Folded
technologies
A Creative Exploration of the Intersection of Fashion, Technology, and Kinetics
Folded Technologies is an undergraduate thesis project that explores the intersection of fashion, technology, and kinetics.
Kinetic fashion is largely seen in the couture, costume, and performance wear industries, however, this thesis project focuses on how the concept can be applied to everyday modular fashion. The objective of the project is to demonstrate how specialized technologies and materials can be folded into textiles using kinetic pleating techniques, allowing for practical applications, such as functionality, accessibility, inclusivity, and sustainability.
The project concept was developed through an iterative ideation and exploration process involving creative thinking and practice-based research that analyzed various technologies, materials, and kinetic folding techniques. During the exploration process, various physical and digital sample tests were conducted, including folding over 100 paper samples using kinetic folding techniques; creating hand-rendered paper templates; pleating various weights and types of fabrics; testing specialized technologies and materials as actuators to move / transform pleats; and creating virtual 3D pleated samples and conceptual garments using the CLO 3D design software.
The research was creatively demonstrated through a series of textile samples and garments that incorporate transformation or motion pleating using one of the three methods examined during the research exploration process: transforming pleats using rare earth magnets; moving pleats using a thread and motor system; and moving pleats using shape memory alloy wire (or muscle wire). The process of creating these textile samples and garments involved everything from CAD to laser etching to 3D modeling to 3D printing to Arduino coding to circuitry.
“The fold is no longer tied to the body, but takes on a life of its own.”
- Agnès Rocamora and Anneke Smelik (Thinking Through Fashion)
In collaboration with
