Fashionnovation Your Mentor Talks’ First Episode with Ms. Ummey Hani Barsha

Fashionnovation Your Mentor Talks’ First Episode with Ms. Ummey Hani Barsha

On September 26, 2021, Fashionnovation arranged a session with Ms. Umme Hani Barsha, an ex-student of BUTEX batch-38 and also Adjunct faculty of Department of Textile Fashion & Design (TFD) of Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX) who is currently studying MS in Consumer & Design Science, majoring in Design and Applied Arts at Auburn University. She is our first guest in “Fashionnovation Your Mentor Talks.” She is one of the dearest mentor and well-wisher of Fashionnovation and she supported the platform from the beginning of its journey, right from 7 July 2018.

In that session, our discussion areas were higher studies in fashion, building up and honing skills related to fashion and how to enjoy life to the fullest-valuing each and every experience we gather. In the session, BUTEX 43, 44, 45 & 46th batch joined spontaneously and all credits of managing & directing the session goes to the Founder & President Kazi Farhan Hossain Purba.

Our guest- Ms. Barsha started the session by stating the most valuable advices of her Professor which are- Always ask questions! Because in graduation life, whoever is curious to know more, he/she will be more successful in his/her life.

Fashion design higher study guidelines:

Ms. Barsha then guided us about higher studies. If a student wants to pursue his higher education in Europe, then the student must have an excellent portfolio. European Universities demand more practical knowledge in the design sector that can be shown through portfolios. Students who are interested in studying in the U.S.A, mostly need to take GRE. In many institutions, they demand good verbal scores on GRE. A few institutions waived GRE recently also. In the USA, very few universities offer textile engineering degrees directly. One of them is North Carolina State University. Students may look at other departments like dept. of Material Science (students from the dept of Fabric & Yarn engineering), dept. of Chemical engineering (students from the dept of Wet Process Engineers & Dyes and Chemical engineering), dept. of Industrial engineering. Most of the institutions offer graduate degrees in Apparel Merchandising and Apparel Designing or Fashion Designing under the department of Consumer and Design Sciences or Agriculture.

Then if you want to go to Germany, fashion design students may face some challenges. Usually, there are no tuition fees for most of the courses but in fashion design as well as other art-based subjects such as architecture, and photography, students are required to pay tuition fees. Few colleges have no tuition fees but they teach in the German language instead of English. This is the scenario for many other European universities like Italy, France, and the Netherlands. If they know their language, then they can apply for Dutch and French scholarships respectively. Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Denmark also have textile-related universities as well as they offer graduate degrees in fashion. ArtEZ from the Netherlands offers a master’s in fashion in English, and they have scholarships. In New Zealand, you can get a government scholarship in the design sector from Auckland University. For applying in Denmark, one must complete the first level of their language. In Japan, there is a great fashion design school named Bunka Fashion College which ranks in the top 20 in the world. In Hong Kong Polytechnic, there are mainly PAD courses but you can also go through your graduate level here.

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Then if you want to go with Australia or Canada, it will be suitable if you can go on a fully funded scholarship. Pertinently, it must be included that there is only one university in Canada named Ryerson that offers a graduate degree in fashion design. The University of Toronto, the University of Manitoba, and the University of Alberta offer textile-related subjects like material science and other degrees. In Australia, RMIT offers a graduate degree in fashion design as well as textile engineering. There is a scholarship for women but that requires two years of working experience.

You will be happy to know that there was a special guest in our session whose name is Mr. Asef Amer Priyo who is also our BUTEXian senior from the same batch of Ms. Barsha. And he is now working in Decathlon Sports Bangadesh, having working experience of 4.5 years in the industry. He advised to enrich English communication skill, presentation skill and learn Microsoft Excel & Powerpoint from undergraduate level. He clarified about the job sectors of Textile Fashion Design as well as Textile Engineering. He said actually one will get a job or not it totally depends on the performance at the interview board and how much your CV is enriched. Also you must have a very strong portfolio. And at the interview board, you must know what you say and know what you know.

Then again Ms. Barsha said a fashion designer must have knowledge about the fabric, its drapability, texture, etc besides art and design. Because fabric, stitches, pattern-these all are strongly connected with fashion.

