GKD metal fabric

GKD Metal Fabrics is a supplier of interwoven metal meshes for large-scale architectural use.

Woven metal fabrics offer a wonderful visual inversion: when the primary illumination is from the viewer’s side, the surface appears solid. When the primary illumination is on an object or wall surface behind the metal fabric surface, the fabric appears highly transparent (it can almost completely disappear when viewed from a distance).As such, if a direct-view lighting product is integrated into the weave of the mesh, it can “magically” appear to dance across the transparent surface (because it will be visually brighter then the surface behind the mesh).GKD has creatively exploited this effect with the Mediamesh product, which includes an integrated direct view LED display system woven right into their products.The Illumesh variant produces softer, more volumetric surfaces then the precision seen in the direct view Mediamesh product.

High tech fashion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJD2xlVcgRI&NR=1&feature=fvwp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlphvlbGMTI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd99gyE4jCk

organic 3D

Mixed Use Building By Kois Associated Architects.

Brendon Carlin And Fellow Students At The Architectural...Brendon Carlin and fellow students at theArchitectural Association Design Research Laboratory

have generated an architectural structure by filling Lycra

with liquid plaster and then letting it set.

Called Grompies, the project involved translating a computer-generated pattern into stitched lines across the fabric using a sewing machine and by hand.

Franois Roche and Stephanie Lavaux with Stephan Henrich and Benoit Duradin - FDM piece (via)

Nervous System uses the form of radiolarians - amoebas that form intricate mineral skeletons (handywikipedia) - and a bit of computer magic to create intricate, beautiful shapes for jewelry that can only be produced via SLS.

e-textile DIY light up your clothing

Our e-textile DIY project tip for this weekend has been around for more than a year on Instructables posted byEnlighted the company that is producing and selling a wide range of illuminated clothing and other fashion items.

There are two highly interesting aspects I found in the ‘Color-Changing Lighted Faux Fur Scarf‘ instruction: the use of color-changing RGB LEDs that have a built-in flashing or fading circuit and the use of buttons to support and place LEDs onto textiles.

The color-changing RGB LEDs are very interesting as they do not need any circuit to fade through the color spectrum, you can just put them in parallel, connect them to a battery between 3V and 9V and up you go.

No additional resistor or any circuit is needed! Sure it will go through the same light changing sequence without the option to change that but given the simplicity of getting color changing pattern is great, especially for a quick, simple prototyping project.

The other tip I find highly interesting is the use of conventional buttons as platform/holder for the LEDs but I can imagine this principle can be useful for other electronic components that need to be fixed on textiles.

Two great inspirational ideas ‘hidden’ in the ‘Color-Changing Lighted Faux Fur Scarf’ Instructables. Maybe because I am not a fan of this kind of scarf I have overlooked for so long the two highly interesting smart crafting tips.

Falling for leaves

The other half of the gift that went to my friend K along with the Sailing Away earrings.

This was a fun project, though attaching those beads was a little tedious. This is knit in Habu Textiles Stainless Steel and wool yarn. Yes, metal wrapped in wool. the result is a very interesting fabric that can hold shape.

Details:
Pattern: Falling Leaves Scarf Necklace by Rosemary Hill from her book Elements of Style
Yarn: Habu Textiles A-148 1/17.6 Wool Stainless Steel in A148 (Green & Taupe mix) (used under a half a skein)
Needles: US 0 - 2.0 mm
Modifications: plenty (see below)

I read through the pattern first and noticed how many times I would be cutting the yarn and wasn't too thrilled. I didn't see how I would neatly hide all the ends in this fabric, so I adjusted it around. First off you'll see the yarn overs on the leaves are on the opposite ends than the pattern suggests.

falling for leaves necklace

Upcycled gown made from 1000 paper cranes

This stunning ball gown by young designer Yuliya Kyrpo is literally made from a thousand paper cranes, which in turn were made from the twisted truth of too many old Metro newspapers. It’s on display at London’s Science Museum.

water-bottle-fabric

British artist Michelle Brand takes the concept of sustainable design to heart by turning the plastic pop bottle into light catching 3-D fabric. Her fanciful flowers define "green" with a fresh clear beauty. Her product range includes pendant lights, window screens and room dividers. "Once a plastic
drinks bottle is empty, it is perceived as redundant and then thrown away. I wanted to challenge this wasteful paradigm."


Michelle's pieces are made-to-order. The Flowerfall is a window dressing that can be used as a privacy screen, with a similar effect to the currently popular patterned window film. The Cascade is more of a room divider or dramatic accent, and Blossom finds the bottle bottoms painted and attached to a string of LED lights.