I remember when SENSOREE (Kristin Neidlinger) first described this wearable she was working on that was going to resemble goosebumps. It seems like a strange topic, but what gives you goosebumps? For me it is the feeling that something is so amazing that it may be unbelievable, like witnessing a UFO. How do you measure that or what does it even mean? Kristin has always been inspired by the link between mind and body and her newest work helps to answer that question. In fact, she quotes a University of California, Berkeley study as a starting point.

A recent study at UC Berkeley associates good health with the feeling of awe and goosebumps. That goose-bumpy mix of fear and wonder appears to be particularly good for the body.

Called AWE Goosebumps, the fashion appears to combine the inflation of a Porcupinefish with the color-changing of a Bioluminescent Jellyfish. I’m in awe already! It all starts with bio sensors measuring GSR (Galvanic Skin Response), breath, and heart rate. These inputs are translated through inflatable silicone (check out those tubes on the back) and RGB LEDs. Pulsing colors from blue to teal respond to breathing, while the color pink shows an elevated emotional state.

What makes this fashion especially interesting is the layering that allows for the light to peek through. Metallic vinyl was given a laser cut Kirigami treatment, allowing for the accordion like spines that resemble goosebumps. The housing for the electronics also has an interesting kidney appearance. It’s an 80’s Glam meets Dynasty masterpiece that Bowie would have loved. Sending a line of cute kitty emoji to the team at University of TWENTE Design Lab that assisted Kristin in this work, along with Elena Kulikova for the photography. Most of all, I’m looking forward to the continued research behind emotions and health that is leading this work. Keep it going Kristin!

A lot of work in wearables can be associated with biomimicry and sci-fi. Allowing the imagination to dream the impossible can lead to the best inventions. Although this wearable uses data inputs to trigger the movement of the spines, you could also use our new MyoWare Muscle Sensor. Think about a movement of your bicep initiating the inflation of spines. It’s a fun device for costumes and can certainly add interesting reactions for your next LARP game. So, start thinking of how your movement can affect your clothing.

Every Wednesday is Wearable Wednesday here at Adafruit! We’re bringing you the blinkiest, most fashionable, innovative, and useful wearables from around the web and in our own original projects featuring our wearable Arduino-compatible platform, FLORA. Be sure to post up your wearables projects in the forums or send us a link and you might be featured here on Wearable Wednesday!