吃瓜不打烊

4 September 2019

Prue Spencer from , Kew, is taking fashion to a whole new level.

Her submission, Dressed to See, won the national Wool4School design competition in the Year 10 category. Prue’s idea was to create a fashionable outfit that would also assist visually impaired and blind young women aged between 13 and 20.

‘Often fashion and clothing are made for visual appeal only and to showcase a popular ‘look’. However, when has fashion ever helped a person with a disability? I believe that fashion is more than just aesthetics; it is about helping a person reach their full potential by assisting them in a practical way, while at the same time staying ahead of current fashion’, she stated.

Dressed to See features cutting-edge technologies that work together to guide a visually impaired or blind person. Prue’s innovative design includes: obstacle-detecting vibrating shoes; a camera belt that translates surroundings into words to be spoken to the wearer through embedded shoulder-pad speakers; detachable heels on the shoes that double as a case for the user’s cane; a shirt that can easily convert from long to short sleeves; and fashionable glasses that protect and enhance the sight of visually impaired and light-sensitive wearers.

While assisting those who are visually impaired, the Dressed to See concept also involved Prue researching the best wools appropriate for the outfit so that the wearer can enjoy comfortable and versatile clothing.