Inspiration
Inspired by the theme “Enchanted Garden”, we recalled the Greek mythology of Persephone, who was the Goddess of Spring and Enchanter of Hades.
What it does
Beyond aesthetics, this piece serves to convey the story of Persephone whilst employing textiles in its juxtaposition of light and dark, old and new.
How we built it
Through upcycling, we were able to bring together various textile mediums (i.e., yarn, fabric, and 3-D print) in forming our final piece. After designing the centerpiece, we implemented the technology component through LED via arduino to symbolize Persephone’s light. We ultimately combined both halves together to finish the final piece.
Challenges we ran into
Our main challenge was implementing a functioning LED via arduino initially. At first, it worked; however, the soldering later came undone, which then lead to us trying various solutions to secure the wires. After a few hours of troubleshooting, we were able to have our LED working. Another issue we ran into while trying to fix our soldering, the LED lights would not properly display the correct colors after the soldering came undone. Ultimately, we came up with a solution of adjusting the LED placement to complement the dress.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
After doing research and completing sketches, we were most proud of our design of the dress. Similarly, we were excited to have the technology component of our project running again. Above all, we were excited to upcycle old materials and transform it into a new piece: a pomegranate from a failed 3-D print, an underdress from an outdated orchestra attire, and a chiton-inspired top from an unworn dress.
What we learned
In the process of designing the dress, we had to take steps back and deviate from sketches to ensure the cohesive of the piece. We realized that our initial designs would not come out exactly as it was and had to make irreversible design choices in order to make it to our final creation. Another struggle we realized was the process of soldering and connecting wires, which took up a good half of our time in dealing with. All in all, it was an exciting opportunity to learn, experiment, and try new things.
What's next for Persephone
Next, we hope to redo some of the accessories as well as introduce more elements to this piece to strengthen the presentation of our piece and the lore behind it. Our biggest goal is for every part of our piece to be its own standalone wearable as well as better incorporation of the LED lights.
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