Personal Expression and Wearable Technologies with Despina Papadopoulos
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT: 
Fashion for me has carried with it, many facets. It began over twenty years ago when I subscribed to my first Fashion magazine, Gentleman's Quarterly. At the time I was moving away from skateboarding, and surfing and began thinking about my future. Suddenly it became the world of Canali suits.
As I grew older this expression became more muted as I needed less of a voice, and more of a statement, my voice by then able to compensate. I began wearing a uniform. On many occasions in my past, and even now, the smallest change is often noticed by my peers. Here in New york my fashion evolution has taken another turn as since I arrived here I have arguably been paid to wear certain clothes. I was first recruited by Abercrombie and Fitch, and have since moved to Rugby a Ralph Lauren Company. Both of these labels, though exclusive in their own right are both entirely mainstream. It would seem my own expression has been muted, though I'm not complaining.
It is this statement, this expression, which I feel is the most important aspect of Fashion. This week is Fashion week in New York and I have gone to a few shows and seen many live on the television. For me personal expression is what it is about. The show I attended was far more avant-garde then the shows I saw on television. What I found interesting is that every designer, and even those at the show, was in pursuit of the beautiful.
In the beginning my idea for the alarm bra was very much a tongue in cheek nod to the over protective father every daughter has. However through it's launch and the numerous peer perspectives in the preceding weeks, I have realized that this platform allows for very interesting commentary on not only privacy and intimacy, but the Fashion world as a whole; objectification, materialism,. . . sexism?
I am interested in creating a brassier that offers protection. Protection for a nervous father, protection form that leering guy at the bar, and hopefully protection from bad conversation. This includes not only an alarm when it is taken off, but signals when it is armed, as well as the utilizes proximity sensors, a wireless video camera and an mp3 player.
With this project I aim to pursue the possibility of brassier sensor augmentation. In the coming weeks I hope to discover, and create comfortable, functional technology upon the brassier foundation.
After discussion with the class it was determined that the best way to approach both the commentary and the project is to do a series.
I certainly didn't know when I started I would be designing custom lingerie, but as the case presents itself it seems as though that is what is happening.
What as also discussed in our critique was that this could be an interesting series. With that in mind I will be splitting up the technology to specifically address details within the commentary.
Today I began researching the finer points of the various lines on the market and I found a vastly broad field. I have pictured here specific ones I found to be both pleasent and able to contain the circuitry I aim to impliment in this project.
There is by the way, thousands of brands, but very few good one.
This will be my first foray into womens Lingerie and I hope to not offend anyone.
