SuperBelt

60-90 min

Ages 8+

What Will You Learn?

We will take a premade belt, and apply a circuit to the outside of it. We will take measurements, use glue, and apply our knowledge of electronics.

In this project, designers will use the MOSFET touch-activated circuit they have created, and apply it to a belt. The step-by-step instructions can be reviewed as inspiration on your own below, or followed to create the project. The project is fairly simple to construct, and it’s encouraged that the designer create the belt to serve a specific purpose or outfit concept that they have developed.

The belt holds the fairy light circuit touch point on one side, and the positive wire on the other side. When a person touches both sides at the same time, the MOSFET receives a the signal to activate the LEDs!

About This Adventure

Today, fashion designers are not limited to fabrics in their designs. Technology has become part of our story and is much more accessible. Young designers can use tech such as lights, sensors, and microcontrollers to tell their stories.

In this adventure, you will experience and experiment as we go through the MakeFashion Edu process to support campers as they:

learn – about the elements of fashion and circuits
design – a story and the wearable
construct – a fashion tech piece using recyclable materials and lights
exhibit – be seen! Our favorite medium is the runway.

You will be able to support your designers as they find their voices and tell their own stories through fashion pieces they create and share.

This adventure is divided into several sections, each with its own projects. The bolded project denotes the page you are on. The arrows mark the section you are in.

Storytelling with Fashion

Using Circuits in Fashion

Using Elements of Fashion Design

>>> Design Challenges <<<

Exhibiting Student Work

Get Inspired!

In the MakeFashion Edu Touch Circuits lesson, we saw how to use a MOSFET and fairy lights to make a circuit that can be turned off and on by touching it. One way to incorporate that circuit into a fashion tech accessory is to make a Super Belt. We call it the Super Belt because when you stand in a superhero pose, you can turn on the lights (or turn them off). And a belt that lights up should definitely be a part of any superhero fashion piece.

Size Your Super Belt

Step 1

Put the belt on and mark where the buckle or connector is on both sides. This will tell you how far to put lights.

Step 2

Put your hands on your hips (waist) and mark where your thumb is and where your pointer finger and ring finger are. Take the belt off and transfer the finger markings to the underside. This will be the guide to arranging the electronics and wires.

Step 3

On the outside of the belt, lightly sketch out the design for the lights.

Place the Fairy Lights

Step 1

Turn the belt over and arrange the battery, mosfet, the touch pin and negative and positive wires as shown in the photo. Tape wires down, but don’t cover up touch points.

Step 2

Put maker tape around the touch points and then stick to the front of the belt. Test to make sure the circuit works and also that you can put your thumb on the touch pin maker tape and your pointer and ring finger on the positive and negative maker tape touch pads. You should be able to turn the fairy lights on and off by using pointer finger for on and ring finger for off. Thumb always maintains contact with the touch pin pad.(Photo shows different fingers, but do whatever feels comfortable for you.)

Step 3

Glue fairy lights on the belt following your design guides.

Try It On!

Now put the belt on, assume the superhero stance and engage your SuperBelt! Check out the video below.

Take It Further

Now that you’ve created a game controller, why not make your own game? Head over to Scratch.mit.edu, and create your own game to work with Makey Makey!

What's Next?

For a ton of ideas on what to create, have a look at the amazing outfits that have already walked the MakeFashion Edu STEAM Runways, check out the YouTube playlist!

About MakeFashion

MakeFashion Edu is an international non-profit working to promote learning through fashion and tech. Through hosting workshops, reach-out and push-in activities, and larger events, MakeFashion Edu sees providing access for young designers to go to industry and project-based learning as one way to pull local communities together.

SteamHead makerspace is a network of people, spaces, and events who collaborate to improve equity in education as the path forward. We believe that by embracing design thinking and a maker-mindset, education can be more engaging and meaningful, and with that more effective in preparing students for success. Check their website for their courses.