2025 / UC Berkeley
FormaFlow Dress
Morphing wearable that lifts dress hems on demand
Overview
A wearable morphing system that lifts long dress hems to prevent tripping and dirt, using two complementary actuation mechanisms.
Problem / Context
Long dresses drag on the ground, snag on stairs, and collect dirt. The goal was a discreet, responsive system that lifts the hem only when needed.
Role
Team project (Design with Morphing Materials and Mechanisms, MECENG 292C) - UC Berkeley
Institution
UC Berkeley
Team
Xochitl Ortega, Kamron Soltani, Loris Emanuelli, Prithvish Ganguly
Tags
Wearables / Mechanisms / Prototyping
Process
- - Research on hem dynamics and user scenarios
- - Mechanism ideation (flippers vs. tiles)
- - CAD + 3D printing (PLA/TPU)
- - Actuation integration with servos
- - IMU trigger logic + remote control
- - Prototype testing and iteration
Key design decisions
- - Dual mechanisms so light and heavy fabrics both lift cleanly
- - IMU auto-trigger for stairs plus manual remote for user control
- - Rigid PLA bases with flexible TPU morphing parts to balance structure and drape
Engineering details
- - Servo-driven flippers create outward clearance
- - Waist-mounted servos pull tile segments to raise the hem
- - IMU detects gait changes; mechanisms can run independently or together
Outcomes
- - Functional prototype demonstrating two actuation modes
- - Video demo captured during mechanism tests
Gallery
Full prototype on dress form
Actuation detail
Electronics integration
Waist control module
CAD component variants (diagram)
Video
Prototype demo video
What I would do next
- - Miniaturize actuation and improve noise reduction
- - Durability testing with repeated cycles
- - Integrate into garments with varied textiles