Biography
Sophie Skach is a fashion designer and researcher based in London. Having studied menswear and knitwear design technology, as well as mathematics in Austria (Modeschule Wien Hetzendorf, TU Wien, Kunstuniversitaet Linz) and the UK (London College of Fashion), she has presented her collections on international catwalks and has closely collaborated with the textile industry. As a designer and consultant, she worked with large companies (e.g Swarovski), as well as for fashion start-ups around Europe (e.g. Son Of A Tailor, aéthérée).
Since 2015, Sophie has been pursuing a PhD at Queen Mary University of London as part of the Media & Arts Technology Centre for Doctoral Training. Her interdisciplinary research combines her experience in fashion, textiles and tailoring with digital media, wearable technology and behavioural studies.
Working in a Cognitive Science research group, her research investigates how embedded textile sensors can be used to pick up nonverbal behaviour during social interaction. Integrated in garments as a body-centric sensing system, fabrics can be used to track body movement and touch interactions. As an example, Sophie has developed trousers with integrated textile pressure sensors that are able to identify a variety of postures, as well as conversational cues.
Both, in the academic environment and public platforms in design and fashion, Sophie showcases her works to engage and stimulate a discourse about the role and potential of fashion in wearable technology, establishing e-textiles as a new modality for social computing.
Plenary Panel (2020) | Embracing Difference: Fashion, Design and the Rhetoric of Social Change
