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3. Circular Open Source Fashion

Research & Ideation

Inspiration: Artists and Projects

Objective:

Research on artists and projects working with modular designs and zero-waste systems.

Modular Fashion Systems:

Iris van Herpen:

Known for her intricate modular designs, van Herpen combines fashion with technology to create modular garments that use interlocking shapes and structures. Her work often incorporates 3D printing and laser cutting to form garments that can change shape or size. - Neri Oxman: Oxman, an architect and designer, explores the intersection of design, biology, and computation. Her modular structures are built to be adaptable, much like the natural world, and emphasize zero waste by using only necessary materials.

Picture: IRIS VAN HERPEN website.

Tessa Moroder:

An artist and fashion designer who works extensively with zero-waste patterns, Moroder uses modular systems that allow for reconfigurable garments, minimizing fabric waste during production.

Zero-Waste Fashion Systems:

Zero Waste Daniel:

Daniel Silverstein creates modular, zero-waste fashion by using fabric scraps to design garments. His work is focused on sustainability, ensuring that no material is wasted.

Daniel zero-waste fashion:

Holly McQuillan:

A leading researcher in zero-waste design, McQuillan’s work explores the idea of creating garments with minimal to no fabric waste, using modular, adaptable patterns.

Relevant Projects:
The T-shirt Issue:

A Berlin-based collective that creates modular garments from 3D shapes, allowing for customization and multiple configurations, focusing on sustainability.

Notpla:

While not strictly fashion, Notpla creates biodegradable, modular packaging materials that can inspire fashion designers working on zero-waste and modular designs.

References:
  • Iris van Herpen’s Modular Collections
  • Zero Waste Daniel’s Sustainable Fashion
  • The T-shirt Issue Modular Garments

2. Digital Design Process

Objective:

Create a digital version of the modular configurations using design software to refine and prepare the model for laser cutting.

Software Used:

Inkscape for design and converting the designs to a laser-cut-friendly format.

Inkscape Process:

Steps for Creating the Male and Female Modular Shapes:

1. Set up the Document:
  • I started by opening Inkscape and adjusting the Document to set up the page size and units in millimeters. This helped ensure my design was to scale right from the start.
2. Draw the Base Shape:
  • Next, I used the Polygon tool to create a four-sided polygon, forming the base shape of the modules. I adjusted the corners slightly using the Node tool to get the exact look I wanted.
3. Create the Male and Female Elements:
  • To differentiate between the "male" and "female" components, I used rounded tabs and corresponding slots for interlocking.
4. Male Side (Tabs):
  • For the male side, I used the Ellipse tool to create circular tabs that extend from the edges of the polygon. I made sure the size was consistent across all tabs by adjusting the dimensions in the toolbar.
  • Then, I used Boolean operations to combine the tabs with the base shape. I selected both the polygon and the tabs, and then applied Path > Union to merge them.
5. Female Side (Slots):
  • For the female side, I used the Rectangle tool to draw rectangular slots in the places where the tabs would fit.
  • I positioned the slots carefully along the edges of the polygon and used Path > Difference to cut out the slots from the shape, ensuring a snug fit for the male tabs.
6. Aligning the Shapes:
  • After creating both the male and female components, I used the Align and Distribute panel to make sure everything was perfectly aligned. This step was crucial for ensuring the pieces fit together properly.
Final Adjustments:
  • I went through the design one more time using the Node tool to make minor adjustments to the nodes and paths. This helped refine the fit and overall appearance of the modules.
8. Save the Design:
  • Finally, I saved the design as an SVG file and exported it for laser cutting later. I used File > Save As to save it in the right format and also exported the image using File > Export PNG Image for documentation purposes.