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3. Circular Open Source Fashion

Research & Ideation

Frabric made reciclying logo made with Dall-E

Circular Open Source Fashion is an innovative approach to the fashion industry that combines the principles of circular economy with the collaborative spirit of open source. This concept aims to create a sustainable and inclusive fashion ecosystem by promoting the reuse, recycling, and upcycling of materials, while also encouraging transparency and shared knowledge.

In a circular fashion model, products are designed with their entire lifecycle in mind, ensuring that they can be easily disassembled and repurposed at the end of their use. This reduces waste and minimizes the environmental impact of fashion production. Open source fashion takes this a step further by making design patterns, techniques, and materials openly accessible to everyone. This democratizes fashion design, allowing anyone to contribute to and benefit from sustainable practices.

weekly assignment
  • Include some inspiration: research on artists or projects that work with modules and zero waste systems
  • Document, Design and prototype with paper and scissors modular configurations and interlocking connections
  • Document, Design and prototype digitally your modular configurations and interlocking connections in 2D
  • Document the process of testing and laser cutting your designs, including the machine settings, material type and thickness
  • Laser cut the modules. Create a modular or seamless garment, showing that the connection is * well-designed and holds the pull/stretch. Document the assembly process and tests
  • Upload the fabrication PDF file at oscircularfashion.com, in 1:1 scale accompanied by 1-5 pictures (preferably in white background)
  • Submit some of the modules to the analog or digital material library of the lab. (Recommended size 20cm x 20cm) (extra credit)
Favorite

My fav alumni's pages as references

References & Inspiration

One of the main inspirations for this task is Iris Van Harpen, whom I have been following for a long time. The combination of cuts and their assembly in dresses is extraordinary. I would like to experiment with some of her designs and try to combine them with something iconic. In this sense, I have chosen the Chanel camellia, which has been a symbol of the house for years.

The second path I want to explore is a kind of fabric interwoven with laser-cut pieces. I was impressed by the work done by Laura Sanchez Menthol from Fabricademy 2023 and the outstanding work of Lili Alcaraz and Léa Berlier.

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* Iris Van Harpen

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* Laura Sanchez Menthol and Chanell's Camelia

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* Chanell's Camelia

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* @lilyalcaraz_leaberlier

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@lilyalcaraz_leaberlier

Lili Alcaraz & Bea Berlier


Tools

  • Laser cutter

Process and workflow

Taking into consideration the work of Van Herpen, Lili Alcaraz, and Léa Berlier, I started by making several sketches mainly of what I imagine as skin scales similar to medieval armor that could be used as cuffs on the forearms of a dress.

I also made sketches of my interpretation of Iris Van Harpen's work together with the Chanel camellia, which could be an embellishment as part of a garment.

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inspired on @lilyalcaraz_leaberlier work, scale armour

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four leaf Camelia's inspirated

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Three leaf Camelia / Iris

Step 1, CAD Design

I made 4 modules 1 the first inspired by @lilyalcaraz_leaberlier work, I tried the model of a scale armour design I made in Solidworks

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@lilyalcaraz_leaberlier

The second try was to make a module, and I wanted to add a bead in the midle of the design to add tridimensionality to the design.

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Bead design to be fitted inside the design

The third

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Finally the fourth model is having as inspiration the latest model I made a design that could be fitted together

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Step 2 Laser cutting

The laser cut nesting was hand made since my design was very easy to nest. First, I decided to make some prototypes with my scale design. I decided to use the waste that accumulates in the laboratory's sewing workshop.

In that laboratory, there is a container for putting all the waste from the students' work. From these scraps, I chose several colored strips that I cut to make the first prototype of the scales.

From this prototype, I was able to improve the design since the cuts at the edge of the fabric did not hold the material, which gave me the opportunity to redesign the pieces so that they would hold themselves.

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Instead of paper, I used the class left overs from our textile school at IDIT

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Laser cutting

Step 3 Assemble

Before making the embellishment for a garment, I wanted to create a cut that could support itself through the connection between two pieces. First, I created a design where I tried to use an account to hold the center of the design.

The first design failed miserably, the rounded bead I cut on the laser didn't fit with the first design. However, part of the design proved to have potential for use. so I suggest continuing to experiment in that direction.

First model with the bead inside Broken piece


Beads Failure


Another assemble with waste materials


Part1 Part2


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Final assembly with waste material

With this last design I experimented with a design I wanted to be my final proyect for this assignment

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Assembled material for assignment project

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Assignment's final project

Started by buying leftovers from leather shoes small shops

Leather leftovers shop Have to search and choose what is in the magic bag


I bought some scraps from the shoes store to make the scales of my project

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Leftovers for the armor scale design

After the laser cutting, I assembled the parts to make a leather scales

Leather leftovers shop Have to search and choose what is in the magic bag


At the end I will use the final design as shown.

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Armor Scale design

Fabrication files