samanthaclare portfolio
sweet suspension
samanthaclare.com
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 construction, substituting these for industrial carving, vacuum forming and heat setting. Fibres are bonded in a plastic mould using a dilute adhesive solution, 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 without a single stitch. Their aesthetic is derived from implications and associations of the method. Each garment captures a sweet collapse, frozen movement and change inspired by classical sculpture and liquid itself. Exaggerated bright forms, dimensional florals, fruit scents & intertwined, sinister lizards teeter on a delicate 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 FORMING process development
plan base measurements
create form from high grade polystyrene and non-firing clay
covered with plaster compound for vacuum forming
fibers and dilute solution hand layed into mould and dried at 35 degrees overnight
2mm think plastic
edges welded together with latex and covered with more fibers
snap freezing a moment between sweetness and disarray
samanthaclare
sweet suspension 2012
This project has barely scratched the surface of what is possible in terms of moulding garments. These advantages and disadvantages are areas to look into in the future to both further and refine the idea. Although it could never replace conventional construction methods to make ready to wear garments, for wearable art, as an art medium or to make accessories or specific items, Fiberform is an interesting concept with huge potential.
advantages •
Creates weightless volume
•
Whatever you can make into a mould can become a garment
•
Achieve shapes, forms and effects that cannot be achieved with conventional techniques
•
Minimal fibers used because of adhesive addition
•
Easy to ‘weld’ together and cover mistakes and seams
• So customizable, can use a range of different fibers
disadvantages •
Can be crushable and delicate, once creased the garment is permanently weakened
•
Can be difficult to achieve some finer details like flowers, and concealed until it can be dried and taken it out
•
‘Crisping’ of the latex, that is both random and seemingly uncontrollable
• Unable to try on before final garment is made, and major fit changes must then be made into a new sculpture or altered at mould stage (if using vacuum form moulds) •
Use of latex, allergenic and made from non-renewable resources
thanks to John Sandie & andy Brian & Jim institute of food nutrition & human health, massey university Cliodhna Bierne Amelia & matt Gracie Ridley-Smith kirsty bunny human dynamo geoffery cox
samanthaclare.com