I’m developing a durable dress. These dresses will speak to this domestic icon’s functional potential. A dress should be produced with the same research beyond beauty as a firefighter’s uniform. This is just tactical gear for different tactics (or re-defining a woman’s tactics). As Natalie Jeremijenko demonstrates, high heels are good for climbing fences (hook the heel in the holes). What unique benefits can be mined from this gendered form?

PRECEDENTS

Rodchenko and Stepanova’s outfits of socialist ambition, the recent gallery as store, SmockShop project by Andrea Zittel (flickr set). Ixilab has the most interesting art/design approach to wearable architecture I’ve seen.

Strange examples of specialized outfits and extreme entrepreneurs are: UtiliKilt (worker skirts for men), Adventure Vest, Skillers jumpsuits, Fly fishing outfits, tactical vests, photojournalists vests, etc.

MATERIALS

For the xDesign Environmental Health Clinic, where I am a Specialist employed by Natalie Jeremijenko, I will produce a radiation shield durable dress. The material is called Demron and can be ordered here. Space suit layers can be clicked through here.