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Full Circle Fabrics

Step 1 cut Cymatics captured by Erika Weitz and Thomas Noya

Step 1 cut

what

For my final project I will produce a garment in which every step is a collaboration with nature.

These steps include:

  1. Fibre creation

  2. Dye creation (colourant)

  3. Printing (surface pattern design)

  4. Cutting (pattern making)

Fibre:

I will focus on natural leathers as my primary "fibres". These will come from mycellium and or kombucha. My lab has access to kombucha waste, so I will start here for my experiments and maybe even as the final material. But I will also attempt to grow it in the lab. Kombucha is known to dye very well. I am not sure about mycellium. More traditional cellulose fibres like cotton and wool will also be used to get the most out of the dyes process.

Dyes:

All of my dyes will be natural. They will be derived from plants and food waste that I've collected or grown myself.

Printing:

By combining water cymatics and water marbling (Ebru), I'll attempt to capture the naturally occuring paramtetric patterns from both processes on my leathers. Cymatics are natural patterns that are proudced when a sine wave is sent to a vibrating surface. The material on that surface, such as water or salt, self organizes into incredible paramteric shapes. If you've never seen cymatics, I suggest you watch this video below:

Wool and cotton are tried and true ebru fabrics - so to obtain a variery of results I will also use these.

🎵 Nigel Stanford — CYMATICS: Science Vs. Music

Cutting:

I would like the ultimate pattern to involve layers. The layers - and how they are cut, will be dependant on the prints I am able to produce.

Below are layering example I enjoy:

LAYERING EXAMPLES Step 1 cut

LAYERING ON THE BODY Step 1 cut

FORM IDEAS & IMPRINTING TECHNIQUES

Step 1 cut

why

After two "false" starts, I've found a way to combine my love of organic surface pattern making with fashion centric bio-material development. By combining the two, I like that nature actually has a strong part in every step of the project. All of these are processes I want to work with down the road. This feels like the time to explore bio-materials since I have access to a lab, and capturing cymatics has long been something I've been curious to try.

who

This project is for predominantly for me - so I can keep practicing all the things I love in one project, but also for anyone who asks me about it when it's done. It's also for anyone who wants to try doing something similar and learn from my discoveries.

when

January:

Early:

  • Self reflection - what is my style?

  • Aesthetic documentation research ( how do I want to share it when it's done)

Mid:

  • mini cymatics rig test

  • make pigments and lakes

  • Do dye tests with mycellium and kombucha samples in lab

  • start leather growth and get the hang of the optimal processes

Late:

  • Return to Ontario and finalize motif research and garment designs

February

Early:

  • build and test large scale cymatics rig

  • continue doing dye tests with natural dyes and cymatics rig

  • use bust from digital bodies week and fill out to use as dress form

  • Build muslin mock up of garment

  • source final wool / cotton fabrics

Mid:

  • dye and marbling tests on silk / wool

  • return to Quebec and check existing growing leathers

  • start second batch of growing samples

  • hardcore pigment and pattern tests on existing samples

Late:

  • Study cymatics photography and documentation

  • harvest leathers

  • Final dye tests

  • Assembling sewn elements ( silk & wool)

March

Early:

  • Assemble final garments

Mid

  • final touches

  • photoshoot

late:

  • Documentation

where

Both at my home in Ontario and at the lab in Quebec.