As a fashion design student I must admit that most of the fashion I see doesn’t really trigger off my attention and great enthusiasm. Quite the contrary, it actually feels like the more I see all the more bored I become. And even if I can appreciate a really good collection for its artistic quality, I often miss the big ‘WOW’-effect.
Secondly, it still remains a huge mystery to me why I am so drawn to highly conceptual design approaches. For those who know me it doesn’t come as a big surprise when I say ‘I was never really good at maths’. And to be completely honest, I was lousy. And being a synesthete who sees numbers lined up on a crazy mental loop didn’t really help understanding probability calculation, total derivatives and all these monsters I was tortured with…. I suppose.
Strangely enough I loved geometry. Suddenly all those figures made perfect sense and I started creating structures and complex constructs in my head. I guess my visual thinking exceeds my ability to handle abstract numbers to quite a great extend.
BUT I do use math and geometry every time I construct one of my Zero Waste garments. It just happens, this is the way I imagine fashion. I cannot help it and I like it.
No that’s not right, I LOVE IT. It gives me the freedom to explore the 2D and 3D possibilities of garments. Another Frame is my own personal playground, my fashion laboratory.
And I was happy to see that Issey Miyake teamed up with Jun Mitani, a computer scientist who works on mathematical methods to create 3D structures, for his Reality Lab.
The line they designed is called ’132 5′ and all the patterns lie completely flat until unfolded and worn by a person.
The only material they use for ’132 5′ is recycled polyester which reduces energy consumption and CO2 emissions by circa 80% compared to the process of generating new polyester from petroleum.
This work really amazes me. There is more to it than meets the eye.
It is a bold way of designing and there is a working concept behind it.
Issey Miyake blends fashion with trailblazing technology. Again.
Fashion and math make a good match after all.
I stick to that.
If only the 13-year old me could have known….
Photos by Hiroshi Iwasaki.
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