Lycra is a brand of elastanne that belongs to Du Pont E I De Nemours & Co. It was originally designed as a rubber replacement in girdles, but has expanded into much more. It has the ability to stretch up to 600 percent , recover to its original shape, and not tear at critical points. Lycra can be blended with many other fibers (natural and manufactured) to add increased serviceability characteristics in performance and fit for many categories of apparel.
CoolMax, a moisture management performance lycra, was introduced in 1986. In 1991, a fast-drying thermal fabric, Thermolite base, was introduced, and in 1998 X-Static was introduced. X-Static is silver-coated nylon that offers anti-microbial and anti-static properties to fabrics and garments. it was originally used for medical purposes, but its characteristics were found to be useful in knits, wovens, nonwovens, and yarns.
As time progresses, more advancements are being made with synthetic fibers. So many different characteristics can be achieved, and they just keep getting better and better. For this reason, it seems that man-made fibers are on an anything's-possible road to success.
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Showing posts with label The Product (1998). Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Product (1998). Show all posts
Monday, October 13, 2008
Technology (Motor Vehicle Styles)
In the general fashion market retro styling is a current trend. 1970's flare jeans are back, as well as shoes from the 1960's. Car trends are following suit. Retro styles from 30 to 50 years ago are making a huge comeback. Vehicle manufacturers are reviewing trends of the entire century to incorporate much of the old into the new. "There is little evidence of the futuristic shapes that designers once imagined buyers would demand by the end of the century."
examples: remake of the Thunderbird, increased Vespa sales, and the new Volkswagon beetle.
Even Mitsubishi's concept car that can drive itself has integrated retro aspects.
Everything old is new again
BYLINE: KIM SWEETMAN
View article
examples: remake of the Thunderbird, increased Vespa sales, and the new Volkswagon beetle.
Even Mitsubishi's concept car that can drive itself has integrated retro aspects.
Everything old is new again
BYLINE: KIM SWEETMAN
View article
Technology (Household Products)
Materials used in household products
One of the simplest household products is the sponge. Every American seems to have one in their home. For this reason, millions of sponges are used each year. Most sponges are made out of urethane and do not decompose in landfills, and emit toxic gases when burned. Another common sponge material is cellulose. These sponges are made of wood and depleat forests.
In 1998, a company called Chafflose Corp. created an eco-friendly, bio-degradable sponge. This sponge is made out of grass and chaff. These sponges can be used for washing dishes, cars, bathing, and cleaning household surfaces.
Although the majority of the "green" movement didn't start until the 2000's, it is obvious that small steps have been taken in that direction for years. Thinking green has been on the minds of consumers and producers for many years, and will remain so for many years.
Fiber/Fabric/Finish (Fabric Production)
Consoltex operates 14 manufacturing plants in North America. In 1998, they began to implement a fully automated inspection and inventory tracking system. This system will greatly decrease defects in fabrics by optimizing data collection. This is a state of the art system, and the first of its kind to ever be impemented into a mill.
View article
The textile industry is beginning to experience a loss in skilled labor and is responding by creating more automated systems.
View article
The textile industry is beginning to experience a loss in skilled labor and is responding by creating more automated systems.
Fabric/fiber/finish
Natural fiber floor coverings are a better option than synthetics and gaining popularity due to them being less harmful to the environment like synthetics. The types of natural fibers used for floor coverings consist of coir, jute, rush, seagrass or sisal fibers. These natural fibers are usually woven to make outside floor coverings but are becoming more popular for inside use for the fact that they are more sustainable and do not lack warmth compared to synthetics. Although natural fibers are becoming much more popular they lack in terms of resilience and durability. They stain easy, are very absorbent, come in limited colors and are not as soft as the synthetic floor coverings.
Coir Fiber is very coarse, strong but less flexile. It is made of coconut husks and is cellulose. They have a rough texture and are usually woven very loose; being susceptible to snagging.
Jute fiber is the least expensive natural fiber and is manly used for inexpensive fabrics. Jute is less durable than other natural fibers and does not hold up well, but is much softer.
Rush fibers are the thinker of natural fibers. They hold up well but are slick and smooth.
Seagrass is very durable and tough and is highly resilient to spills and soiling. It is smooth and comfortable and wears well. It does not dye well but naturally has a beautiful range of green and tan colors to choose from.
Sisal is a very versatile material that can be woven many different ways to make patterns. They are also very great for floor treatments because it is very durable, anti-static and do not need to be stain protected and take to dye well.
