Transmaterial » textile

Fuzzy Light Switch

Blaine Brownell — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:00:15 +0000

International Fashion Machines provides private research and consulting in electronic textiles to a variety of clients, industries, and the military. They work with the latest electronic yarns and a variety of textile processes including embroidery, sewing, weaving and braiding. IFM also creates electronic textile connections, both intra-textile and between traditional electronics and textiles.

Designed by Maggie Orth, IFM’s Fuzzy Light Switches are woven and embroidered touch sensors for dimming lights or controlling electronic devices with the touch of a hand. IFM’s interactive textiles can cover a wall, control the lights in the room, or become part of the furniture.

Contact: International Fashion Machines, Seattle, WA, USA.
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SOUND Wall

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 18:00:18 +0000

The NONdesigns SOUND Wall, designed by Scott Franklin and Miao Miao, is a modular system of interactive tiles used to create wall surfaces that alter their texture and light qualities based on environmental stimuli. With every sound produced by its audience, the SOUND Wall responds by opening its “skin,” allowing light to spill out across the textural surface. Each module reacts independently, causing the wall to have reflections of activity where it is closest to sources of sound. The system is expandable to any wall size and its sensitivity is adjustable to react to soft or loud sound levels. The modules are custom-built for each project, so size and color can be selected to fit the application.

Contact: NONdesigns, LLC, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Parametre

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:00:07 +0000

Parametre is a lightweight, expandable 3D textile system designed to deliver visual impact with minimal material. Made of 100% non-woven polyester, this flexible textile can be used in a variety of residential or commercial applications in which a rich visual texture is required. Parametre may be used as a solar shading device, space divider, light diffusion panel, or screen for rapidly reconfigurable spaces.

Contact: 3form, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
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NanoSphere

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:00:10 +0000

NanoSphere is a self-cleaning finish technology composed of nanoparticles that form a fine structure on textile surfaces. Water or substances such as oil or ketchup simply run off the NanoSphere surface, and any residue can easily be rinsed off with a little water. Textiles with NanoSphere treatment require less frequent washing and can be washed at lower temperatures. They also exhibit increased abrasion and weather resistance. The function of NanoSphere is retained even after numerous washing or cleaning cycles. NanoSphere has been developed in accordance with the Bluesign standard, guaranteeing the highest possible exclusion of harmful substances.

Contact: Schoeller Technologies AG, Sevelen, Switzerland.
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Zetix

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:00:43 +0000

Most blast-defense systems are only capable of coping with a single explosive event. Once they have deployed, any protection they offered is lost. The unusual construction of the Zetix fabrics means that they effectively “vent” much of the blast energies through, lessening the load on the support structure. As a result, they offer a multiple-blast event solution for natural or human-initiated disasters. Zetix textiles may be used for window protection, blast screens, fragmentation liners, as well as body armor enhancements.

Contact: Auxetix Ltd., Devon, UK
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Liminal Air

Blaine Brownell — Sat, 08 May 2010 14:00:10 +0000

Inspired by a cave visited at the foot of Mount Fuji, Shinji Ohmaki constructed an installation designed to render visible the air we cannot see and the sounds we cannot hear. Liminal Air is composed of 123,000 nylon strings suspended in varying lengths in such a way that they collectively create a kind of cloud-like, inverted topography. Viewable from both the interior and exterior, Liminal Air is intended to convey to visitors the feeling of plunging into a wave of light.

Contact: Tokyo Gallery＋BTAP, Tokyo, Japan.
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Delight Cloth

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:00:14 +0000

Delight Cloth is a light-emitting textile comprised of thousands of fiber optic strands. With a diameter of only 0.25 to 0.5 mm, the optical fibers are woven into a large translucent tapestry that can be hung vertically or horizontally. The material may be used for wall or ceiling treatments, as well as banner signage or clothing. Delight Cloth can be fabricated with imbedded graphics or logos, and may be used to emit a wide variety of colors of light.

Japan-based Tsuya textile Co., Ltd. developed “The cloth fiber cross which glittered” in cooperation with Fukui engineering center.

Contact: Lumen Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.
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Morphotex

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:00:17 +0000

Morphotex is the world’s first optical coloring fiber, inspired by the chromogenic principle of Morpho butterflies that inhabit areas along the Amazon in South Africa. Called “living jewels,” the cobalt-blue wings of Morpho butterflies impart vivid color although they have no pigmentation.

Teijin Fibers has recreated this effect via nanotechnology, combining a total of 61 polyester and nylon fibers in alternating layers. By controlling the thickness of each layer ranging from 70 to 100 nanometers, they can produce four basic colors (red, green, blue and violet). Although no dyes or pigments are used for Morphotex, the process reveals a rainbow of colors according to the intensity and angle of light due to this unique structure of the fiber. As there is no dyeing process involved in producing the fiber, Morphotex saves energy and minimizes industrial waste when compared with conventional methods.

Contact: Teijin Fibers Limited, Osaka, Japan.
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Stomatex

Blaine Brownell — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:00:21 +0000

Neoprene is used extensively in the water sports, soft orthopedic, sportswear, footwear, equestrian, and thermal protective equipment sectors. However, conventional neoprene causes serious discomfort when worn against the skin of humans or animals. Stomatex overcomes this discomfort by dynamically removing moisture.

Stomatex embodies technology that allows impermeable materials (closed cell foams) to transfer heat and perspiration from the body. Stomatex technology has been successfully applied to closed cell neoprene with further variants under development. The product is currently being used in sports supports, equestrian products, and other similar products.

Contact: Stomatex, London, UK.
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Krystal Weave

Blaine Brownell — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:00:38 +0000

Libby Kowalski of Kova Textiles developed the Krystal Weave collection because she was inspired by the water-clear yarn that is used prominently as the horizontal element in the fabric. A glistening matrix of transparent and translucent threads, Krystal Weave fabric is like a crystalline curtain, which offers a variety of possibilities for dividing spaces, enhancing windows, and covering upholstered wall panels in commercial and residential spaces.

Contact: Kova Textiles, LLC, New York, NY, USA.
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