2020 Edition

This project is focused on transforming a specific textile waste material into unique,
functional fabrics that can be used for a wide range of applications. In this case the
material- selvedge loom waste- is made from acrylic yarn, which is a form of plastic. A
group of inventions are presented here as viable constructions for these fabrics, and my
intent is to introduce these fabrics, and to encourage others in the textile industry to
locate sources for this material – acrylic or other- and do their versions of these ideas. I
see this project as an open source idea rather than proprietary, in the interest of
contributing to accessible solutions to the waste stream. Although this project is focused
on transforming a plastic based material, the concept goes much further into other fiber
and material categories.

I developed the idea over many years, with the genesis happening over twenty years
ago upon my first exposure to this material as a student. My work with the textile brand
Sunbrella, which is a major global producer of woven textiles and is deeply invested in
environmental concerns, has put me back in front of this material in a significant way, and
this has driven me to resume my experiments and development of these ideas.

The design process has been experimental and exploratory in a manner typical of
material-driven fabric development. I started with the material, which takes the form of a
narrow fabric/ fringe / trim/ yarn. I explored constructions for this material through hand
making, with knit, weave, crochet, and surface application, quickly landing on exciting,
sensuous, and beautiful fabrics that can be used for a myriad of different applications
from apparel to interiors and beyond.