When one of the participants of that session asked about the importance of CGPA in higher studies, Ms. Barsha replied that a high CGPA is not a must for applying for foreign scholarships. But if you want a fully funded scholarship and a good subject as per your choice then you will be much benefited if you have a high CGPA. But don’t be upset if it’s by chance low because you can cover it up with other facts like having a great portfolio as well as achieving high scores in speaking & writing on IELTS and GRE scores.

Mr. Asef Amer Priyo was sharing his vauable experience with the audience.

Mr. Asef Amer Priyo was sharing his vauable experience with the audience.

 

Is having a published research paper important for higher studies?

Another question came from the participants about the importance of research papers. Madam replied that actually on the master’s level, teachers of foreign universities do not really expect research papers from the students. Students may have a review paper which is helpful also. But one should have a clear knowledge of their research interests. She again mentioned having a strong portfolio always helps. She referred to a YouTube channel named Zoe Hong to enrich your portfolio. She also suggested a site named issuu.com see many kinds of portfolios there.

Ms. Barsha said that during her application for MS, she categorized the ranking of the university where she applied and research interests and if the university provides funds or not. Again another student asked her about what can the student do with fashion degrees. Madam replied there are fashion photography, visual merchandising, fashion merchandising, sourcing sector & designing sectors. Last, of all, she stressed upon especially for fashion design students to learn Adobe software like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, etc.

At last our special guest Mr. Asef gave us some life hacks. He said,”Forget about being disheartened. No knowledge is small, no knowledge is short! So if you have leisure, it’s better to learn something new. Always use your time efficiently.” Then Barsha madam suggested, “Obviously do work but enjoy your life to the fullest in your undergrad!”

It was really an amazing session! We learnt a lot from Ms. Barsha & Mr. Asef. We are expressing our gratitude to them and the organizer of this session, Mr. Kazi Farhan Hossain Purba. Hope that we will get more sessions like this & will be able to learn a lot!

Nashita Ahmed

Dept.Environmental Science & Engineering,

Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX)

ID: 2020-1-10-041

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Free and Paid Fashion Illustration Courses for you

Free and Paid Fashion Illustration Courses for you

If you are a fashion designer, you must have sought for free fashion illustration courses at least for once. In a fashion illustration course, you learn to draw your ideas on a paper meticulously with proper guidance packed in a cocktail of experience worth of many years. But sometimes it becomes tough to decide which course to choose as there are so many free Fashion illustration courses! In this particular article, we are going to drive you through 7 most effective fashion illustration or digital fashion illustration online courses for beginners that we have found in the web to smoothen your decision making. Not all of them are free but we have selected two free courses as a surprise for you in the end! So, let’s begin.

Udemy Basic Fashion Illustration Course:

It’s a 4 month course with 4.4 ratings to learn the simple techniques of how to draw fashion figures and postures which is created by Wanwisa Rianrungrueng. It costs $29.99.

 

Basic fashion illustration course by Udemy. Courtesy: Screenshot taken from their official website.Free Fashion illustration courses

Basic fashion illustration course by Udemy. Courtesy: Screenshot taken from their official website.

What you will learn:

  • It is an ideal course for a beginner to an intermediate.
  • To draw the fashion figures starting from the basic understanding of the 9 head proportion, body elements from head to toe, movement and posture to fashion poses with garments.
  • You will get feedback on your sketches.

What this course includes:

2.5 hours on-demand video

3 articles and 7 downloadable resources

Full lifetime access

Certification of completion

Who are eligible for this course:

˃ anyone who is interested in fashion illustration.

˃ Advance learners also can enroll it.

As you’re interested in learning Fashion Illustration, you’ll also be excited to check 12 Fashion Illustrations Done by Students Which Will Blow Your Mind!

London College of Fashion-Fashion Illustration Online Short Course :

It’s a 6 weeks long online course where one will work with a professional illustrator to develop one’s personal style of illustration and created a range of expressive pieces to add to their portfolio. This course costs £500.00. There are 7 different batches for admission and all batches are UK timed.

Fashion illustration online short course by London College of Fashion. Courtesy: Screenshot taken from their official website.

Fashion illustration online short course by London College of Fashion. Courtesy: Screenshot taken from their official website.

