Obfuscate: Fashion in an Age of Surveillance

Arushi Bandi and Maya Pandurangan (2021)

Obfuscate: Fashion in an Age of Surveillance, a fashion line by CMU Computer Science undergraduates Arushi Bandi and Maya Pandurangan, is a humorous and chilling take on our further narrowing circle of privacy. The designers write: “Surveillance has become ubiquitous in our daily life. We are watched whenever we leave our homes, wherever we go. Some activists and artists have even begun to wear “anti-surveillance” masks, accessories and make-up. We take this one step further and imagine a world where everyone takes precautions against the omnipresent eye of the camera through fashion. We explore how wealth will play a factor in who is seen and who goes unnoticed. We include bright colors and dizzying patterns suited to confuse the camera and obfuscate people.”

Obfuscate: Fashion in an Age of Surveillance was supported by Microgrant #2021-039 from the Frank-Ratchye Fund for Art @ the Frontier.