August 2018

New short course – Textiles: Applications, sourcing and logistics

In response to feedback from participants on our short course programme, a new 1-day course will be introduced in November to cater for those wanting to learn more about fabric suitability for purpose, off-shore sourcing and logistical knowledge associated with factory selection, costings and material quality standards. The course is aimed at those in industry: merchandisers, designers and product developers, who are looking to develop more effective work methods and who want to refresh or learn more about commercial textile applications. The course will be presented by Colleen Ahalt-Eagle, a material and colour management expert with over 20 years’ industry experience with Kathmandu, Reebok, Hanes, Target and JC Penney. Email the lab to find out more about this course and how to register for it.

Raising the Baa 2018 finalists

Congratulations to our Raising the Baa 2018 finalists whose proposals were assessed by our judging panel this month. The competition was introduced to encourage students from a range of disciplines to think of innovative applications for strong wool. The initiative is in its second year and is co-funded by the Wool Research Organisation of NZ in conjunction with the Textile and Design Lab. Ten projects submitted by six students will go forward into the next stage of the competition during which they will produce prototypes of their ideas that will be judged towards the end of the year. The two winning students will each receive awards to the value of $5,000 to help them further develop their ideas towards commercialisation. This year’s finalists are Cody Berkahn and Gareth Abraham, (Product Design), Caelan Sparrow and Mette Hay (Textile Design), Luis Alonso Sandoval (Creative Technologies) and Una Mowatt (Art and Design).

PhD achievements

Congratulations to two of our recent PhD graduates, Donna Cleveland (Textile Design) and Xiaoyou Lin (Engineering) both of whom have worked extensively with the lab during the course of their research. Donna, whose work is described in the following article, created a model for New Zealand companies to adopt for recycling textile waste materials. Xiaoyou’s work focused on high frequency radio applications for soft conductors and flexible dielectrics. The lab was able to support his research by producing experimental prototypes and technical advice. His PhD was supervised by Associate Professors Boon Chong Seet and Frances Joseph.

Makeover for TDL showroom

The lab’s showroom had a facelift this month and is now hosting recent PhD graduate, Donna Cleveland’s collection of knitted and felted fabrics and accessories, which were recycled from locally produced textile waste. Donna’s research has established a model for New Zealand businesses to consider for their waste materials by converting used apparel and factory off-cuts back into fibre to produce non-woven, knitted and woven goods.

Some of Donna’s collection made from recycled textile waste

Textile Design students in Best Awards finals

Mette Hay and Nikki Walker, both of whom are studying Textile Design, have been selected as finalists in the Student Product category for this year’s DINZ Best Awards, which will culminate at the Viaduct Events Centre on 22 September. Mette, a trained textile artist currently in the final year of her bachelor’s degree, has created a range of wool based interior design fabrics using a combination of felting, knitting and digital printing techniques. Nikki’s entry is also based around the use of strong wool for her collection of ‘Woveknit’ bags, which she developed at the lab using the Shima Seiki inlay knitting machine to create various hybrid knit/woven structures. Read more.

Wellington artist opts for digital imagery

Wellington based photographer and Associate Professor at Massey University’s School of Arts, Ann Shelton, approached the Textile and Design Lab recently for some help in printing her digital photographs onto silk fabrics for her East 2018 Exhibition being held at the Hastings City Art Gallery. Ann’s research has led her to consider the Hawke’s Bay as the birthplace of biodynamic farming in Aotearoa New Zealand. Drawing on a confluence of landscape conventions, she alludes to this history by producing a composite image of a local biodynamic farm digitally printed on silk and stretched over a folding screen. The East 2018 exhibition runs from 11 August to 11 November. Read more.

Ann’s digitally printed silk imagery

Knitted and felted artworks on show

Auckland artist, Stella Brennan, is exhibiting her most recent work at the Trish Clark Gallery on Bowen Avenue, Auckland. Stella has worked extensively with the lab over the last nine months to create a collection of jacquard knitted and felted pieces for her exhibition. Working with TDL Senior Technician, Gordon Fraser, and Textile Design students Finn Godbolt and Mette Hay, she was able to produce examples of some of the most intricate knitted and felted work. The exhibition runs from 5 August to 8 September. Read more.

Intricate felted wool (left) and jacquard knitted (right) artworks form a large part of Stella’s exhibition

September short courses and workshops

The lab’s short course and workshop programme enables participants to quickly upskill in the areas of textile knowledge, textile design for knitwear and digital printing, machine felting, e-Textiles and soft circuit design, and laser cutting design. The programme runs throughout September. Read more about the programme and how to book online.