10. Textile Scaffold¶

During Week 10 we discovered technical textiles have various applications, a.o. agrotech, building, clothes, geotech, sports. In this class we used textiles for composites, fabric formwork, polymerisation, solidification, crystallization,(bio)composites & agglomerates.

Research¶

Cover Art- Nadia Attmore

This week expands into my ongoing study of the human body as a structural and emotional place within fashion. The symbolism of tears, beauty, suffering, and the release of emotions, that’s been interpreted through crystallization and biofabricated materials, is the source of my research and inspiration this week. Within my research I studied how transitions can resemble how emotion appears in the body. Although, I didn’t physically create a garment this week I instead used this as a prototype in the coming weeks for the final project.

References & Inspiration¶

The idea that the mind is the source of creativity, trauma, memory, and imagination is also incorporated into the brain mold composite. I wanted to convey the idea of internal growth, and how feelings, experiences, and our thoughts as beings blossom, die, and renew within us by combining dried flowers into the mold.

My growing interest in how fashion may reflect emotional factors while being rooted in materials experimentation is continued by the way these pieces collectively frame the body not only as a physical form but also as an area where pain and beauty are aligned.

Project Art Inspiration¶

Design by Nadia Attmore

Tools¶

Crystalliization Samples

- Borax
- Boiling water
- Mesh tulle fabric
- Fringe trim
- Measuring soons/cups

Brain Composite & Mold

- 3D printed brain form
- Bio silicone miixture * gelatin,lyceriin, water * 
- Dried flowers
- Mold casting 
- Resin

Process and workflow¶

Part 1: Crystallization Textile

In order to achieve heavier crystallization, I started by making a supersaturated borax solution by tripling the base recipe and adding 9 tablespoons of borax to 3 cups of hot water in each container. To allow the fibers to be an anchor for the crystallization to take place, I used mesh tulle and fringe trim soaking them in the solution. I left the materials in the mixture for 24 hours, the solution cooled and the crystals began to form on the trim and tulle. I chose one of each material to go through a 2nd crystallization cycle for another 24 hours, this time doubling the base recipe using 6 tablespoons of borax and 2 cups of boiling water.

Cover Art- Nadia Attmore

Part 2: Brain Composite Cast

I focused on turning the human brain cast into a symbolic representation during the 2nd phase. A bio silicone mixture based on gelatine, glycerin, and water was used to make the mold, which helped me get the finer details of the original 3D printed brain. I'm still utilizing resin as the main structural material for the brain piece, but this time I'm adding a composite layer that represents both organic growth and deep feelings.

My initial 3D printed brain mold is where the process starts. In order to create the basic structure and capture the many details of the brain, my first pour will be a layer of clear resin. I will put the 3D printed brain model back into the resin before the cures, which will create a second negative space inside the mold. This negative area serves as a figurative inside, a place for spiritual change, memories, and emotion. The flowers inside are meant to resemble growth, such as ideas sprouting and memories planting seed within the brain's folds also.

A thin layer of kombucha leather, made with scoby grown with red wine rather than regular tea, will be added between the floral layer and the last resin pour. This approach gives a gentle, natural pink or cherry tone. The flowers and kombucha leather will be sealed within the brain mold by a final layer of resin that will seal everything in.

3D Printed Brain¶

Ingredients & Recipes¶

    * Base recipe- 3 tbs borax, 1 cup boiling water
    * Tripled recipe- 9 tbs borax, 3 cup boiling water
    * Doubled recipe- 6 tbs borax, 2 cup boiling water

RESULTS¶

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