Emergent Methods: Multi-lingual narrative tracking in the news - real-time ex...
Double page spread
1. 37
itself in sunset oranges and fiery reds, as
the memory fibre contracts within itself
to lose weight, gaining a light form and
silky texture.
Sitting down with the two innovators
who birthed Project Shapeless, I re-
member thinking how brilliantly their
respective attitudes shined through
into their work. Albescu, a woman of
sixty-five with an oft-severe expression,
spoke calmly but with a tone that would
not tolerate interruption. Morikawa,
conversely, is a twenty-five-year old
man that wears a constant smile, and
spoke so quickly that I could barely
keep up with my notes. When I asked
them both the same question,‘Why did
you decide to create Project Shapeless’,
I received two answers that sum up the
entirety of the project perfectly. From
Albescu,‘to prove to the world that
fashion is more than just pretty clothes’;
from Morikawa,‘for fun’. Read the full
interview on page 46.
Project Shapeless truly is one-of-a-kind,
and not just physically. Satisfying the
need to look stylish and stay safe at
once, this seemingly innocuous in-
stalment paves the way for a new era
in both fashion design and molecular
engineering, testing the limits to which
the two disciplines can be stretched.
But ultimately, Project Shapeless rep-
resents something much more intimate;
the unification of what may seem to
be too different to work together, but
when put to the test radiates a light that
illuminates the future.
...To the desert heat!
2. THE POLY-
MORPHIC
DRESS
Anew wonder has emerged from the
glamorous and mysterious world of
high fashion, brought into existence
thanks to blessings from the gods of
melodramatic splendour and elegant
utility. Created by fashion designer
Nasstasja Albescu and molecular engi-
neer Shunsuke Morikawa, the newly un-
veiled Project Shapeless is the most am-
bitious venture into the world of haute
couture to date. Designed to cater to
the needs of its wearer in any environ-
ment, from a polar blizzard to the desert
heat, Project Shapeless prides itself on
its adaptability, and focuses on provid-
ing its consumers with the perfect dress
right when they need it.
A revolutionary new product created
through the union of fashion and sci-
ence, this young marvel is set to define
trendsetting conventions for years
to come. Created whole-cloth from a
fast-acting memory fibre developed by
Morikawa, and articulately woven into
present form by Albescu, Project Shape-
less is the brainchild of two skilled and
well-respected titans in their chosen
fields, and that talent shows in the end
result of their efforts. At first glance it
36
appears to be a simple affair, a modest
emerald gown that clings to the body,
flowing from the shoulders down to
the thighs. However, upon exposure to
temperatures higher than two-hundred
degrees Celsius, or lower than ninety
degrees Celsius, a spectacular transfor-
mation occurs.
The shift in temperature causes the
memory fibre on the inlay of the dress
to react, which in turn initiates a chain
reaction with the outer layer of the
dress. In temperatures below the given
threshold, the fibre expands, gaining a
soft and fluffy texture as the dress gains
weight, while the vibrant green hues
slowly fade out for icy blues and electric
purples to take their place. Inversely,
when the upper limits of this threshold
are exceeded, Project Shapeless dyes
From a polar
blizzard...