Assignment | 10 oktober 2017

Design and fabricate a modular reconfigurable system or seamless garment

ref.: http://fabricademy.fabcloud.io/handbook/classes/02_circular_fashion.html

The examples shown during the lecture reminded me of origami, which is my inspiration for this week. I also liked the reminder of 'keep it simple' hence I chose for the triangle shape. I also liked the three dimensional aspect of this shape and I am curious if I can manage to recreate this with fabric.

The quickest way for me to figure out the shape is via paper.

I am very comfortable with this program, so it took me relatively little time to draw out the shapes. I made few sets of triangles. A big and little 3D shape, one big shape to fit the small ones in and a single side one. I could make even more variations, but I first wanted to know how well these pieces would interlock.

I toughed felt was a common product, but I took me effort to find it in the local stores, and quite expensive at that. The felt I found is a thin sheet (aprox 2 mm thick), made from polyester (recycled post consumer plastic bottles). In the laser I used settings like I would be cutting thin cardboard (600DPI - S.80/P.30/F.500) and the result is nice. There is a light discoloration where the cut is, but the edge itself does not feel crunchy. On the back there is (like I expected) some staining from the honeycomb which can be prevented by using masking tape. Also the burning smell does not linger very long. After leaving the pieces sitting on a shelf for a few day's the odor is gone.

The joinery of the big single pieces is fine, and as strong as can be expected of this particular material. Trying out the same connection in the small version is less so. They stay together nicely when laying flat on the table, but I don't think (partially the small ones) will have enough grip on each other to be used in a structure or garment.

The 3D triangles really pleased me. With the big triangles I scorched the folding lines, so I was able to bend them nice and sharp like paper (600 DPI - S.100 / P.10/ F.500). Though it does make the felt more fragile, so maybe even less heat would have been sufficient. I do think the shapes would bennet from either being filled with stuffing or cut in a thicker felt when really attempting to apply them in a structure .

Cecilia mentioned to me that vlisoline works well with felt. Also safe to lasercut. I tried ioring pieces of felt together which worked out very nice, making the felt more stiff. :)

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