Personal Shopper; For Summer, Furnishings That Weave a Tropical Spell
The use of natural fibers is becoming very popular for furniture, floor coverings, and textiles. They are fairly more expensive, but more sustainable and better for the environment.
The use of organic and natural fiber clothing is better for the environment and for the person wearing them. Texas is slowly expanding the market for organic cotton. While hemp clothing is trying to break through, restrictions in the US make it difficult because of its THC levels and belonging to the same species of marijuana. Hemp farming was legalized in 1998 in Canada and is grown in much of Europe and Asia. There are list of natural and organic fibers such as organic wool, hemp, linen, silk, bamboo and soy and better ways to buy clothing that is healthier for us and the world we live in. There are also a list of stores to buy these kinds of apparel from. (national geographic.)
Coir Fiber is very coarse, strong but less flexile. It is made of coconut husks and is cellulose. They have a rough texture and are usually woven very loose; being susceptible to snagging.
Jute fiber is the least expensive natural fiber and is manly used for inexpensive fabrics. Jute is less durable than other natural fibers and does not hold up well, but is much softer.
Rush fibers are the thinker of natural fibers. They hold up well but are slick and smooth.
Seagrass is very durable and tough and is highly resilient to spills and soiling. It is smooth and comfortable and wears well. It does not dye well but naturally has a beautiful range of green and tan colors to choose from.
Sisal is a very versatile material that can be woven many different ways to make patterns. They are also very great for floor treatments because it is very durable, anti-static and do not need to be stain protected and take to dye well.
Personal Shopper; For Summer, Furnishings That Weave a Tropical Spell
The use of natural fibers is becoming very popular for furniture, floor coverings, and textiles. They are fairly more expensive, but more sustainable and better for the environment.
The use of organic and natural fiber clothing is better for the environment and for the person wearing them. Texas is slowly expanding the market for organic cotton. While hemp clothing is trying to break through, restrictions in the US make it difficult because of its THC levels and belonging to the same species of marijuana. Hemp farming was legalized in 1998 in Canada and is grown in much of Europe and Asia. There are list of natural and organic fibers such as organic wool, hemp, linen, silk, bamboo and soy and better ways to buy clothing that is healthier for us and the world we live in. There are also a list of stores to buy these kinds of apparel from. (national geographic.)
Fabric/Fiber/Finish (Raw Materials)
The above graphs depict changes in the cotton industry in the U.S. The top graph shows the increasing amount of exporting from US, most of which goes to Mexico and Canada under NAFTA. The middle graph shows the drastic increase in consumption of imported cotton goods. The bottom graph shows the amount of US product, US trade product, and imported product, comparatively. In 1993, where the bottom graph begins, the amount of US product was significantly more than imported product. As time progresses, this reverses. 1998 is the first year that imports outweighed US product. This trend continues on the graph. The majority of this change is accounted for in the increase in the amount of product that is traded, as opposed to being used by US consumers. Thursday, October 9, 2008
Color
Color (1998)
The seasonal colors are represented by a palette that has moved from predominantly cool colors to warm, seasonal ones. The five color groups are Poolside, Spa, Reef, Ruins and Cafe. Fabrics consisted of Poetry, Beyond the Rules, Pure -N-Simple, the Next Wave, and High Energy; all of which were types of fabrics used to get a response from the crowd during fashion week.
Calvin Klein's Seventh Avenue Showroom displayed many variable colors for the season. Royal blue, dark purple, grey (fashion's favorite color of the year), black, brown, aqua, and silver were among the many colors that he portrayed. The article states that although grey is chic, it doesn't compliment skin tones. Klein used grey for his swimsuit collection that he walked down the runway for 1999.
The seasonal colors are represented by a palette that has moved from predominantly cool colors to warm, seasonal ones. The five color groups are Poolside, Spa, Reef, Ruins and Cafe. Fabrics consisted of Poetry, Beyond the Rules, Pure -N-Simple, the Next Wave, and High Energy; all of which were types of fabrics used to get a response from the crowd during fashion week.
Calvin Klein's Seventh Avenue Showroom displayed many variable colors for the season. Royal blue, dark purple, grey (fashion's favorite color of the year), black, brown, aqua, and silver were among the many colors that he portrayed. The article states that although grey is chic, it doesn't compliment skin tones. Klein used grey for his swimsuit collection that he walked down the runway for 1999.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Designs/Styles (Kristin)
Architecture Style
Modernism: Modernist architecture emphasizes function. It attempts to provide for specific needs rather than imitate nature. The roots of Modernism may be found in the work of Berthold Luberkin (1901-1990), a Russian architect who settled in London and founded a group called Tecton. The Tecton architects believed in applying scientific, analytical methods to design. Their stark buildings ran counter to expectations and often seemed to defy gravity.
