It’s been a while since I dug into a meaty project, so when Joel from Ants on a Melon asked me to make a costume piece for the launch of his new fiber optic products, I gladly accepted. I used his previous generation flashlight for my fiber optic dress and coat, and you can learn more about his new product here.  It was fun to make and shoot.  Thanks a ton to my awesome photographer Lisa Donchak and model Mara Harris!  Earrings by the Siren Designer.

The design constraints of this one were challenging.  It had to be one size fits all, appeal to a wide audience, and of course show off the product. After some back and forth we decided on a set of wings, which gave me an excuse to execute on a design idea I’ve had for a long time.

I love the silhouette and drama of wings, but structural pieces have their drawbacks.  They can get damaged in a car, make it hard to go through a crowd, or are an outright liability to wear in dense spaces.  They are also cumbersome to pack, and often stay at home because it’s not worth a whole suitcase for a single costume piece.  With these pitfalls in mind I took advantage of the fibers themselves to create the winged shape while keeping the base pretty minimal, which allows for easy transport and mobility with all the impact of a large set of wings.  I took advantage of laser cutting to etch the feather pattern and cut the pattern pieces.  While there are some things I would change for next time, I’m happy with how they turned out.  The only downside is that these live with the team at Ants on a Melon, and I’m overdue to make a set for myself!

Full project files and instructions to make your own at the instructables link below.