What you will learn:

  • Create your own personalized drawing style
  • Combining structured composition into your designs
  • Good skill at create artwork using multiple medium including ink, markers, watercolors, crayons and pastels, collage, digital and mixed media
  • Illustrate the human body, and to draw fashion garments and clothes
  • Enhance your creativity to create original designs by using original concepts and themes
  • Using your designs to build up your portfolio
  • Evaluating your work and others within the group

What this course includes:

live online lessons, lessons recordings

access to VLE with course content

2 weeks online access

support from the forums

certificate on completion

Who are eligible for this course:

All levels are welcome for this course. Anyone who is looking for to find expression through another medium or who wants to develop his sketching and illustrating skills is welcomed for this course.

You can also read another of our premium article on Fashion in the 21st century here!

Joanna Baker Online Illustration Course:

This course is designed by Joanna Baker with all of her favorite methods and techniques for rendering fashion illustration. You will also find her on YouTube.

Figure 2: Fashion illustration course by London College of Fashion. Free Fashion illustration courses?

Figure 2: Fashion illustration course by London College of Fashion.

There are several illustration courses come with different cost. The fashion illustration with marker rendering for beginners course costs $349. In this course one will not only learn to draw basic fashion figure but also learn to sketch a basic fashion runway figures.

Joanna Baker's students' review about her fashion illustration course. Courtesy: Screenshot taken from the official website.

Joanna Baker’s students’ review about her fashion illustration course. Courtesy: Screenshot taken from the official website.

What you will learn:

  • To sketch the basic runway figure, different body shape and size, pose variation
  • Acquainted with different markers techniques, patterns and popular fashion textures
  • To sketch faces and rendering different skin tones and hair colors
  • To sketch hand, feet, ankle easily
  • Watch 3 full illustration demos
  • Help to create a good portfolio

What this course includes:

11 modules with 26 HD videos

downloadable 16 practice worksheet

downloadable 7 template guides

copic marker guide

shoppable art supply list with links

Who are eligible for this course: anyone can enroll it.

Here a glimpse of some feedback

 

If you want to read one of our premium case studies on Fast Fashion Vs Slow Fashion, you can go here!

Rongrong Fashion Illustration Course:

This self-paced online course is designed by professional fashion artist Rongrong DeVoe. This course costs only $497 and it gives lifetime access anywhere you go.

Fashion illustration with Rongrong. Courtesy: Screenshot taken from the official website.

Fashion illustration with Rongrong. Courtesy: Screenshot taken from the official website.

What you will learn:

  • To draw female bodies.
  • Be able to color your illustration using Copic markers or any other markers.
  • To draw face in various ethnicities.
  • Final editing using any Photoshop to add backgrounds and quotes.
  • Get tips on how to practice and grow your illustration skills.

What this course includes:

Template of various body types and angles, face charts, fashion objects and accessories to practice coloring textures and patterns.

4 hours of video teaching content

List of tool which will be used

Books and online resources

Rongrong’s 11 page fashion illustration coloring book and secret list.

Who are eligible for this course:

Whoever been interested in fashion illustration or have some knowledge of drawing, but want to sharpen this skills further are welcome to enroll it. Also if you are a graphic designer or creative who wants to offer fashion illustration as a new service, you should come and join this one.

The Art Students League of New York:

The art students league of New York designed a complete drawing program to enable the artist as an editorial fashion illustration. It’s an online based course, only on every Tuesday at7.00-8.30pm on zoom which will instruct by Chuck Nitzberg. This course costs only $115.

The art student league of Newyork, fashion illustration course

The art student league of Newyork, fashion illustration course

What you will learn:

  • Formal art concept or over-all
  • Basic principles of fashion proportion, line, and shape
  • Various techniques using materials such as charcoal, graphite, gouache, and markers

What this course includes:

One or two weekly zoom meetings

A impressive toolbox of concepts

A live model will be provided at each session to experiment

Who are eligible for this course:

Any person, beginner or advanced, who wants to draw the human figure with cloths are welcome to enroll it.

Fashion Illustration classes by Art and Design by Miraaz:

This is a YouTube channel of Miraaz who is an Indian fashion designer, tribal artist.

Basic fashion illustration course by Udemy. Courtesy: Screenshot taken from their official website.

Basic fashion illustration course by Udemy. Courtesy: Screenshot taken from their official website.

Here contents are uploaded in both Hindi and English. You can also buy Fashion Design Course Book online here. You will find the below courses there-

This includes 219 videos from which you can learn about basic fashion studies to designing, drafting, cutting and sewing.

This includes 85 videos to enrich you with illustration. materials, colors knowledge. Also provide a lot of techniques on fashion illustration.

