video or at Adobe MAX Sneaks 2023 is the ability to program a continuous animation. There is an animation of an elephant in the middle of walking from the handbag onto a sign-like display. Technology like this opens up a world of creativity, especially to designers putting on a fashion show or showcasing a collection.
Project Primrose is a fantastic project, and its research will have an incredible effect on the fashion industry and wearable tech. It’s exciting to anticipate the ways that designers will incorporate such technology plus see the kinds of uniquely dynamic articles of clothing they create.
