El-Wire Effect, LED Brightness?

[Amplify]

Hi everyone! I'm looking to remake and update an old project: a warm coat with with some writing in el-wire sewn onto the back. I'd like to update it to be a bit brighter, which probably means LEDs, but the neon-like LED doesn't seem suitable for bending into writing on clothing. It seems there's also some new fiber optic products.

Any ideas as to what I can use? Desired properties:
– Bright (as close to LED as possible)
– Flexible enough to bend into writing and attach to clothing
– Able to be powered by a wearable battery

Thanks all for your ideas!

[mikeysklar]

There are a lot of options depending on how much space you have.

The flexible silicon neon LED strips are super bright and bendy.

https://www.adafruit.com/product/3862

The fiber optic light sources might work for you.

https://www.adafruit.com/product/4165

There are flexible LED panels which would be the brightest option.

https://www.adafruit.com/product/3683

Flat EL panels look really good and you can print designs on transparency paper to go over it.

https://www.adafruit.com/product/414

[Amplify]

Thank you! Is there a way to go beyond 1m with either the fiber optic or silicone LED options? I'm thinking maybe the fiber optics can be connected but silicone needs independent power?

[mikeysklar]

I suppose you could play with adhering multiple plastic tube lengths together. We do not sell lengths longer than 1m. If you are going for brightness more light sources would be a good thing. I would even experiment with lighting from both ends.

[Amplify]

Thank you, that's helpful!