Monday, June 6, 2011
Textile scientists break new ground at Fashion Week
BY CAROLYN ENTING AT FASHION WEEK
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| FABRIC FIRST: The woollen fabric created by AgResearch scientists was used by designer Salasai for NZ Fashion Week. |
The reversible two-colour wool fabric is produced in a single dyeing.
Fashion label Stitch Ministry has used it to create a sculptural cape that will be presented on the catwalk alongside garments designed by nine other leading fashion labels using the new "New Zealand wool world-first" AgResearch fabrics on Thursday.
Today AgResearch will officially launch its "big science in wool fabrics" at Fashion Week's venue at Auckland's Viaduct Harbour Marine Village in the leadup to Thursday's runway show.
It hopes the show will attract business partners to commercialise its unique wool fabrics.
"The designers really love the fabrics we have developed for them but we can only ever make small quantities for them," AgResearch senior textile scientist Stewart Collie said.
"We need people to come on board and help us make larger quantities and help us get them commercialised, so we're looking for people to partner with to take these fabric technologies to market."
The single dyeing process used to produce the fabric is applicable to a wide range of fabrics, fabric weights and gauges. Aside from the environmental and cost benefits, the dying process also creates a special appearance effect.
Other innovations include a fabric with an antibacterial finish that also has an anti-odour effect. "It's a special finish.
It won't leach out of the fabric, so these sorts of finishes that allow you to have anti-odour effect mean the garments made from these fabrics don't have to be washed as often so there's an environmental benefit there," Dr Collie said.
Stitch Ministry designer Kylee Davis chose a novel dyed wool fabric featuring geometric and random patterns and reversible two-sided colour for her designs.
She said if the fabrics were available she would put them into production straight away.
"We've had positive feedback from the people who have seen the garments so far, so I think they would sell really well at retail. We're heading up to the UK in February and I would love to put them in our collection for then."
Designers of garments for Thursday's show include Alexandra Owen, Annah Stretton, Sable & Minx, Blak, NYNE, Salasai, Michelle Yvette, Emma Ford and Trix & Dandy.
Wellington label Starfish will officially open Fashion Week tomorrow with an "ethical" fashion show at 11am featuring eco-conscious fabrics.
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