This Spider-Inspired Dress Has Controllable Legs and Pincers – Video

Spiders are often something that humans run away screaming from, but they've also been used in more encouraging things like superhero origin stories. The spider-themed dress might be a tad over the top, however.

We've seen our share of cosplay outfits, and there was more than one realistic Sarah Kerrigan. Designer Anouk Wipprecht didn't aim for something quite so specific and ambitious, but her new dress is uncanny all the same.

Based on the traits of spiders, the dress is composed of 3D printed parts interlocked together to form a sort of body armor.

Or we could go with just a tad bit less political correctness and call the bodice for what it is: just that, a 3D printed bodice. The jury is still out on whether or not it can hide a ship and some sails underneath.

The 3D printed spider dress

The clothing was 3D printed through selective laser sintering and given the ability to “jump” into action when it detects that the wearer may be in peril. Or just close to someone.

It does this by means of motion sensors scattered (strategically) across the bodice surface, plus a main processor that, well, processes all the signals.

The dress will stay relatively still and harmless if you don't approach too quickly or aggressively. Try to aggrieve the wearer, however, and the arms will spring out defensively.

The sensors can also tell if the wearer themselves is calm or not. Or, rather, the processor knows it, and can judge the situation accordingly. There are six legs/arms in total, and they will skitter open as the situation demands.

As far as fashion concepts that will never be used for anything go, this one isn't so bad, and it isn't as outlandish as desk-sized hats either.

On the flip side, if you approach the wearer discreetly or amiably, the dress may move more smoothly, even welcoming. For a given meaning of the term anyway. This is, after all, a pretty skimpy dress bodice that one may or may not be wearing something underneath of.

Availability and pricing

Sadly, beyond the video which we've embedded below for your convenience, you don't stand any chance of seeing this thing in any store, or to find it up for order online. This doesn't stand to change any time soon either. Alas.

If nothing else, though, this idea by Anouk Wipprecht is providing a good alternative to becoming cyborgs.