Tuesday 25 August 2009

Ice-fern wins the Gecko Think Forward Competition



I am delighted to announce that Ice-fern, CITA's proposal - designed by Karin Bech, Aurélie Mossé and Mette Ramsgaard Thomsen- for the Gecko Think Forward competition organized by Création Baumann has been awarded with the first prize in the Aesthetics categories.

Ice-fern explores the poetics of the window and how textiles can become an integral part of this ultra-thin architectural space. This transformable window geometry is a window-sculpture evolving over time.Pushing the boundaries between curtain and wall, Ice-fern is playfully drawn from one to the other. As Ice-fern is reconfigured excess parts of the curtain are shed creating a conversation between the two. As the lizard can loose its tail, Ice-fern leaves traces of presence across the space of inhabitation.
Ice-fern is three dimensional. Consolidated scales heat pressed into the gecko fabric give the fabric an integral structure. The resident can shape this three dimensionality by loosening parts of the pattern from the window surface. Changing the sculptures three dimensional configuration shifts the diffusion of light and translucency.

Ice-fern is bought in parts and combined at will depending on the size of window and the degree of privacy wished for. The parts combine in multiple ways creating new patterns and configurations. .

Ahrens Grabenhors Architekten from Hannover with „Etz Chaim“ and Trix Barmettler from Zürich with „GECKO goes kids“ were also respectively awarded in the functionality and innovation categories. The three winning projects can be discovered in the show-room of the company in Langenthal, Switzerland till the end of october.

Monday 24 August 2009

ISEA 09


I am off to Belfast, Ireland this week to  the International Symposium of Electronic Art 09 where I will be presenting my first academic paper! 

The ISEA is a non profit organisation promoting interdisciplinaritythrough academic discourse and promoting a dialogue through the disciplines of art, design, science and emerging technologies.

I will be presenting in the third Interactive Textiles category which explores collaboration, cross-disciplinarity and consumption. My paper reviews participatory design methods for fashion support by digital media and sustainability will be a central theme throughout my presentation.

I'm really excited to be attending this event as they have some really amazing key note speakers lined up.  Clive van Heerden , the Senior Director of Design-Led Innovation at Philips and responsible for leading the Philips Design Probes program will be presenting on Wednesday and Thursday will host  Moritz Waldemeyer, the engineer behind Hussein Chalayan's futuristic fashion creations. 

The are a series of Fashion and Textiles sessions exploring time and form, materiality and wearability and lastly, adoption and collaboration, cross disciplinarity and consumption.

And that's just a summary of the Textile categories, there are many more presentations and workshops within other disciplines. I cant wait to experience this action packed week!  

Running parallel to this digital exploration I am going to try out another digital experience  - twitter! I will try my hand at some micro blogging photos and comments live from ISEA09 for the duration of the week... visit my "considerate clothing blog' or sew considerate on twitter for updates.

Bye, bye and tweet to you later!

Wednesday 19 August 2009

Fashioning Now


Fashioning Now, changing the way we make and use clothes is an exhibition and symposium at University of Technology, Sydney 28 July - 28 August 2009.

The exhibit features innovative research projects from Australian and International practitioners including three members of staff and research from LCF Prof Helen Storey MBE, Dr Kate Fletcher and Jennifer Shellard.

Fashioning Now addresses all stages of the clothing lifecycle exploring the production and use of garments and addressing how and why they become discarded. The work has been submitted in an array of different mediums from garments,textile objects, time based art, photography and fashion illustration. The designers have used upcycling techniques, zero waste production, slow fashion, bespoke services, traditional craft and many more methods to present a series of sustainable solutions and poise scenarios for further research and development.

The Fashioning Now website hosts information about the event, the exhibitors and their work. Case studies are available to download and the website will be updated regularly making is a valuable resource for those with in an interest in sustainable fashion and textiles.

Monday 3 August 2009

Fashioning Felt - Cooper-Hewitt Museum

March 6th - September 7th, 2009

For the lucky ones on the other side of the ocean...

Current Exhibition hold at the Cooper-Hewitt museum in New York exploring the varied new uses of felt—an ancient material, believed to be one of the earliest techniques for making textiles. Made by matting together wool fibers with humidity and friction, felting requires little technological expertise and is an extremely versatile material. The exhibition will begin with historic examples of felts, showcase innovations in handmade felts, and feature contemporary uses of industrial felt in a range of fields, including product design, fashion, architecture, and home furnishings. The exhibition is being organized by Susan Brown, assistant curator, Textiles.

More on the Museum Website