Besides that, there you can find several sewing techniques and method. I can assure you that, it worth. Link is provided below- https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutube.com%2Fchannel%2FUCbXsn4nfz90dFMOdWsFblrw%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0vfiVkWRWllYPolp-_ymdm2_gkyNH30UuHO4jCaqGSW4B1GbOfiee5rAA&h=AT10PeCEQgbYHRAcwVJ9gt60bwYnomEU0uKOA0-RLszdkSdmXqkhSnUeCqoWzP_EOv7i3t15GxhosIdxSjgcgUej-6hafnRhBZsS7A7NmbB0tG1D3M57zqqC1XYTGFSGIedI9Q

Ignite India Education:

This is India’s largest online design education platform. There you will find free online Fashion Illustration course which includes 36 videos. And also a free online Fashion Design course which includes 49 videos. Both are beginner friendly courses.

Fashion illustration course by Ignite India Education. Courtesy: Screenshot taken from their youtube channel.

Fashion illustration course by Ignite India Education. Courtesy: Screenshot taken from their youtube channel.

So, if you are thinking about learning fashion illustration or improving your skills, it is not too late!

Enroll in any of the above suitable courses and become a fashion illustrator.

Ria Debnath                                                                                                    Department of Textile Fashion & Design, Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX)

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Fashion Nova: How a Fast Fashion Brand is Using Psychology to Sell Like Crazy

Fashion Nova: How a Fast Fashion Brand is Using Psychology to Sell Like Crazy

Fashion Nova, The Fast Fashion Brand, Ready For The Halloween!

Using Psychology at Their Vantage Point

Fashion Nova is a fast fashion retail company, widely celebrated for their exotic and bold dresses in the US and all over the world. To sell their fast fashion products, they are always utilizing practical human psychology and using everything at their advantage, which is really something worth studying. Though Fashionnovation studies sustainable fashion and promotes such brands, it is worth investigating why fast fashion brands are so much popular in customers minds. Recently I visited Fashion Nova’s website to see their collections and what they are doing for the upcoming Halloween and how they are increasing their sales by playing with psychology!

Fashion Nova First Welcomes You With an Innovative Non-Deniable Offer!

Will you take for 10% off or Do you want to pay the full price?

As I visited their website, I was stunned to see their business strategy! Their brains must be on steroid. Can’t believe? Just look at this!

 

Fashion Nova's irrefutable offer! Courtesy: Screen shot taken from their website

Fashion Nova’s irrefutable offer! Courtesy: Screen shot taken from their website

To receive their offer, they have only given me two options-Take their 10% off or ‘I will pay full price’! Hahaha! No escape from that! A creative offer, I must say!

You might be interested to read this article too!

Fast Fashion Vs Slow Fashion: A Case Study

Fashion Nova: Ready For The Halloween

Yellow color letters, huge discounts and urgency

As I see their home page, they have projected their Halloween outfits prominently. The below screen shot will give you the vibe. They have titled it ‘It’s spooky SZN.’

Fashion Nova, Ready for Halloween. Courtesy: Screen shot taken from their website.

Fashion Nova, Ready for Halloween. Courtesy: Screen shot taken from their website.

Interestingly they are giving 30-70% off for their products. Very much affordable for everyone. Their yellow letters on the red filtered photos undoubtedly give a great vibe, an attractive calling to buy their stuff.

If you see closely, they have a time ticking clock (a stop watch) to create urgency among the buyers. The buyers also enjoy the urgency and buy like hot cakes.

Fitting You Into A Tribe

Fashion Nova is interestingly selling their Halloween products as ‘squad’ categories. So, they are telling us to choose our beloved squads. A tribal feeling, I can say. In psychological terminology, this feeling gives everyone a shelter, a home which everyone wants to be a part of.

Fashion Nova Women, Halloween product range: Choose your squad! Courtesy: Screen shot taken from their website.

Fashion Nova Women, Halloween product range: Choose your squad! Courtesy: Screen shot taken from their website.

According to their product display, the squads can be Sporty, Cowgirls, Super heroes and Bunnies. The products are beautiful and innovative. Which one is of your kind?

Fall Collections: When You Come for Halloween, You Can Also Pack Some Fall Dresses!

Fashion Nova Fall Debut. Courtesy: Screen shot taken from their website.

Fashion Nova Fall Debut. Courtesy: Screen shot taken from their website.

