Making sound from soft coils

(image source)

Designers Vincent Leclerc, Joanna Berzowska, and XS labs created the Accouphene Tuxedo, which emits a sonic environment through gestures. The jacket is decorated with 13 soft speakers that are embroidered on the jacket in the shape of a coil and a magnet is placed in the center. The yarn used is highly conductive so when it receives an electrical charge, it acts as a soft flexible speaker that emits a small sound. The sound is created when the wearer moves the sleeve across it or if the coils are bent through the flexing of the fabric.

What I find interesting about this project is that the designers were able to replace traditional rigid and unwashable audio components with soft and sewable materials that are used both functionally and aesthetically.

See it in action via youtube.