German fashion designer Anke Loh incorporated Philips’ light-emitting fabric, Lumalive, into her latest fashion collection. Lumalive textiles contain LEDs that display full colour moving images on clothing.

Said to have been inspired by her move to Chicago from Antwerp, and the contrasting light and atmosphere between the two places, Ms Loh has harnessed new technologies to create fashions that reflect and also emit light.

"I spent a long time looking for the right technology to bring into my fashion. I tried optical fibres - even weaving them together with black cotton. But when I approached Philips and they showed me their Lumalive textiles I found something special," explained Ms Loh.

Lumalive textiles contain an array of LEDs (light emitting diodes) that can display text, graphics and animations.

"The Lumalive technology is completely unique," explained Bas Zeper, managing director of Photonic Textiles, Philips Research. "Thin, soft, flexible, light... you hardly notice you're wearing it unless it's switched on. It's like a second skin. The electronics and batteries are completely hidden and you can easily remove them from the garment for washing."

This is said to be the first time that a fashion designer has used the textiles.