Augmented Reality Fashion Projects by Kailu Guan, New York, US

They say you can tell a lot about a person from their clothes. If Parsons School of Design graduate Kailu Guan has her way, new outfits will have even more fantastical stories to tell. Guan, one of the vanguard of designers using technology to engage with textiles, has created a collection of womenswear styles enhanced with augmented reality. Her eye-catching dresses, trousers and tunics feature sharp lines, bold colors and graphic prints. But there’s more to the tale. Using image recognition technology, Guan worked with developers and animators to convert the screen-printed abstract prints on each garment into digital codes readable by a smartphone or tablet app. Seen through the lens of a digital device, halftone dots scattered across a futuristic jacket appear to float across the screen; vivid brushstrokes on another coat transform into rippling blue liquid. An engaging example of tech-enhanced clothing, Guan’s collection spins a compelling yarn.