For their Fall Debut collection, Fashion Nova is giving 30% off for new arrivals. Again a huge discount! If you go here for a Halloween costume, you can’t return without seeing these fall collections. So, no wonder you can also fill your cart with such beautiful products! Another psychological point triggered!

Fall Dress collections of Fashion Nova, Courtesy: Screen shot taken from their website.

 

Fall Dress collections of Fashion Nova, Courtesy: Screen shot taken from their website.

Fall Dress collections of Fashion Nova, Courtesy: Screen shot taken from their website.

Buy, Buy and Buy

Here Fashion Nova has gone a few steps further. They also have an offer of Buy now, pay later which is a tremendous offer for many. According to their offer, one can pay in 4 installments which are totally interest free which is in no doubt very convenient for many consumers and in the same time it is increasing Fashion Nova’s sales!

Fashion Nova psychological offer. Fashion Nova psychology

Fashion Nova psychological offer. Fashion Nova psychology

Though Fashionnovation preaches sustainable fashion ideas and brands, this is very interesting to study why the fast fashion brands can sell so much. Fashion Nova is no wonder a successful fast fashion brand of its kind and studying its tactics is no wonder worthwhile!

Which points of this article resonates with you? Have you found more? Let’s have a discussion in the comment section! Also don’t forget to share this article with your friends and family members.

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Architecture Fabric: The New Use of Textiles as A Building Material

Architecture Fabric: The New Use of Textiles as A Building Material

What is Architecture Fabric?

Architecture fabric, in one sentence, is the fabric used in architecture by manipulating the different properties of textile fibers to make fabric suitable of manifesting architectural designs into reality.

Each textile fiber has its own set of characteristics. As a result, different fibers can be used on different grounds according to requirements and made into architecture fabric-the new use of textile as a building material, which is more suitable, durable and sustainable than concrete or other conventional materials.

High-performance fibers are synthetic fibers in which high added value textile properties like high tensile strength, high modulus, greater elongation, higher operating temperature, higher chemical resistance, higher durability etc. are found. These are mostly used as architectural fabric.

Why Architecture Fabric is Used?

Textile fibers are used in architecture for being light in weight, for higher tensile strength, higher elongation, resiliency, thermal insulation etc. By combining the need of the construction sector and the properties of textile fiber, architecture fabric or architectural fabric (a technical textile) has opened a new horizon between these two sectors.

Architecture fabrics are now used for building safety, earthquake resistance, UV protection, noise prevention, tear resistance, bacteria resistance, insulation, visual protection, water vapor impermeability, air conditioning and protection from rain, sun, wind, fire.

Textile as Architectural Membrane

Textile is considered as the 5th material which is used in architecture like timber, stone, metal and glass. The tent is the oldest version of using textile in architecture which is used for separating an environment or space from nature. The tent is the oldest version of the dwelling also. The Nomad used it as a covering of their living place. They carried tents for the convenience of moving them from one place to another.

Tent, the the oldest version of using architecture fabric, more accurately 'architectural fabric'. Courtesy: Pexels.com

Tent, the the oldest version of using architecture fabric, more accurately ‘architectural fabric’. Courtesy: Pexels.com

From when human started to settle down in a specific place, the use of textile to make dwellings started to be neglected. But now, textiles are also used as membranes for various architectures.

Elie Tahari Fashion Showroom is the creation of an architect named Gisela Stromeyer. To make this, she has used fabric instead of the concrete wall to enhance the space.

Elie Tahari Fashion Showroom, created by Gisela Stromeyer. To make this, she has used architecture fabric instead of the concrete wall to enhance the space. Courtesy: Architonic, Photographer: © Michael Moran

Elie Tahari Fashion Showroom, created by Gisela Stromeyer. To make this, she has used architecture fabric instead of the concrete wall to enhance the space. Courtesy: Architonic, Photographer: © Michael Moran

This aesthetic design also allows natural light to enter the room and reduces artificial lighting costs. This transportable membrane can be folded when it’s not needed.

DAR LUZ is also an example of the temporary installation of textile fabric in which fabrics are stretched over a wooden structure.

Tubaloon is a textile sculpture. The membrane of this sculpture is made from a special PVDF (Polyvinylidene Fluoride) fabric coated with PVC (polyvinyl chloride) which is weather-resistant and also diffuses light onto the surface.

