Out of all the pieces displayed, Grace Jun’s sleeve design caught my eye at the FIT exhibition. While the sleeve is a simple white design, and is a bit pushed to the corner, I was drawn to it for its functionality and incorporation of technological components.
As a personal goal in my work, I hope to someday seamlessly integrate and normalize digitized technology into my apparel designs for the comfort and accessibility of the wearer. In the future, I hope to convey individuality in my work by catering to every person’s unique style, fit, and needs so that they can express themselves without restraint.
Because of my interest in wearable technology, I found Jun’s piece compelling. I was happily surprised to see one of Parsons very own faculty had their work on display at the museum, and a name that I knew of at that. Grace Jun is the director of Parsons’s Open Style Lab, which is open to students whose goal is to work towards designing clothing to be more accessible to those who are handicapped. This particular piece is part of a jacket designed for breast cancer survivors who had undergone surgical mastectomies. The sleeve holds a hidden chip in the back that records the wearer’s range of motion that is accessible by a physical therapist or physician to aid the recovery process. This is an amazing piece that shows how fashion and technology can be used to aid the wellbeing of the wearer.
