Circular Open Source Fashion#

October 6th, 2020

Zoe Romano

In this class the lecture will outline the systems behind fashion and the textile industry, focusing on alternative systems such as circular fashion, agile fashion, open value chains.

The focus will be on creating modular elements, structures and connections that allow the user to change the shape of a garment, resize it or replace certain elements. Students will publish their creations on open source platforms and learn how to monitor and promote their creations in a distributed network.

Program outline#

Intro teacher
Circular fashion
Hacking the fashion system
Agile fashion
Modular elements
Modular seams
References
Tools/software

2D Drawing software#

illustrator, rhino3d & grasshopper
valentina project
openfitlab
laser cutter

Materials#

sealing textiles, synthetic textiles that melt and seal the edges of the cut outs vegetable tanned leather (chrome tanned leather is toxic when heated) felt, natural and synthetic (preferably pla or other biodegardable felts) neoprene (check for composition that no toxic particle/fumes will be released when heated)

Assignment#

Design and prototype with paper and scissors modular configurations and locking connections. Document the paper prototypes
Run tests of laser cutting of your designs in fabric and document the parameters for the chosen fabric.
Design and Document the process.
Laser cut the modules. Create a modular or seamless garment, showing that the connection is well designed and holds the pull/stretch of a garment. Document the assembly process and tests.
Upload the open source file in pdf, in correct scale with 1-5 pictures at (https://oscircularfashion.com) (preferably in white background)
EXTRA POINT Submit some of the modules to the analog or digital material library of the lab. (20cm *20cm aprox)

How will it be evaluated?#

References and Concept development
Design : sketches, prototypes, material choices, tests , 2D vectorial design softwares
Fabrication : laser cutting, workflow, assemblying, material used and left overs
Documentation : Anyone can go through the process and understand
Final outcome
Originality - Aesthetics : Has the design been thought through and elaborated