Dress Code: How Python Writes the Future of Fashion

Python has grown into a key tool for creating art and fashion, moving beyond data work to help make clothing, jewelry, and interactive designs. This talk looks at how Python brings together artists, designers, and coders to build projects that mix tradition with tech. Through live coding, we'll demonstrate how libraries like Shapely, Trimesh can turn math into patterns for textiles, 3D-printed accessories, or reactive garments that light up. We'll draw inspiration from works like costumes in Black Panther or Nervous System's 3D-printed dresses, demonstrating Python's power in creating tangible art.

What if your next outfit was designed by an algorithm you wrote? This talk explores how Python quietly brings together artists, coders, and makers to create wearable art that blends tradition with computation. We'll walk through how simple code - starting with basic turtle graphics - can evolve into sophisticated design tools for fashion and art. Using libraries like Shapely, numpy, matplotlib, and Trimesh, we'll live-code two projects: crafting Japanese origami-inspired fabric patterns that can be laser-cut, and creating an animated dress design that responds to simulated heartbeat data. Watch as mathematical functions transform into intricate patterns, and see how sensor data could drive color-changing garments through visualization. We'll export real files for laser cutters and pen plotters, showing the complete path from code to fabrication. Inspired by innovators like Julia Koerner's Black Panther costumes and Nervous System's kinetic designs, the talk focuses on practical, beginner-friendly techniques. No art degree or fashion background needed - just curiosity about what happens when Python meets creativity.