THREADWEAR

What it does

Threadwear is both a physical and digital fashion item. It's a wearable which can be worn everyday in the way the patient prefers - as a bra or as a top - and is connected to a social platform, thought for Eating Disorder patients.

Your inspiration

Eating Disorders always get underestimated by the society - often regarded as "fake diseases" or a “rebellious phase” during adolescence. THAT IS NOT TRUE. EDs are the reason why a lot of women fight alone against themselves and their dystorted body image. Knowing this dynamic personally, I wanted to design something which could give a twist to how the theme of Body Dysmorphia is perceived. Since ED patients are obsessed with their bodies, I also wanted to create a free and safe space where they could talk and share their thoughts, interacting with other human beings.

How it works

Threadwear is a wearable to be worn both as a bra or as a common crop top - a chance to decide if hide it under clothes or show it, to dispel the taboo of EDs. Made of home-made bio-materials, it includes a heart rate sensor. When someone feels stressed, heartbeat increases; the sensor monitors HR while using social medias and, if the value increases, warns the patient about it. Photo-based platforms show pictures that can trigger girls struggling with Body Dysmorphia. HRs detected are collected and stored into the related app, so the user can understand the harmful effect of social medias on mental health or gain consciousness about EDs. As soon as the notification arrives, the patient can write about her feelings - a diary to be easily shared with a therapist. The app is also a social platform about feelings and sharing experiences and doesn’t allow anyone to post anything - no way someone can post pictures about her body, preventing from comparisons.

Design process

Initially, the front top part was meant to be a piece of fabric, attached to the main transparent structure, made by bio-plastic (water 160 ml, gelatin 36 g, glycerol 45 g, dish soap, lavender essential oil 6/7 drops) Using a plastic box as a mold, I obtained the final material after drying the mixture. Since the result didn't look aesthetically pleasant, I started considering creating the bra from bio material only, using fabric to close the top and contain the electronical parts. This second prototype was used for the photo shooting: it was a rectangle piece of bio-plastic closed by a red bow and red fabric; the shoulder strap was made of a separate piece, then glued to the first part. As said, I used a red bow to link the left side to the right side but it would have expanded the soft plastic and could be just used as a temporary solution. After taking the pictures, I mixed again the ingredients but, this time, adding red dye to make the surface opaque. The result was a leather-like material, then cut in two parts: the shoulder strap and the top. Two piece of red fabric were glued inside the main body to add Velcro adhesive tears and close the bra. Sensor components were sawn to a spare piece of fabric and then put inside a small pocket.

How it is different

"Threadwear" is made of bio degradable material and can be easily dismissed through water while the sensor components are sawn into a removable pocket and can be re-used for other purposes. The "Thread." app comes as a complementary part of the physical item: it registers heart rate and alerts the user; collects all datas and shares them directly to the therapist. The social platform is not based on pictures, but on feelings and experiences. Moreover, "Thread." only shows pictures by photographers who represent bodies in the most delicate way; without explicit pictures about food, measurements or bodies, users are not triggered. Through these images, each girl can express her feelings and create a bond with other struggling with the same disorder. Therefore, no one is allowed to post anything - so there's no way someone can take and upload pictures of their body, preventing them from comparisons with others.

Future plans

My proposal is an attempt to give greater visibility to EDs and to those who suffer and a way to provide a tangible help. This bra could be implemented more (looking for a better way to integrate the cables and the sensor) or linked to other non-invasive wearable items, adding elements to trace other parameters usually abnormal because of Eating Disorders: e.g. sensors about body temperature - often very low when it comes to Anorexia Nervosa -, abnormal bloodwork results - low counts or anemia - or something which could register menstrual irregularities or amenorrhea - a huge problem with serious consequences on the long term.

Awards