Electro-active polymers

Pursuing my journey through energy-harvesting and self-actuated textiles, I am currently exploring the potential of electro-active polymers, in the design of responsive textiles, in collaboration with Dr Guggi Kofod from the University of Potsdam, Germany, Departement of Applied Condensed Matter Physics.

Ultra thin stretch fabric

Stretch compostable fabric

As a part of my investigations I am looking for ultra thin stretch fabrics and I was wondering if you could be of help. Would you know any supplier / manufacturer that would provide strecth fabric with a thickness below 0,05mm ? Any suggestion is welcome including tights manufacturer!

I would also like to take advantage of this post to encourage visitors to leave feedbacks and questions as this platform is also very much about sharing information and creating debate within the future textiles community and beyond.

Global Sourcing Marketplace: Making Producing Sustainable Fashion Collections Easy

THE ANNUAL INDUSTRY MARKETPLACE FOR SUPPLIERS OF SUSTAINABLE FABRICS, COMPONENTS AND MANUFACTURERS TO THE FASHION INDUSTRY

20th-21st NOVEMBER, CHELSEA COLLEGE, LONDON

As a culmination of 2009’s Spotlight on Sourcing event series, the Ethical Fashion Forum (EFF) will be holding a two-day Ethical Sourcing Marketplace in London. The marketplace will bring together representatives of brands and retailers with manufacturers, suppliers and cooperatives working to high ethical standards.

At the event you can:

• Meet a range of suppliers, see and feel products and discuss your needs face to face
• Gain access to detailed information on exhibitors through the Supplier Directory -quickly identify exhibitors compatible with your work
• Attend the series of short seminars during both days, introducing new products and exemplary supply systems
• Access one to one advice from leading ethical fashion support organisations and initiatives
• Network with other visitors and learn from others experience, share ideas and make key contacts

Tickets are available on site and student discount is available for £10 access saturday 21st  between 1030 - 1300 ... bring your student ID with you.

visitor information 

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.

Plastic Fantastic Workshop

Pictures: American Supply plastics by Amélie Labarthe

What is plastic? Why plastic now? Plastic and architecture, do they get along that well? As many questions Aurélie Mossé and Mette Ramsgaard Thomsen from CITA will address next week during a one-week workshop at the Royal Academy of Fines Arts, School of Architecture, Copenhagen.

Aurélie will especially introduce students to the performing potential of contemporary plastics from upcycling materials to shape memory polymers.

As a starter on the topic, we do recommand to visit this amazing resource about plastics and architecture: https://www.acsa-arch.org/plastic/index.html

Gecko Fabrics Workshop

Weekly meeting of our research group at CITA , CITA sessions is a chance for us to exchange ideas, share experiences. CITA session 2 will focus on designing proposals and mock-ups for our application in the Gecko Textiles Competition organized by Créations Baumann. A new fabric inspired by nanotech research seeking to mimick Gecko's skin. More news in pictures soon !

Innovation embedded in the fabric

A lecture by Martin Leuthold, Art Director at Jakob Schlaepfer at Plug.in, Basel, Switzerland

Leuthold will bring a selection of these fabrics and will talk about the entangelment of craft and technology, and specifically about the appearing and vanishing of electronic technologies in his collections.

If you don't know Jakob Schlaepfer yet, you should run for it, it is a must in term of innovative textiles for Haute-Couture. This Swiss-based company propose textiles that are a paradise for the eyes and for the hands, proposing luxurious collections of surprising textiles mixing embroidery, laser-cutting & digital printing. Astonishing.

Source : Fashion Technology

Eco Build & Future Build 2009

3-5 March 2009, London, Earls Court

Ecobuild is an event dedicated to sustainable design, construction and the built environment.

It is a great place to select materials as Ecobuild showcases a vast range of sustainable construction products, associated with a vast selection of conferences / seminars focused around topics such as

• Making micro renewables work
• Water wise
• Regulations revealed
• Road to zero carbon
• Refurbishing Britain
• Urban planning & public realm
• Performance matters
• Innovation & efficiency
  

One session seems particularly interesting as the main focus will be on Innovation in Construction today, introducing among other smart & phase changing materials. So see you there on Wednesday 4th March from 10h30 till 12h30?