Transformable textile artefacts
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School of Arts, Design and Architecture |
Master's thesis
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Date
2024
Department
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Master’s Programme in Design
Language
en
Pages
65
Series
Abstract
Transformation design has been used in numerous fashion projects, ranging from small adjustment like detachable hoods on jacket to changing purpose of garments into bags. These additional functions encourage wearers to use their garments in wider purpose and keep them longer. This approach is recognised as one of the methods to extend the lifespan of garments, addressing a significant issue in the fashion industry. The thesis adopts a transformation design principle to create transformable textile artefacts by focusing on connecting systems, which are key to making transformable products. The idea stems from an observation that some garments can be used in certain times of the year because of season changes. During off-season, they have to be stored in storages or some end up thrown away because of forgetfulness and lack of space. This raises the question about the possibility of utilising and retaining these garments more efficiently. Specifically, this thesis aims to address how knitting techniques can be used to enable transformable features of textile artefacts and make them multi-purpose through modular design concept. This thesis follows a practice-based design research approach. It begins with literature reviews on problems and environmental impacts of fashion and textile industry then leads to possible solutions by looking into modular design and evolution of garment construction methods. The insights from literature examples, especially those involving simple user skills for attachment and detachment, serve as an inspiration for the following practice-based investigation. Phase 1: Knitting structures employs applied textile thinking to explore knitting structures and to develop connecting systems for transformable pieces. This phase consists of five explorations, start with various structures, and delved into potential structures which are holes with ribbons and tubes with straps in latter explorations. Phase 2: Shape explorations aims to find locations to put attachment mechanism and make transformable textile artefacts wearable. There are two ways of shape experimentations which are to start with basic rectangular shapes and to use unused garments that have been stored away even when it’s their appropriate season. Experimenting with these design methods resulted in transformable textile artefacts that have an integrated attachment mechanism within them. These transformable textile artefacts allow users to participate closely in a process of transformation, potentially extend products’ lifespan and usages. However, there is a possibility that users might use them for a single purpose. It would be interesting to take this conceptual project further by conducting actual user tests.Description
Supervisor
Salolainen, MaaritThesis advisor
Pouta, EmmiKähkönen, Ia
Keywords
transformation, knitting, garments, textile artefacts, modular design, multi-purpose