Translucent PTFE coated glass fiber is used in the tall atrium of Burj Al Arab Hotel of Dubai which can withstand large-scale temperature variation, sandstorms and fire.

This membrane is highly UV resistant, non-combustible and also allows natural daylight with sufficient shading. It has also the property of self-cleaning after raining.

Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai. Courtesy: Pexels.com

Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai. Courtesy: Pexels.com

Fabric Structure in Architecture

The history of using fabric structure in architecture is too old. The first initiative of developing architectural fabric structures came from the advantage of using the sail.

In the first century BCE, Roman used “Textile sunshade roof system” in theatres, circuses, amphitheaters and stadiums. And that was made by reusing the old naval sail. That step opened a new door for the use of fabric structures in architecture.

Now, the use of fabric structure is increasing for lightweight, cost-effectiveness, easy portability, easy reconfiguration, lower energy consumption, durability, environment sustainability, ventilation, less construction period and so on.

Tensioned fabric structures are divided into three groups named (a) Boundary Tensioned Membrane (b) Pneumatic or Air supported Structure (c) Cable-net. Anticlastic and Synclastic are two structural forms that are used to stabilize fabric structures in architecture.

To stabilize a membrane anticlastic structure is more effective. The synclastic structure is sometimes also referred to as an air-supported structure that is used as the roof of tennis courts, swimming pools or fields to control weather conditions.

The famous architecture fabric roof of Denver International Airport is an example of an anticlastic structure and it is made of double-layer PTFE-coated fiberglass membrane. This roof allows light to pass through the fabric and reflect 90 percent solar radiation.

The famous architecture fabric roof of Denver International Airport. Source: Wikimedia.

The famous architecture fabric roof of Denver International Airport. Source: Wikimedia.

;Earlier, cotton was used as a material of fabric structure element.

In modern days, coated and laminated fabrics are used as fabric structures to increase strength, durability and various properties.

Polyester, nylon, aramid, fiberglass are most commonly used as structural fabric.

PVC, PTFE and Silicone are the most common coatings of structural fabrics.

People who are Working with Architectural Fabric

Gisela Stromeyer, a famous artist and architect, whose aesthetic and creative works with architectural fabrics are getting admired worldwide.

Gisela Stromeyer. Source: Architonic.com

Gisela Stromeyer. Source: Architonic.com

Instead of the concrete wall, she has used architectural fabrics to increase space.

The ancestors of Gisela Stromeyer were tentmakers. Peter Stromeyer, the father of Gisela Stromeyer, worked with Frei Otto.

Frei Otto is considered the founder of the fabric tension structure industry. Frei Otto focused on lightweight structures. One of his paper publications, based on lightweight structures, inspired an architect named Hans Spettbacher to use a double layer of cotton fabric in the design of the Swiss Pavilion.

Later on, the combined work of Peter Stromeyer and Frei Otto played a vital role in the upcoming field of the tensile fabric structure. The use of tensile fabric structures got started.

Frei Otto is considered the founder of the fabric tension structure industry. One of the founding of architecture fabric. courtesy: flickr.com

Frei Otto is considered the founder of the fabric tension structure industry. One of the founding of architecture fabric. courtesy: flickr.com

 

Munich Olympic Stadium, Multihalle in Mannheim, The Tuwaiq Palace, The German Pavilion are some of his renowned projects in which he used fabric for lightweight structure.

Kengo Kuma is a Japanese architect who has used architectural fabrics for sustainable architecture. ‘We Hotel Toya’ and ‘House in Hokkaido’ are two of his famous creations.

Munich Olympic Stadium Courtesy: Wikimedia.org

Munich Olympic Stadium Courtesy: Wikimedia.org

Textile as a Construction Material

Nowadays, textiles are not only used as temporary elements but also permanent elements of architecture.

Build tech is the sector in which textiles are used in construction.

When textile materials are used with concrete, various properties such as protection against UV and electromagnetic radiation, earthquake resistance, fire retardant, antibacterial property get increased.

Textile Re-enforced Concrete (TRC) is now being used as construction material to a great extent for various advantages.

The textile fibers used for TRC are glass-fiber, jute, kevlar, nylon, polyamide etc.

TRC gives higher strength compared to its weight than steel. Its durability is also greater than steel.

TRC is more corrosion resistant. It can also be used as a protective layer of old constructions. Moreover, fiber-reinforced cement or concrete are highly used in structural application which can bear electro-mechanical deterioration. It can also prevent the effect of alkali, acid and salt.

