A whirring helicopter of LEDs creates the illusion of a glowing hat in this design by Moritz Waldemeyer for Irish milliner Philip Treacy (+ slideshow).
Six blades, each fitted with a strip of LEDs, are attached to a propellor headpiece worn by the model. When in motion, the blades disappear from view and a huge halo of light seems to float in mid-air.
Above photograph is by Chris Moore
"It has long been my aim for the technology to disappear, to dissolve it into the surface of the work so that the light effects themselves become the focus," explained Waldemeyer.
Above photograph is by Chris Moore
Waldemeyer also created a basket-like cloak that covers the wearer from head to foot with a mesh of 6000 LED lights.
Threads soaked in resin were woven around a styrofoam frame to become rigid once dry, making the structure light enough to be supported by the model's head.
The creations were unveiled as part of Philip Treacy's Spring/Summer 2013 collection at London Fashion Week last Monday.
Waldemeyer recently created 140 costumes embedded with LEDs for the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics and a choreographed light show for the Paralympics closing ceremony.
Other designs by Waldemeyer we've featured on Dezeen include a laser suit for U2 singer Bono to wear on stage and laser drumsticks and LED wands for singer Ellie Goulding.
Photographs are by Moritz Waldemeyer, except where otherwise stated.
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Here's some more information from Waldemeyer:
Fresh from producing 140 LED light-embedded costumes for the London 2012 Olympic closing ceremony, designer Moritz Waldemeyer has turned his attention to hats in an extraordinary collaboration with Philip Treacy.
Philip Treacy’s catwalk show at the Royal Courts of Justice marks the master hat designer’s return to London after 12 years in the most hotly anticipated event of London Fashion Week. The show, sponsored by Swarovski, includes a specially chosen selection of Treacy masterpieces and a collection of original Michael Jackson stage outfits designed by Michael Bush and Dennis Tompkins, the auction of which will take place on 2 December conducted by Julien’s Auction in Beverly Hills.
An eye-catching and technologically advanced piece is a new design by Moritz Waldemeyer. A delicate illuminated basket type sculpture extends down from the head to envelope the model’s entire body. "Philip presented us with an unusual challenge," says Moritz. "It was a visionary idea that was difficult to achieve using conventional techniques in millinery." Studio Waldemeyer’s solution was to weave an intricate mesh of threads around a specially designed styrofoam core. The threads are soaked in resin, which when dry are rigid allowing the design to be complex, but also very light.
The result is an object that looks impossible, especially when you think that it is supported by the head alone. 6000 LED lights integrated into the webbed surface and programmed with animated sequences enhance the illusion of weightlessness. It typifies Waldemeyer’s innovative approach towards lighting design, which has brought him international acclaim. When the lights shine directly out into the audience the structure itself becomes invisible – the model appears enshrouded in a floating cloak of light.
Moritz again drew on the idea of weightlessness when asked to design his own piece for the show. This time a continuous band of light sweeps around the head with no apparent physical connection to the wearer at all. This uncanny effect is achieved courtesy of a carefully positioned propeller headpiece – each blade is finished at the end with LED lights. When in full motion the blades themselves disappear leaving only an ethereal halo of light. It’s millinery for the 21st Century.
The Treacy catwalk show caps a busy summer for Studio Waldemeyer. In addition to designing outfits for Brazil’s dazzling dance display at the Olympic Closing Ceremony, Waldemeyer also created an elaborately choreographed LED light show for the Paralympic Closing Celebrations.