The National Busan Science Center is bringing the science hidden in everyday clothing to the public through a hands-on exhibition.
The center announced Thursday that it will launch a special exhibition titled "Science Completes Fashion" starting May 31. The convergence-themed exhibition covers the entire process from fibers to fabrics to functional materials, allowing visitors to experience each stage step by step.
The exhibition goes beyond passive viewing, placing emphasis on direct, hands-on participation. Visitors can compare natural and synthetic fibers, examine fabric structures under microscopes, and experience the weaving process by interlacing threads themselves. They can also experiment with functional materials such as moisture-permeable, waterproof, fireproof, and bulletproof fabrics, and try on special protective garments, offering an intuitive understanding of the functional evolution of clothing.
Experiences incorporating digital technology also stand out. Using 3D virtual styling tools, visitors can design and visualize their own garments, and examine cutting-edge materials such as fabrics that change color in response to heat. The participatory format — where visitors select materials and functions along the exhibition route to design their own clothing — has been praised for significantly enhancing the educational impact.
Future fashion technologies are also on display. Next-generation materials such as smart clothing that analyzes biosignals and self-healing fibers offer a glimpse into the future that fashion technology will unlock.
"We have prepared the exhibition so that visitors can intuitively experience the scientific principles hidden in the clothes they wear every day," said Kwon Su-jin, head of the Science and Culture Division at the National Busan Science Center. "We hope the process of designing and thinking through their own garments will serve as an opportunity to cultivate both scientific curiosity and creativity."
The exhibition is free and open to visitors at the small exhibition hall on the first floor of the science center. Related programs including hand-sewing workshops and digital garment design workshops will also be offered.