Textile in Earthquake Resistance

Earthquake resistant technology indicates that the building or structure should be made in such a way that the horizontal movements of quakes be absorbed before they reach to the building.

Moreover, to be earthquake resistant, material has to be bent out of the shape without making any failure.

Steel and concrete have to bear large seismic force as this force is proportional to the mass of the structure. Steel and concrete which are usually used in construction cannot withstand this strong seismic force.

If lightweight textile materials are used there, the seismic force will be less also.

Newly invented PVC-ECC (Polyvinyl alcohol fiber-reinforced engineered cementitious composite) has high tensile strain capacity and ductility which can absorb energy from earthquakes & resist seismic force to save buildings.

Fiber-reinforced cement (FRC) is made of high-strength fiber set in a resin matrix.

The use of high-strength fiber & elastomeric polymer in the wall can make the wall stronger against seismic load.

Lightweight & high-strength aramid fibers are used in wall construction to prevent walls from breaking during rebound.

A jacket made from glass fiber and isophthalic polyester resin is now used to reduce the risk of seismic force.

The column is surrounded by the jacket. The jacket prevents concrete to expand due to a rise in temperature or seismic forces.

Thus jackets made from high-performance fiber-glass are used to get protection from the earthquake.

For repairing concrete bridge, carbon FRC is more desirable than steel for its lightweight. Concretes are wrapped with carbon fiber to prevent tensile crake.

Compressive strength is also higher in a wrapped one. For wrapping, steel is not a solution for the issue of environmental attack.

Carbon FRC has no environmental attack issue. So it is preferred in this sector.

Wrap of one layer increases the strain 6 times which has great importance for resisting earthquakes. But in this case, glass fibers are more preferred for having low stiffness and for not costly as carbon.

A three-storied building in Japan has been covered by carbon string. These carbon strings are made of thermoplastic carbon fiber composite. The lighter carbon string rods are seven times stronger than iron.

As a result, during earthquakes buildings don’t fall down, just sway together. This structure looks like spider webs in which rods are tied to the roof and gripped on the ground.

Nano-textile is also used in the construction industry to make concrete lighter, stronger, resistant to earthquakes. Seismic wall paper is used to increase resistance to crack and collapse.

Seismic wallpaper is made based on reinforced textile composite which incorporates several elements such as multiaxial warp knitted glass, polymer fiber and nano-particle enhance coat.

Insulation and Textile

Textiles materials or recycled textiles are considered as the best insulating material as it’s not as harmful to health as stone wool, glass wool etc.

The porous structure of non-woven textiles has made textile material as a perfect element of thermal and sound insulation.

Sheep wool is a highly insulative material. It is used in the wall which gives the indoor a cozy atmosphere. But for being expensive, wool and cotton are not used normally. Moreover, waste from textile fiber has played a vital role to use as an insulator.

Thermobond is an insulation product which is developed by Scottish Research and Design Studio. Wool and polyester is the element of this Thermobond. It has higher thermal conductivity.

A French recycling company has also made a thermal insulation product called ‘Mettise’ which is used for insulating of ceiling roofs and walls. Recycled fiber, cotton, wool, polyester are used as a binder in this product.

Mermet is a solar protection fabric that can maintain thermal insulation in a house.

Textile as Acoustic Material

Acoustic materials can absorb sound to make the environment noise-free or soundproof. The energy of sound from the environment is absorbed by the porous structure of elements used in-wall or any construction. And in this section, non-woven textile works properly for their porous structure.

For good sound absorption properties of fiberglass and non-woven fabrics, these are used for soundproofing of the wall.

To make a soundproof wall, three or more than three layers are used. The second layer made of fiberglass and non-woven fabric is used to sound absorption and this layer is cover by the first one.

The last layer is fixed with the wall and it is made of plywood or timber frame.

When sound waves strike on an acoustic layer, the particle of acoustic material start to vibrate and create heat energy. The absorbed sound energy is come out as heat energy.

The using of textile in architecture is increasing day by day. The manufacturing process of textile materials is easy and more time-saving than any other construction materials. Almost 11% of technical textiles are used in the build tech sector. As much innovation can be brought in the technical textile sector, the use of textile in architecture will be increased continuously.

Sumita Bhattacharja Joly

Bangladesh University of Textiles

44th Batch.

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