Infinite Possibilities
Product and Textile Design
Graduation Project
6 Months
An Interpretation Of
The big question
How might we reduce material consumption among people and increase product value with hyper personalisation that adds value to people’s lives (buy less, love more) ?
How might we engage in circular design to make the entire product lifecycle sustainable and enriching?
How might we humanise products and make them as natural as though they are a part of us?
The approach comes with a well defined problem statement , qualitative and quantitative analysis of users, market study, study of psychology and consumer habits and last but not the least a detailed study in knit innovation in terms of material, structures and functionality.
The collection is inspired by biomimetic parametric design principles and is an application of auxetic textiles as a size inclusive, gender neutral sustainable design.
A flat knitted outerwear collection made in Shima Seiki using recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles spun yarns was a result of well designed modular and easy to build 0 waste production system.
Below is a guide in understanding the Why, What, When, Who and How behind the project.
With the effects of Covid-19, Social media, fast fashion, capitalism and climate change a great number of people have reported psychological distress and symptoms of depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress . The impacts of climate change on different sectors of society are interrelated. large-scale wastage of resources due to unnecessary competition is evident. Feelings of inadequacy, dissatisfaction, and isolation are perceptible.
Below is an analysis of the underlining effects caused by major problems currently faced by the world and PESTEL analysis of the fashion industry.
Problem Discovery
Below is an artistic interpretation of the distressed. Depicting differential effects on the human psyche of things that shouldn’t really effect our wellbeing like the differences in the society. Are our days in the world to just live or overthink. It depicts how we have lost our roots and senses, and how we have to train our minds to go back to being in the present to be aware of our existence and rejuvenate our soul with real experiences.
The Concept
The ability to feel this life energy circulating in our body is given to us by the gift of our presence governed by our senses. To be alive and aware and to be in the present is to experience KI. and is, The Art of Now.
Below is an artistic interpretation of the presence, the awareness of the conscious soul and its consequences. Encouraging the diverse ways of existing beyond the dominant notations of the world.
The auxetic nature of the fabrics makes the garment shape- shifters they move and make on their own by the change in different body positions, interacting with the wearer in fun and stress-bursting ways.
Even though the textured surfaces are geometric the fabric forms are three dimensional and very organic and that’s the uniqueness of knitted 3d tessellations.
I have decoded the fabrication details of the product, its advantages and disadvantages below.
A Sensorial experience
unique to you,
A Visual experience
unique to light and location.
The clothing is comprised of both the material (the physical parts) and the immaterial (the light or shadow) enigma. Tactile knits offer a sense of reassuring comfort. The garment looks unique every time you change your body position. Change in the visual texture of the textile is due to light and shadow play. The uniqueness and uniquity thus lies in the form play!
Restorative, comfortable and cocooning properties build relations that can support and strengthen one another in positive ways. It offers warmth and cosy tactility. Insulating layers and close-to-skin fibres provide comfort driven elegance.
Below are the drivers that influenced characteristics and elements of the product.
Product Highlights
KI a collection of intricately folded layers that blossom into bold geometric artworks that change shape and self fold as the wearer moves.It helps in seeking assistance with emotional stresses through its plush comfort and multiple appealing sensorial anecdotes.
Retracted knits, creating elevated day-wear or elegant occasion knits. As work, home and leisure time is increasingly blurred, the new lifestyle narratives of a post-pandemic world will favour a more flexible approach to dressing.
Classics that will stand the test of time by keeping silhouettes simple, updated with unfussy, considered details for a fresher approach. Highly extensible fabrics make this an added functionality.
When you ask, What Next?
It can mean what is the next thing in products, in the industry, in the opportunities.
With this project for me the future was about change.
A change in the mindset of fashion and clothing, A change in lifestyle, A conscious change, A good change. The future is one of new voices and innovation. In this age of borderless thinking we emerge forging meaningful ties.
Reduced consumption due to climate change will be an absolute necessity. Timeless and season-less designs will continue to pick up pace as recessionary consumers become increasingly conscious about purchases. Hence we will not just need good products, we will need great products!
Here are a few preferred futures for the project brainstormed using the speculative design framework.
I explored hi-tech and lo-fi solutions that respond to mood and improve wellbeing, boosting the importance of customisation and flexible design. I strove to be circular and adaptive in my process. But I realised that the
most sustainable clothing is the one you haven’t bought yet. I donated most of the clothes I didn’t need and I’am conscious about what I buy.
As much as I celebrate the art of making textiles and apparel, I’m in refusal of its mass production and hence I couldn’t see the possibility of me working in the fashion industry and transitioned to designing digital products.
KI .
Infinite Possibilities
The logo represents a square divided by a line,
the negative space indicates KI.
A square can be cut into 2 equal parts in infinite ways,
and the possibilities are such that forms seamlessly become energy.
The energy inherent in all things is unique yet universal.
the square similarly lives as it evolves,
like all.
This is a graduation project that I completed in National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai. Facing all the challenges during Covid and completing the collection wasn’t easy, and I could only do it with the support of my family and friends for whom I’m forever grateful. Although the project timeline was for 6 months, my research about the textiles and generation methods spanned for 2 years. The project is under IPR and any violation or copyright issues will have consequences.