All Lit Up

 The Black Eyed Peas’ concert costumes feature a mix of LEDs & OLEDs

When 80,000 fans thronged the Stade de France in Paris to kick off The Black Eyed Peas’ “The Beginning” tour, attendees were prepared for a rockin’ good time. More unexpected was the brilliant, illuminated costumes worn by the three dynamic personalities on stage. Befitting a performance in the City of Light, the trio upped the visual wattage of their appearance – without actually increasing any wattage at all.

Known for pushing the boundaries of music, fashion, and technology, Fergie, Taboo, and apl.de.ap performed in can’t-look-away-from-it costumes developed in collaboration with Philips and incorporating the lighting firm’s LED and OLED technology. The revolutionary outfits were designed and created by Philips Lighting’s chief design officer, Rogier Van der Heide, and his team in collaboration with B. Åkerlund, the Black Eyed Peas’ lead costume designer/stylist. Combining her visionary styling – as well as expertise across fashion technology, motion video, and electronics – the group developed a radical, groundbreaking design.

The unusual costume idea started when Fergie selected a one-of-a-kind dress designed with Philips lighting technology for the Billboard Music Awards. The resulting fervor of interest spurred the ever-pioneering artists to up the ante by commissioning specially designed outfits with Philips lighting technology that could seamlessly and wirelessly interact with the stage lighting and music beats. Continue Reading

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