Studio M

Thursday, 3 May 2012

Is it silk...Is it leather... no its sequins!!!

Technology influencing Fashion

I found this brief article written in 2000 quite interesting. It doesn't link directly to a specific trend but I feel it ties in with our overall concept:

While we won't be wearing T-shirts made of titanium in the 21st century, technology will play its part in clothing of the future, predicts Marcy Koontz, an assistant professor in the Department of Clothing, Textiles, and Interior Design, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. The most radical innovations will occur in the area of "clever clothes."

New fabrics will take the lead, and fashion designers will embrace the decorative and functional potential of revolutionary materials. Fashion fabrics with integral anti-perspiring or scent-releasing features will become ordinary. "Technologists will invent more multi-purpose fabrics, accessories, and makeup and extend the range of sensory and audio products to wear. Computer-aided design will provide made-to-measure garments for the mass market."

The fashion world of the recent past will still be recognizable, however. "Youth will be in charge. Pop music, videos, movies, television, and the fashion press will still promote fashion's idols and help to spark the latest fads." There will be more sophisticated "virtual fashion" websites to speed the dissemination of style ideas worldwide. Despite access to online shopping, people will still want the experience of trailing around the mall looking for that perfect outfit.

Working from the home in comfortable, informal garments will be an option of many, but the subdued suit and corporate image will retain their hold on office workers' wardrobes, Koontz indicates. Professional sportswear will continue to influence leisurewear, and casuals with designer labels will remain important for the entire family.

Paris, the traditional designer mecca, will face increasing competition from rival centers--including New York, Milan, and Tokyo--but it will retain its position as the epicenter of culture. In Japan, the growing youth and fashion industry will become stronger. By the middle of the 21st century, African states, the South Asian subcontinent, and China will have become potent fashion forces.

Some artwork i found, made by polaroid film going wrong- I think is something that we could re-create and could be really interesting for colour an print.

Current use of recycled polyester

http://www.adidas-group.com/en/sustainability/Environment/Product_creation/Recycled_polyester/default.aspx

How a big fashion sportswear brand would be using the synthetics in a more sustainable way, and also in relation to current events i.e. the Olympic Games.

Recyling synthetics

In terms of embracing synthetics, we've talked about recylcing plastic items such as water bottles etc. in order to get more sustainable yarns. Here's a little video from the Discovery channel which could be interesting!

be free to make shapes

Pierre Cardin - synthetic fabric molded into three-dimensional shapes

Beaded QR Code Garment

continuing the imitation idea in beading...not quite what we are after but again related to our technological theme...very clever

Thorunn Arnadottir has given the geeky QR code a tribal spin by beading the graphic using Swarovski crystals. His project QR U? uses the tribal style in reference to social networks that are often considered to be "online tribes."

According to Arnadottir, "Beads have been used as a communication tool and to express individual identity in African culture and we also use “beads” (pixels) in the digital culture as a communication tool and to express our identities online."

new way of using synthetic fabric

i was looking for a synthetic which shows Eco-friendly effect (diff. direction with recycle).

Rayon and polyester better step aside. There's a new synthetic fabric in town, and it's softer, lighter, and more flexible than any of its predecessors. Designers Yvonne Laurysen and Erik Mantel collaborated to create furore, a porous material reminiscent of expanded metal. It comes long and bushy or short and smooth, and can be dyed a variety of different colors. You can now dress like a furry alien mermaid without having to hunt down, kill, and skin a furry alien mermaid.

Fashioning Technology

I have found this blog/website.....www.fashioningtech.com
think its quite exciting, may inspire some ideas for you, some are quite 'literal' so we need to think of how to do it a whole new way.

Alba Prat, "pixel" top from the "Digitized" collection, inspired by the 1982 film Tron, 2011.

Natalie Rachel transforms graphs and bar charts into fashionable scarves that are infused with a rich, meaningful history. Taking data from online DIY marketplace Etsy, Rachel transforms monthly data for items sold, items listed, amount (in dollars) sold, and new registered members into knitting patterns for scarves.

Hoon Chung, a student at the London College of Fashion, has designed a collection of 3D-printed shoes. Although Chung's collection doesn't embrace the complexity or novelty of the Melonia shoe, for example, it is quite nice to see fashion students embracing 3D printing technologies in their work.

do we want to embrace this? 3d print design...in clothing....removing the darts/seams/need for seamstresses! i see it fitting in with our theme quite nicely?

Researching unconventional methods of creating garments, RCA student Jungeun Lee has created a gorgeous collection of garments made from wrapping synthetic fibers around a form. Through a heating process, the wound fibers is molded into a 3-dimensional garment. The results are dramatic silhouettes sculpted from yards of colorful fiber. ......

Another no sew idea.. 3D technology would also reduce waste which makes it a sustainable idea.

wateproof brand history -aquascutum and burberry

1: Aquascutum

The quintessential British clothing brand, which means 'water shield' in Latin, was launched in 1851 and quickly became known for its innovative waterproof wool. Enjoying royal patronage since the 19th century, Aquascutum's classic sophistication spliced with modern elements has ensured aristocrats, political leaders and actors are among its customers. Aquascutum is proud to make some of its outerwear in Northamptonshire, England such as its signature trench coat. ‘Made in England’ celebrate all the British hallmarks of Aquascutum – attention to detail, traditional craftsmanship and authenticity. Last year Aquascutum launched a luxurious range of technical Golf wear.

2: Burberry

Thomas Burberry started his business in Basingstoke in Hampshire in 1856. Burberry considered the problem of waterproofing from the agricultural point of view. He began experiments on fabric with a cotton mill owner. He produced long staple Egyptian cotton, proofed in the yarn before weaving. The resultant woven gabardine twill cloth used no rubber. The closely woven twill construction contributed to its waterproof nature as the diagonal twill wales aided the facility of surface tension. Water droplets first rested on the surface of the compact twill weave gabardine forming tight drops. Then the drops ran off rather than spreading between the interstices of the fibres as they might on a basic plain weave fabric. The weatherproof material he produced relied in part on the surface tension properties of the twilled surface. Burberry fabric was initially untearable and it didn't obstruct air.

(they not exactly related with synthetic fabric, but i think they are good starting point to show about smart fabric/waterproof)