Dresses that change color become reality. The imagination of one
designer changes the world of fashion forever. London-based designer Amy Winters
made revolutionary items of fashion, from the Rainforest dress, to the Thunderstorm.
Amy ‘Rainbow’ Winters is a textile and fashion designer working with
interactive materials and excited by their use in performance and
entertainment.
But how
did Amy get to design such interesting pieces?
How did
you and fashion meet?
I
trained originally as a set and costume designer at Central Saint Martins and
graduated in 2006. I also had a love for Avant garde fashion and fairytale
couture opera. After graduation I was able to dabble in fashion working at
fashion shows and developing materials and clothes with a college friend.
Experiments back in 2008 included holographic leather and LEDs implemented into
clothing.
Is there
someone artistic in your family?
My whole
family is artistic in their own subversive way from writing to story-telling.
My grandmother was an artist.
What are
your studies?
I
trained in theater design and I am currently working on a PhD in future
textiles.
Where
does your idea come from?
Ideas
are inspired by the mechanisms of nature and it’s wild beauty, the energy of
thunderstorms to the morning dew, which drips from a bright green leaf. The
more playful elements link in to my childhood, fun toys and dressing up in
fancy-dress.
How did
you start your label?
I set up
Rainbow Winters back in 2010 and wanted to develop some of my concept pieces
such as the ‘Thunderstorm’ dress into more commercial wearable pieces. The name
was apt as it is my middle name ‘Rainbow’ and surname ‘Winters’. I also love
the juxtaposition of the two words which are both elemental but together create
something beautiful.
No one
picked the idea sooner. How do you think that happened?
Oh lots
of people have! It’s a great ‘zeitgeist’ movement of people coming together to
start innovating. When I first started back in 2007 there were only a few but
now there are so many exciting, interactive developments.
How do
your dresses function?
The
Thunderstorm dress (sound-reactive): is made with bespoke holographic leather
and sound-reactive, animated electroluminescent panels, as the volume rises,
the dress illuminates to create ‘visual music’.
The
‘Rainforest’ showpiece changes colour on reaction to sunlight and water,
morphing from a black and white world into living colour and is hand-printed
with water-reactive ink.
Petal
Dress (sun-reactive) is screen- printed
with sun-reactive ink. The print transforms from clear to blue or purple under
sunlight.
Do you
collaborate with different specialists from other domains such as technology
for creating the outfits?
I
collaborate with many different laboratories creating new materials.
What is
people’s reaction so far? Is it how you expected to be?
People
are intrigued which is great so I am receiving interest.
Is there
a huge demand in buying the dresses?
My
business has developed in the last couple of years and we now work heavily on
the research side developing new materials and experimental prototypes rather
than ready-to-wear.
Is there
a piece that attracts people more?
The
sunlight reactive petal dress was a definite best seller. The Thunderstorm
dress and Picasso Explosion pieces receive the most attention.
How do
people buy the outfits?
Some
classics can be bought online through our online store: http://www.rainbowwinters.bigcartel.com
What
other projects do you have for the future?
I just
released at CES Vegas new fibre-optic prototypes. I am working on a secret new
material and other projects, which will be released throughout 2014.
To see all the Rainbow Winter dresses take a peek on the official site www.rainbowwinters.com.
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