October 2, 2006, Chicago, IL--For her new fashion collection, the acclaimed German fashion designer Anke Loh has chosen to use the innovative light-emitting fabric from Philips called Lumalive textiles. Lumalive textiles contain LEDs that display full color moving images on clothing. The collection was launched in September in Chicago at a special fashion show.
"I spent a long time looking for the right technology to bring into my fashion. I tried optical fibers - even weaving them together with black cotton. But when I approached Philips and they showed me their Lumalive textiles I found something special," explained Anke Loh.
Lumalive textiles contain an array of LEDs (light emitting diodes) that can display text, graphics or even animations. They're soft and flexible and fit invisibly into the fabric. The patterns only become obvious when they light up to display for example vivid colored patterns. "The Lumalive technology is completely unique," explained Bas Zeper, Managing Director of Photonic Textiles, Philips Research. "Thin, soft, flexible, light... you hardly notice you're wearing it unless it's switched on. It's like a second skin. The electronics and batteries are completely hidden and you can easily remove them from the garment for washing."
This is the first time that a fashion designer has used Lumalive textiles and it is part of Philips vision for a future where our surroundings and the clothes we wear become more intelligent, and interact with the environment around us. Lumalive textiles are currently being developed for commercial use and will be available on the market in 2007.
For more information, visit www.research.philips.com.