LG Display, a long-time pioneer in flexible and transparent displays, is exploring new territory with what it calls a groundbreaking development: stretchable displays.
Yes, you heard right. According to LG Display, “the stretchable displays… can be freely stretched, bent and twisted.”
The bending and even twisting part isn't that remarkable. I've been in many of LG Display's private meeting rooms at CES and other events where they've shown off all sorts of screen bends, twists and turns. The stretching part, however, is a bit different.
LG Display’s first stretchable display prototype will make its debut at Seoul Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2025 (September 5-7), where runway models will show how the display can stretch from 12 to 14 inches. It’s something I’ve never seen before.
As for what you can do with stretchable displays, well, that's why LG is showing them off at a fashion show. Imagine them on a dress that has to hug your curves, or in a handbag that can handle being stuffed to the point of being bulging. LG provided some photos and a very brief video of the LG Stretchable Display in use in a couple of fashion scenarios, but I look forward to seeing, touching, and stretching these displays myself.
“Stretchable displays will have a huge impact on the fashion industry by enabling the implementation of designs that were previously only imaginable,” Korean fashion designer Chung-Chung Lee said in LG’s statement.
But how?
LG Display explained to me that these stretchy displays are high-resolution active-matrix micro-LED displays. The maximum elasticity is around 20%, and the secret to that elasticity is LG Display’s use of silicone material, the most common in contact lenses. It gives them, they claim, an almost rubber-band-like elasticity. These stretchy displays could also last quite a while, as they’re promised to withstand over 10,000 shape changes. So push, pull, and squeeze your display dress until you get tired — apparently, the stretchy display can handle it.
LG Display told me the Micro-LED display is durable and “has a resolution that rivals standard monitors.” That may be so, but full RGB displays only support 100 ppi. That’s less than a quarter of the resolution you could get on your best standard iPhone. We still don’t know anything about screen size limitations or where the power source might be for these displays. Will you be wearing a battery-powered dress?
While LG Display is currently positioning stretchable displays for commercial use, the technology allows for displays to be attached not only to fabric but also to human skin. If LG Display can solve the power supply problem, we could strap these thin, lightweight, disposable displays onto our arms and then stretch them out a bit to create ever-changing, illustrative tattoo sleeves.
As LG notes in its statement, “…they could revolutionize everyday life by enabling an era of computing devices that can be comfortably worn like clothing or attached to the body.”
By the way, LG isn't alone in the quest for stretchable displays. Earlier this year, we stumbled upon an Apple patent describing stretchable displays for devices like the Apple Watch and MacBooks. Of course, this is a patent that may never see the light of day. LG Display's stretchable displays already adorn T-shirts and bags.
