# Ski Mask Self-Portraits An Electronic Knitting Machine Made the Identity Preserving Balaclava By Meghan Young | Published 2011-01-01 | Unique Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/identity-preserving-balaclava References: [neatorama](http://www.neatorama.com/2010/12/30/ski-mask-self-portrait/) & [blog.makezine](http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/12/self-portrait_ski_mask.html) A person might be able to tell who they are talking to thanks to the Identity Preserving Balaclava, but I fear that the wearer might not be able to determine who's in front of them since there are no eye holes. Of course, this fact doesn't really matter considering that this piece is more [art than anything else](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tidal-stories). Created by Andrew Salomone, the Identity Preserving Balaclava was made using an [electronic knitting machine](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3d-knitting-machine1). By Photoshopping [every angle of his head](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/persona-ai), the images were created and then stitched together to form a bitmap file that acted as the knitting template. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.1/10 - Popularity: 75% | Activity: 70% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Unique](https://www.trendhunter.com/unique) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Identity Preserving Balaclavas:** Opportunity for wearable technology that preserves anonymity while not being a security risk. - **Electronic Knitting Machines:** Opportunity for digital manufacturing and customization in the textile industry. - **Artistic Face Coverings:** Opportunity for fashion and art to intersect in functional yet expressive ways. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Textile Industry:** Opportunity for disruption through digital textile manufacturing technologies. - **Wearable Technology:** Opportunity for disruption through privacy-enhancing wearable technologies. - **Fashion and Art:** Opportunity for disruption and innovation at the intersection of fashion, art, and function. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Emotive Inflatable Masks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lian-mask.md) - [Digital Avatar LED Masks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/qudi-mask-2.md) - [Connected Emotive Face Masks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/w3e-mask-expressive-emotion.md) - [Aerodynamic Filtration Face Masks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/goa-face-protector.md) - [Face Mask-Made Illuminators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/anonymlux-lamp.md) - [Abstract Computing Headset Covers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dbrand-aperture-vision-pro-face-cover.md) - [Futuristic Headgear Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/moonveil-collection.md) - [Futuristic Robotic Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ikeuchi-hiroto.md) - [AI Avatar Creations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/faceless-avatar.md)