what is textile?

Ros Hibbert's definition is 'a flexible material constructed from a network or naural or artificial fibres'.

 

Ros talked to us about textile innovation (fibres, construction methods and sustainability ).  Sustainability is a subject dear to my heart. My own interest in textiles rests with the contemplative and therapeutic aspects of 'making'.  

 

It was interesting to discuss options such as spider silk, stem fibres (linen, nettle, jute, jamie), bark fibres, seed hair look at seed hair fibres (cotton being the most obvious but also kapok, coir, poplar seeds), horsehair, metal (anti-bacterial qualities, plant based (corn, potatoes, rubber, lycra dereived from dextrose), cellulosic (viscose, alginate) and hagfish slime to name but a few!  

 

Construction methods included spray on, rapid  prototyping (3d printing), spacer weaving, biomimimetics (copying nature eg velcro), moulding, lasered seams.

 

We also spoke about eliminating waste.  Ros mentioned Holly McQuillon's pattern cutting and digital printing methods - I have since investigated her web-site and I have found her totally inspiring.

 

I want to be as sustainable as I reasonably can and my own plan is to digitally print only the pattern pieces - thus enabling me to use the fabric more economically (I can print different designs for each pattern piece enabling me to be more economic with the fabric used, the amount of dye used and enabling more versatility. 

 

I am concerned that my although my repeat designs, screenprints and monoprints feature the same motifs, they are not conforming enough to give a sense of a 'collection'.  I have been working on my colour schemes and have reworked the repeat prints.  I will have samples digitally printed then work on scale to create a more varied but conforming collection. 

We went to see the exhibition space.  I am anticipating hanging my tie ina row like railings...in which case I need to be careful about having a uniform length to the ties.  The standard length is 57 inches (145 cm).

 

I notice that Tate Modern are exhibiting the work of  exhibition of Malevich.  I am interested in his arrangement of shapes and flat colours.