3. Circular Open Source Fashion¶

Research & Ideation¶

Kosuke Tsumura is a Japanese fashion designer renowned for his innovative and experimental approach to clothing design. He is the creator of the brand Final Home, founded in 1992, which explores the relationship between fashion, functionality, and survival. His work is deeply influenced by social and environmental concerns.

Tsumura

Key Aspects of His Work:¶

Final Home:
The brand’s most iconic piece is a jacket with numerous pockets designed as a personal shelter for use in emergency or disaster situations. The pockets can be filled with newspapers, clothes, food, or other items, providing insulation and storage.
This design embodies his vision of fashion as a practical and adaptable tool for survival.
Purposeful Design:
Tsumura diverges from traditional fashion norms to focus on how design can address essential human needs, such as safety, shelter, and protection.
Sustainability and Minimalism:
Many of his creations use recycled or repurposed materials, emphasizing the importance of conscious and sustainable design.
Relationship Between Technology and the Body:
Tsumura experiments with how clothing can function as an extension of the human body, incorporating concepts of technology, utility, and emotional connectivity.

References & Inspiration¶

Cy Bo¶

This concept describes an innovative cytological packaging material that transcends traditional boundaries by offering versatility and sustainability. The material is sponge-like, providing high cushioning when layered, making it suitable for protecting fragile items like fruits, dishes, and more. Its water-resistant and heat-resistant properties allow for various applications beyond packaging, such as pen cases, baskets, coasters, or even lamp shades.

Key features include:

Reusability: It can be rearranged into different shapes multiple times, expanding its potential uses.
Sustainability: Designed to minimize plastic waste by encouraging reuse.
Versatility: Suitable for both practical and creative purposes, adapting to user needs with limitless possibilities.

Download reference:
Kenji Abe

Tools¶

Illustrator

Process and Workflow¶

Tutorial: How to Design Modules in Illustrator and Prepare Them for a Laser Cutter¶

Step 1: Designing Modules in Adobe Illustrator¶

Open Adobe Illustrator and create a new document:
Canvas size: Set it according to the dimensions of the laser cutter's workspace (e.g., 600x400 mm or 12x24 inches).
Units: Select millimeters or inches, as required.
Color mode: Choose RGB (commonly required by laser cutters).
Enable guides and grids:
Go to View > Show Grid and View > Snap to Grid for precise design work.

Step 2: Create the Module¶

Draw the basic shapes:
Use tools like the rectangle (M), ellipse (L), or pen (P) to create the module pieces.
Ensure all shapes are scaled and proportioned correctly.
Add assembly slots:
Use the rectangle or line tool to create slots on the edges of the pieces.
Ensure the slot dimensions match the material thickness (e.g., 3 mm).