Smart clothing in children’s fashion

Sowon´s wearable toy is clothing which incorporates an implanted device, which consists a sensor, and a fan, inside the garment that can be detached when needed. As the wearer moves, the implanted sensor reacts to the movement, causing the garment to billow into balloon-like shapes. Inspiration for the changing shapes of the garments comes from the children’s movements themselves.
In the production part of her work, the garments were developed to converge with the desired technology. The device can be detached from the garments and also change the shape of the clothing according to children’s jump and spin movements. In order to describe the design process, material selections as well as the shape and color of the collection were detailed. Lastly, the final outcomes focus not only on the technical development, but also on the visual aesthetics of the design collection.
Sowon Lee´s master thesis presents ‘smart clothing in children’s fashion’ with six outfits: three main pieces of garments with detachable technological devices functioning as wearable toys and another three outfits to support the main garments. This study has its significance in its re-examination of smart clothing as emotionally enjoyable toys for children, while retaining practical and washable features. “Through this work, I explore my design identity as a fashion designer by connecting the emotions and wonder of children with technology using clothing as my medium."
Sowon Lee
Master’s thesis 2017, ‘Wearable Toys : smart clothing in children’s fashion’
Fashion and Collection Design

Department of Design
Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Read more news

Colour stripping presented at BIO2 seminar
On June 5th, 2025, the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems at Aalto University hosted its annual BIO2 research seminar at the Aalto Design Factory.
CEMS alum Maria Sangder: Having impact is a motivating principle that has underscored my career
She is Executive Director of UN Global Network Finland, Chairman of the Board of Fairtrade Finland and CEMSie of 2009 (NHH/Aalto)
Applicants to Master's Programme in Marketing and Master's Programme in International Management can apply for the Pekka Mattila Excellence Scholarship
The Pekka Mattila Excellence Scholarships consist of a €3,000 relocation grant, paid at the beginning of the degree programme