Our Story
From Concept to Reality
The Brain Dress started as an idea that Marlene had for creating a dress that showcased the brain and integrated fashion and technology. When she could not find a suitable garment to wear to her induction ceremony into the National Academy of Science, she decided to take matters into her own hands and finally create this dress. While Marlene worked on custom printing the fabric with images of her own brain, Sophie worked on the design. Going back and forth with Marlene they came up with a suitable finalized design for the dress and Sophie began draping, patterning, and creating a mock-up. After fitting the dress, they moved on to creating the final version of the dress complete with integrated wearable technology.
Marlene got the fabric printed at Spoonflower in a poly crepe. Using a Lilypad Arduino, Sophie stitched in the arduino (micro controller) and connected various color LEDs and a microphone. With programming help from Matt Mukerjee, the LEDs were able to be activated by sound.
Sophie and Marlene covered the LEDs with ruffles made from the printed fabric, adding texture to the dress, while also dispersing the light of the LEDs. After much troubleshooting, the end result is a stylish and unique dress that lights up with sound and celebrates Marlene's passion for Neuroscience and fashion.
Marlene got the fabric printed at Spoonflower in a poly crepe. Using a Lilypad Arduino, Sophie stitched in the arduino (micro controller) and connected various color LEDs and a microphone. With programming help from Matt Mukerjee, the LEDs were able to be activated by sound.
Sophie and Marlene covered the LEDs with ruffles made from the printed fabric, adding texture to the dress, while also dispersing the light of the LEDs. After much troubleshooting, the end result is a stylish and unique dress that lights up with sound and celebrates Marlene's passion for Neuroscience and fashion.