Future Textile

We’ve added more pictures in the gallery.

You can also check out Andrew and Chloes pictures from the electronic textiles workshop here!

Electronics and textiles are often used side by side, but seldom combined directly together.

In this workshop we explored the space between electronics and textiles, and how we can unite these two mediums.

We had an intensive week were we worked technically,  learning how to make different electrical connections on the textiles. We used special thread and fabrics that leads electricity and learned to make light and sound on the textiles. The idea is not only to put a wire on the clothing , but to find out what these two materials can do together, does the fabric need this technology, and why?

What really excites me about electronic wearable textiles is that you are able to make the textile physically respond to the body’s movement and rythm, like offering the body a new sense of communication. This was a very inspiring workshop.

After one day introduction, we finally decided to stay. Johanna gave us her enthousiasm for electronic textiles and new ways of thinking textiles. Her approach included these components to the fabric with emotions and feelings. Far from being too functionnal, the textile can become an identity of human being. Instead of finding revolutionnary and artificial new tools, the conceptual thoughts was the main reason to introduce these components. After few days on the bread board and the soft switch, we could have understand how to build up some simple circuits. And the main goal was to find out your own small concept and create something out of it.

We both came for 5 weeks in Bergen for the ETT program and the main team is Home and the Others. So we tried to make a link with that theme and the workshop.
How to feel home while you include electronic in a sensitive and soft product ?
How much function there has to be ? Or can it be a poetic and artistic demonstration ?
We tried to answer those questions and bring it to our theme by a brainstorming. Somehow the electronic can be a matter of home. It can be the sound or the light what gives you the feeling that you are not alone. In our project, the softness of the fabric and the electronic parts become one and they create a cetrain feeling of humanity.

« Creating an artificial pet or something else »
Our product in hanging on the wall. An abstract taile is coming out of the surface and when you touch it, it makes a tiny sound. With two photosensors and the circuit hidden in the fur, we can create an artificial sound that you can foarm while you get closer. To go further, we would like to add this tale to a carpet. As an extra human and homy part, the artificial pet would be included as a furniture in the house.

The workshop: Electronic Textiles – by Joanna Berzowska [Canada] was an amazing experience!

 She lead us through an eye-opening world of power sources, closed circuits, LED’s, conductive threads and all kind of other electronic ingredients for making a soft switch. While I was making my soft switch, I saw how it transformed into a butterfly. The switch itself was fragile as a butterfly as well. With a gentle blow on the wings, the LED lights up.  My second switch contains an other conceptual story. Based on the theme of the ETT project:‘Home and the Other’. My starting point for this soft switch was the switch of identity when people loose textile accessories like gloves or scarf’s. When people wear objects, they are wearing the identity of those objects in a way. But what happens when we loose them? I would say that the objects have their own identity back. They become strange independent creators at the pavements.I translated this idea in a scarf which will starts to light up from the moment you loose it. The identity switch will be my soft switch. You really can make anything instead of the ordinary plastic switch! The possiblilities are endless, but the logic of electronic is something you can’t deny.. It is sometimes a real surprise what is going to happen. And that makes you aware that the things you make, have also an own life in a way. What I see as a nice thing. You have to co-operate with the materials you work with. I enjoyed this workshop very much. Thank you Joanna, for your contagious enthusiasm!    Aoife Wullur  (from The Design Academy Eindhoven, the Netherlands. at Khib, Bergen for the ETT-project) small portfolio:

The workshop with Joanna Berzowska is over, and it was quite a hectic week.  Reports will follow, but for now – here’s some pictures, taken by Kristina Aas and Hilde Hauan. Notice how no one ever looks at the camera? A week of intense concentration…

See more pictures here.