VAGALUME FABRICS

IN COLLABORATION WITH MATERFAD

PROJECT HISTORY

The idea of ​​creating a technological fabric originated when I attended the first Science + Crafts meeting organized by Fundesarte and the EOI a few years ago. There, I listened to Javier Peña from Materfad explain all the advances taking place in the textile world, and I was able to glimpse new materials in his presentation.

In December 2015, I attended a workshop organized by Fundesarte at Materfad. This workshop was called "New Materials, new technology for a new craft”. There, I met Javier Peña, the director of Materfad, and other professionals who work with him. We also learned about Leitat, a technology center specializing in textiles, and spent a morning in the Materials Library where I discovered a wealth of new possibilities for my textile work.

DEVELOPMENT

After several conversations and showing me other products already on the market, Javier indicated that it would have to be something different from what already existed and was patented in order to be attractive. He put me in touch with a fiber optic company that provided me with the material in exchange for developing the project for them and with them.

The Trademark and Patent Office has registered all the samples as a new Industrial Design of Fabric and it will be published in the BOE on September 25.

THE FABRIC

This fabric is made of silver linen-rayon; this color was chosen because of its similarity to the plastic tube that covers the optical fiber, so that it is woven into it and at the same time, when it is turned on, a very interesting reflection of light is produced.

The weave used is Vello weave, a traditional weave in Galicia that produces a very interesting effect of light and shadow on the fabric in terms of textures.

Depending on the light source and intensity, the fabric lights up more or less and can be folded, wetted, washed, pleated, joined…

It has countless possibilities for many sectors such as product design, furniture, architecture, security, lighting, etc.

“WHAT´S NEXT?” EXHIBITION by MATERFAD at the DISENNY HUBB in BARCELONA.