Innovative Fabric Construction - Five

INNOVATIVE FABRIC CONSTRUCTION 

Drivers of innovation (what makes us want to do different)

Issues around sustainability 

- Better use of raw materials (more expensive) 

- Recyclability and regenerating.

Speed and efficiency

- Quick response, reduction of costs.

Customisation and individuality

- New ways of manufacturing, variety of functions.

Sprayed Fabrics (non-woven)

- Sprayed fibre onto mould takes out production.

- Have lots of different functions.

- Add long sleeves to short top.

- Lining, layering, covering, and moulding.

Rapid prototyping

- Use Ultraviolet beams to fuse layers of powdered thermoplastic into shape.

- End use, heart valves, jewellery etc.

Growing Fabrics 

- Susan Lee – alternative to using petrol chemicals.

- Using types of sugar in VAT creates leathery material in non-woven form.

- Bio culture work investigates the use of microfibers to grow a piece for an exact shape.

3D Spacer Fabrics (knitted/woven)

- Only synthetics to be used

- Natural ventilation.

- Used in sports shoes, seating, mattresses, medical and protective products.

Oversized Stitches 

- Create images stitches and plastic tubing.

Micro Sized Stitches 

- Alpha Crome, Nano knitting, using tiny pins and wire to knit.

Biomimetrics 

- Can mimic a living bio-system, Velcro was the first (based on a thistle) 

- Speedos Fast Slim suits replicates the surface of shark’s skin.

- Self-cleaning waterproof textiles mimic the surface of a lotus leaf.

- The Stomatex product uses the principle of a leafs natural ability to transpire and keep dry.

Body Scanning 

- Automatically measuring to create personalised clothing, pioneered by the army made to your requirements.

- A body form is created for three dimensional designs.

Moulded Fabrics

- (Synthetic content)

- (Natural fibre synthetic resistance)

- 2D fabric into 3D form

Magnetism i.e. Iron

- Patterning and designer function.

- Embedded magnetism into fabrics.

Precious Waste

Plastic bags into thread then used in recycled waste.

Zero Waste Cutting

- Engineer like a jigsaw puzzle.

- Design influenced by layout cutting (no waste)

- Holly McGullen – Designer uses this method.

Lazer and Water Jet cutting

- Synthetic, laser will seal the edge eliminate the fraying.

- Cotton, natural, burn/singe clean cut.

- Water Jets, (sensitive to high temp)

- Both technologies have a wide area of application (cutting, shaping, carving, and decorating)