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sweet suspension

fiberform is a moulding process for creating clothing

from {liquid}. From the outset,the intention of this experiment was

to determine a method of moulding garments, the result is a fresh way to achieve shapes and effects not possible with conventional construction methods. Any shape formed with the right base measurements and surface finish can become a weightless, vibrant wearable form. It bypasses traditional weaving and construct- ion, substituting these for industrial carving, vacuum forming and heat setting. Fibres are bonded in a plastic mould using a dilute adhesive so- lution, making a strong, customizable non-woven mat.

{SWEET SUSPENSION), the first set of garments produced using this method, are 5 hollow, three-dimensional structures ‘welded’ together wit- hout a single stitch. Their aesthetic is derived from implications and associati- ons of the method. Each garment captures a sweet collapse, frozen movement and change inspired by classical sculpture and liquid itself. Exaggerated bright fo- rms, dimensional florals, fruit scents & intertwined, sinister lizards teeter on a d-

elicate line separatingsickly&sweet. As a new method FIBERFORM still poses more questions than it answers,

& further development is needed, particularly replacing or altering the latex component to a more sustainable adhesive, reducing crushing and reducing waste made during carving and mould release. Never intending to ‘replace’, FIBERFORM incites thought, creating & illuminating new possibilities. The bold result has exceeded expectation

ABOUT FIBER FORMINGprocess development

covered with plaster compound for vacuum forming

plan base measurements

create form from high gradepolystyrene and non-firing clay

edges welded together with latex and covered with more fibers

fibers and dilute solution hand layed into mould and dried at 35 degrees overnight

2mm think plastic

snap freezing a moment between sweetness and disarray

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sweet suspension 2012samanthaclare

• Canbecrushableanddelicate,oncecreasedthegarmentispermanentlyweakened

• Canbedifficulttoachievesomefinerdetailslikeflowers,andconcealeduntilitcanbedriedandtakenitout

• ‘Crisping’of thelatex,thatisbothrandomandseeminglyuncontrollable

• Unabletotryonbeforefinalgarmentismade,andmajorfitchangesmustthenbemadeintoanewsculptureoraltered at mould stage (if using vacuum form moulds)

• Useof latex,allergenicandmadefromnon-renewableresources

disadvantages

• Createsweightlessvolume

• Whateveryoucanmakeintoamouldcanbecomeagarment

• Achieveshapes,formsandeffectsthatcannotbeachievedwithconventionaltechniques

• Minimalfibersusedbecauseof adhesiveaddition

• Easyto‘weld’togetherandcovermistakesandseams

• Socustomizable,canusearangeof differentfibers

advantages

Thisprojecthasbarelyscratchedthesurfaceof whatispossibleintermsof mouldinggarments.These advantages and disadvantages are areas to look into in the future to both further and refinetheidea.Althoughitcouldneverreplaceconventionalconstructionmethodstomakereadytoweargarments,forwearableart,asanartmediumortomakeaccessoriesorspecificitems,Fiberformisaninterestingconceptwithhugepotential.

thanks to

JohnSandie & andy

Brian & Jiminstitute of food nutrition & human health, massey university

Cliodhna BierneAmelia & matt

Gracie Ridley-Smithkirsty bunny

human dynamogeoffery cox

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