We-Are-Able – Adaptive Wearable Technology
🏆 Reshape Wearable Clothing Technology Competition – Shortlisted, 2015
👥 Collaboration with Architect Ayşegül Özar
Rethinking Adaptability in Fashion
In today’s evolving design landscape, functionality, economic and environmental sustainability, and adaptability are key factors in shaping innovative solutions. We-Are-Able explores these principles by integrating biomimetic design and smart fabrication techniques into wearable fashion. Inspired by nature’s ability to adapt, this project reimagines clothing as a responsive and flexible system, addressing the limitations of conventional garment sizing.
A Design for Transformation & Comfort
We-Are-Able is designed to provide a comfortable and adaptable clothing experience for individuals undergoing physical transformations. Specifically developed for pregnancy, the dress expands seamlessly alongside the wearer’s body, eliminating the need for multiple clothing sizes over time. Its structure is based on:
Modular Origami Design: The dress consists of 2 cm² triangular origami modules with fold-up and fold-down edges, which react dynamically to body expansion.
Customizable Fit: The garment’s adaptive folds adjust to different body shapes, ensuring comfort throughout pregnancy and beyond.
Sustainable Fashion Solution: By eliminating the need for multiple sizes, this concept promotes economic and material efficiency in clothing production.
Parametric & Digital Fabrication
To achieve precise adaptability, the design was developed through advanced computational tools and digital manufacturing techniques:
Parametric Simulation: The origami modules were digitally simulated to analyze folding behavior and fabric expansion based on pregnancy body transformations.
Laser-Cut Precision: The computer-generated design was transferred to a laser cutter, which cut and engraved the fabric for optimized folding and assembly.
Automated Folding Process: The fabric's fold pattern was mapped to guide a robotic hand, ensuring precise outward and inward folds in key expansion areas (stomach and chest).
Material Innovation & Testing
The first prototype was developed using a bioclimatic facade membrane, a material originally used in ventilated architectural facades for its durability, breathability, and flexibility. Future iterations will explore alternative textiles, including Cotton Satin Lycra, for enhanced comfort and wearability in mass production.
Beyond Pregnancy – A Future of Inclusive Fashion
While initially designed for pregnant individuals, We-Are-Able is envisioned as a broader solution to the fashion industry's limited size variety. Current mass production methods cater to standardized body shapes, often requiring alterations for a better fit. This project challenges the "perfect body" ideal by advocating for adaptive, user-centered clothing that adjusts to real, diverse body forms.
Expanding Adaptive Design
The technology developed for We-Are-Able has potential applications beyond fashion, extending into:
Interior Design & Product Development – Shape-shifting surfaces, flexible seating, or adaptable textiles.
Architectural Skins – Responsive facades that adjust to environmental conditions, similar to ventilated cladding systems.
We-Are-Able is a step toward a future where clothing adapts to the individual, rather than the individual adapting to clothing. By combining design, technology, and inclusivity, we aim to redefine comfort, sustainability, and body positivity in the fashion industry.