Pauline van Dongen is a Dutch fashion designer specialised in wearable technology. As a creator intrigued by the notion of interactivity in fashion, she researches the human body in relation to its surroundings. She is fascinated by concepts of change, movement, energy and perception, as she believes the future of fashion lies in its premise to be dynamic and changing. To her, technology is not a mere tool, but rather one of aesthetics. There’s a strong focus on materiality in her work and the way it is capable of enhancing expression. The fact that we can now program it pixel by pixel, allows us to design new types of behaviour and create materials that can actively play on the body. The language and expression of the body give form to the garment. This establishes an intimate and personal connection with the wearer, thereby turning technology in an intuitive notion.
Pauline’s vision is based on the belief that technology can add new value and meaning to fashion. By enhancing the senses, our embodied experience as well as the way we interact with our surroundings becomes paramount. Rather than opposing nature and technology, she aims to naturalise technology.
Photo coutesy of Pauline van Dongen.
