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Journey into Textiles at the Edinburgh College of Art
 
BIOMIMICRY. Materials and Possibilities. FINAL SAMPLES

BIOMIMICRY. Materials and Possibilities. FINAL SAMPLES

After sampling and exploring the possibilities of different materials , time to round everything up and develop my samples. Doing that, I included more materials to work with.

Next to the materials mentioned in the previous post I will be using:
Thick rubber plastic – regardless it’s thick, as well it is really flexible. This will give my samples flexibility, resistance and water proofing. Plus nice texture.
Different shades of wood veneer – flexibility, versatility and aesthetic appearance. Will give many possibilities while cutting out shapes accordingly my design studies. Previously I excessively used cork, decided to use the wood veneer for more variety of materials.
Medical bandage – very flexible, breathable and sturdy. Will be a great base for water proof segments of my samples.
Breathable rubber – great for fusing materials together, adds subtle aesthetics as well.

Final sample I

For the base of it I used bandage textile, rubber non slip mat, strips of bias binding for the ribbons. The base is breathable and fused together using the rubber – that makes the sample resistant to wear and also breathable, pleasant next to the skin. The ribbons will tie and the piece will be wearable.
For the top layer I use wood veneer, cork, all fused together using peva plastic. The top layer represents my drawing and research. It has purposeful textures and structure. The shapes are cut based on my drawing work and collages. They represent the skin of a snake and shark. Some shapes are stylised for the aesthetic purposes. The top layer is flexible and easy to bend, easy to wear around the limbs, as well as waterproof.

Work in progress:

Let’s see how could we wear that as a bandage:

Due to the size of it, I tried to wear it around my shin. The ribbons secure the bandage quite well. It feels quite sturdy but I can move my leg with no struggle. The base layer feels soft next to the skin. If smaller size, would be perfectly wearable on the arm as well.

Final sample II
After successful use of medical bandage textile on my previous sample, I used it again, and fused it together using rubber. The base now is soft and flexible, plus breathable. On top I printed the elements of shark skin that I drew before, using the transfer paper. The print didn’t come out exactly perfect but I still like the effect. On top I melted the structure of white leatherette using the peva plastic. The shapes cut out resembles snakes skin. The top part gives the sample water proofing and purposeful texture, as well as structure.

Work in progress:

Let’s see how does to look on the body as a medical bandage:

Again, I put it around my shin. The sample is particularly light, feels really good next to the skin. It is very easy to move with it on. All the elements are working very well to stay around the limb perfectly, much less chunky than the sample number one.  Moreover, it is quite aesthetically pleasing. Would fit great on different parts of the body as well.

Final sample III
Used thick rubber plastic, wood veneer, cork, breathable rubber mat, steel wool and breathable soft light material.
The balance in between sturdy and really light. The sides are really flexible and lightweight, would wrap easily around the body part, would feel good next to the skin. Steel wool is melted on top using light ribber, and gives resistance to wear. Middle part is the thick rubber with geometric shapes cut out of wood veneer and cork. The shapes are inspired by my research. But here they are not explored into detail here. The sample is more about the fusion of different materials. It is breathable, movable, waterproof and resistant.

Work in progress:

Sample as a medical bandage around the body:

It wraps perfectly around the arm. Feels very secure. The balance in between sturdy and light fabrics works as expected. The steel wool is entangling  with itself and the light fabric, feels almost like velcro, secures the bandage well around the body. It’s rather visually pleasing.

Final sample IV

Used light polyester, breathable rubber, cotton wool, cotton fabric, cork and white vinyl strips. The base is light and breathable, flexible around the body. The top is quite busy with representing my design studies. I pulled smaller pieces into this large sample. The cotton wool pieces represent shark skin’s textures and the middle one – snake’s. The sample is to show different textures working together. As well as contrasting fabrics. That is my least favourite sample, due to its lack of functionality – it is quite chunky and least resistant, plus non water proof. Could still serve as a particular would covering.

Work in progress:

Let’s try it on the body:

Fits around the shin and surprisingly is quite comfortable. Feels pleasant next to the skin. The cotton wool particularly gives a feeling of coziness on the skin. Yet the sides made out of the cotton wool are quite too heavy and maybe not secured well enough. Yet I quite like how it looks on.

Final sample V

Very last minute sample. Due to the long wait of microbial cellulose to be ready. You can see the process in one of my earlier posts.
I used bandage textile to line the sample and make it breathable and structured. Fused that onto the cellulose using rubber. Then cut out the shark’s skin scale shapes from the cork and fused into a snakes skin structure using peva plastic. Worked well. My plan was to fuse the formation on top of the cellulose but nothing would fuse on it. That made some complications. Yet I melted rubber on it quite successfully before, therefore I tired to do the same while attaching the shapes. It was quite challenging but finally I managed. While working with heat, cellulose also burned and bubbled, that gave it more resistance and really nice textures. Sample is flexible, breathable, waterproof and antibacterial!

Work in progress:

Let’s see how it applies to the body part:

Since I attached ribbons it ties well around my chin. The cellulose is quite rigid in itself but as mentioned before, other materials helps the sample being overall flexible and having a nice feel next to the skin.

Over all, the project opened my eyes to many possibilities, and how different, unconventional materials can work together. I learned a lot about the properties of each material I used and experimented with. Was really interesting to research biomimicry in dept, I learn new things and got inspired for many future projects. We can never limit ourselves with the use of material, there are endless amount of chances to discover and invent something new. I am also happy that at last I managed to use the microbial cellulose that I grew myself!
For the future I am inspired to really push my exploration into materials, try laser cut and invent materials.

 

 

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