At the KES (Korean Electronic Show) 2009 e-Textiles have been on stage as part of the Next Generation Computing Technology Show  which run under the theme 'IT RE*connect'.

The Runway show demonstrated technologies integrated into clothing in form of energy generation via solar or kinetic power or fabric displays via optical fiber.

No new, groundbreaking concepts or technologies but the article on the  Korean IT Times triggered me to look around, look behind the scene of wearable electronic again.

KES like, the US counterpart CES or IFA in Germany, are electronic shows at which companies exhibit their latest developments. Having Runway shows during such events is becoming a 'standard' feature of electronic shows but I can't help myself crunching a bit when watching them.

Why? The exhibited fashion technology is usually driven, initiated by technologists which gives the fashion items the touch of techno geek .... from a fashion point of view.

Being myself a technologist by education, I work very hard the past few years to soften up my techno DNA, to be able to have a broader view when it comes of fusing technology with emotional fashion practices.

I might never be able to catch up with fashion design skills but will be happy if I can develop a certain sense of what can and never should be done while using technology with fashion.

Going back to KES or CES Runway shows, as good as their intention might be, I am still waiting for the professional fashion community to become more open towards technology enabled clothing.

There are only very few exceptions of top fashion designer to embrace wearable technologies. Why is this? Fashion design is usually very open for all kind of experiments, creating styles that push the wearability very hard and yet ignoring the soft technology developments almost completely.

Is it because of the fear of not fully understanding electronics? With some basic training and close cooperation with techno wizards this gap could be closed easily.

Is it because the fashion creations could have the cloud of being geeky or techie? Might be but that's the problem wearable electronic is facing all the time. Fashion is created by technologists with focus on the technology and only on secondary basis on the 'enclosure', on the clothing and style which comes last. That's why wearable electronic is looking most of the time techno geeky and not high street fashionista.

My observations above is not directly related to the exhibits shown on the KES which are a great opportunity to show the technological advancements in wearable technologies but the article triggered me to think about the missing link between the 'can be done' and the 'should be done'.

This will not be the last time I am putting this observations on the table for an open discussion. Discussing this from different view points, challenging the different positions and professions might hopefully lead one day to a conclusive and successful solution for technology enabled clothing.