ANREALAGE SPRING/SUMMER 2024 in the Paris Collection: Experience Umwelt using hyperspectral color control technology
Change clothing colors and patterns by combining clothing material and lighting

Tokyo -September 29, 2023 - NTT Corporation, in collaboration with IMAGICA GROUP Inc. announced a use of production using hyperspectral color control technology that allows clothing colors and patterns to change through lighting control at the "ANREALAGE SPRING/SUMMER 2024 Paris Collection" held by ANREALAGE CO., LTD., in Paris on September 26, 2023.

1. Background

Based on the concepts of Umwelt ^[1], as a part of new UI/UX created by IOWN ^[2], NTT is studying ways to provide and convey information accordingly for the people, goods, and the environment on the receiving end. NTT and ANREALAGE have been working together on the Paris Collection since 2021, using NTT's technology and fashion to create a new and unique user experience.
　As part of a comprehensive joint study on the expression and stage production techniques of the real cyber fusion space of the IOWN era ^[3], IMAGICA EEX Inc., a group company of IMAGICA GROUP that specializes in the entertainment technology field, conducted a joint study on this stage production.

2. Production at the collection

In this collection, ANREALAGE, IMAGICA EEX Co., Inc, a group company of IMAGICA GROUP that specializes in the entertainment technology field, and NTT have collaborated to present a production that continuously changes the color of clothes due to the effects of both materials and lighting. Through this fashion show, we convey information as it really is, thereby experimentally expressing the world view of the "Umwelt" that the world is limited the world that we usually see.

<A look from ANREALAGE SPRING/SUMMER 2024 Paris Collection>

3. Technology Overview

Hyperspectral color control technology, which changes the appearance of colors and patterns of objects by lighting control, consists of lighting simulation technology and lighting light spectrum control technology. In the illumination simulation technology, the spectral characteristics of the object surface obtained from the hyperspectral image ^[4] (such as which wavelengths of light are reflected, absorbed, and fluoresced) are used to accurately reproduce the appearance of the object under various lighting environments. In addition, by searching and reproducing conditions under which the color and pattern of an object appear to change, it is possible to design lighting conditions according to the director's intention. Lighting spectrum control technology combines multiple light sources based on the results of lighting simulations to synthesize the optimal lighting spectrum. This enables the realization of metamerism ^[5] that can be achieved under specific light and color conditions, as well as the control (enhancement and suppression) of the vividness of the target color while maintaining the white appearance.

<Example of reproduction of the view of the object by using the lighting simulation technology>

<Example of saturation enhancement by using light spectrum control technique>

4. Outlook

Through this initiative, we have established a new production method that combines hyperspectral color control technology and fashion. In the future, NTT will improve the accuracy of lighting simulation and increase the variation of color control, with the aim of achieving even richer expression and presentation in the real/cyber fusion space. We will also consider the use of these results in the retail industry, cultural arts, and entertainment fields.

^[1]German biologist Jacob von Jüksschül's idea that "Each organism lives and acts as an agent of a species-specific perceptual world"

^[2]IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network):
An initiative for future communications infrastructure to create a smarter world by using cutting-edge technologies like photonics and computing technologies. The IOWN concept is aimed at transforming existing information and communication systems and realizing a new information and communication infrastructure that goes beyond the limitations of current ICT technology. It is composed of an "All-Photonics Network", which introduces photonics-based technology to everything from networks to terminals, a "Digital Twin Computing" that realizes predictions of the future by combining the real world and the digital world, and a "Cognitive Foundation®" that connects and controls everything.
https://www.rd.ntt/e/iown/

^[3]NTT and IMAGICA GROUP Launch a Comprehensive Joint Study on Expression and Production Techniques for the Real-Cyber Fusion Space of the IOWN Era (press release December 8, 2022)
https://group.ntt/en/newsrelease/2022/12/08/221208a.html

^[4]Hyperspectral Image:
An image captured by spectroscopizing more color information (wavelength) than a normal digital camera (a camera that acquires color images). A single hyperspectral image consists of images corresponding to each color information, and generally consists of dozens or more images. NTT is also working on the hyperspectral imaging technology※, which combines conventional digital cameras with metalenses and AI to acquire hyperspectral images and movies.
※Hyperspectral imaging technology:
The world's first technology to realize hyperspectral image and video acquisition by combining metalens and AI with ordinary digital cameras ~ Converging optical technology and AI to make "ordinary cameras" into "cameras that can see the nature of things" ~ (press release October 24, 2022)
https://group.ntt/en/newsrelease/2022/10/24/221024a.html

^[5]Metamerism:
A phenomenon in which colors with different spectral reflectances appear the same under a specific light source is called conditional isochromatic (metamerism).

About NTT

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