Modernist architecture has these features:
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/7/V/K/cornell9170006.jpg
- Little or no ornamentation
- Factory-made parts
- Man-made materials such as metal and concrete
- Emphasis on function
- Rebellion against traditional styles
Expressionism: Expressionism evolved from the work of avant garde artists and designers in Germany and other European countries during the first decades of the twentieth century.
Key features of Expressionism are:
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/7/t/j/BabelsbergEinsteinturm.jpg
- Distorted shapes
- Fragmented lines
- Organic or biomorphic forms
- Massive sculpted shapes
- Extensive use of concrete and brick
- Lack of symmetry
- Many fanciful works rendered on paper but never built
Structuralism: Structuralism is based on the idea that all things are built from a system of signs and these signs are made up of opposites: male/female, hot/cold, old/young, etc. For Structuralists, design is a process of searching for the relationship between elements. Structuralists are also interested in the social structures and mental processes that contributed to the design.
Structuralist architecture will have a great deal of complexity within a highly structured framework. For example, a Structuralist design may consist of cell-like honeycomb shapes, intersecting planes, cubed grids, or densely clustered spaces with connecting courtyards.
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/7/r/j/berlinmemorial.jpg
Formalism: Formalism emphasizes form. The architect is interested in visual relationships between the building parts and the work as a whole. Shape, often on a monumental scale, is the focus of attention. Lines and rigid geometric shapes predominate in Formalist architecture.
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/0/B/8/pei-bankhongkong-pritzker.jpg
High-Tech: High-tech buildings are often called machine-like. Steel, aluminium, and glass combine with brightly colored braces, girders, and beams. Many of the building parts are prefabricated in a factory and assembled later. The support beams, duct work, and other functional elements are placed on the exterior of the building, where they become the focus of attention. The interior spaces are open and adaptable for many uses.
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/7/m/j/pompidou.jpg
Bauhaus: They wanted to use principles of Classical architecture in their most pure form: without ornamentation of any kind. Bauhaus buildings have flat roofs, smooth facades, and cubic shapes. Colors are white, gray, beige, or black. Floor plans are open and furniture is functional.
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/7/7/Q/gropiushouse046.jpg
International Style: The International Style is the favored architecture for office buildings, and is also found in upscale homes built for the rich.
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/0/8/F/united_nations-at.jpg
Brutalism: The term Brutalism was first used in the early 1950s to describe the simple concrete buildings designed by Le Corbusier. Stark and angular, Brutalism grew out of the International Style, but the designs may strike you as less refined. Brutalist buildings can be constructed quickly and economically.
Brutalist architecture has these features:
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/7/r/P/01_Mendes.jpg
- Precast concrete slabs
- Rough, unfinished surfaces
- Exposed steel beams
- Massive, sculptural shapes
Minimalism: one of the important trend in modernist architecture.
Minimalism includes:
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/0/o/G/luisbarraganhouse-ppl.jpg
- Buildings are stripped of all but the most essential elements
- Emphasis is placed on the outline, or frame, of the struture
- Interior walls are eliminated
- Floor plans are open
- Lighting is used to dramatize lines and planes
- The negative spaces around the structure are part of the overall design
Deconstructivism: s an approach to building design that attempts to view architecture in bits and pieces. The basic elements of architecture are dismantled. Deconstructivist buildings may seem to have no visual logic. They may appear to be made up of unrelated, disharmonious abstract forms. Deconstructive ideas are borrowed from the French philosopher Jacques Derrida.
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/7/u/j/seattlelibraryiStock.jpg
Organic Architecture: Organic buildings are never linear or rigidly geometric. Instead, wavy lines and curved shapes suggest natural forms.
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/0/3/I/utzon-sydney-pritzker03.jpg
Postmodern Architecture: evolved from the modernist movement, yet contradicts many of the modernist ideas. Combining new ideas with traditional forms, postmodernist buildings may startle, surprise, and even amuse. Familiar shapes and details are used in unexpected ways. Buildings may incorporate symbols to make a statement or simply to delight the viewer.
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/7/s/j/attheadquarters.jpg
Modernism: Modernist architecture emphasizes function. It attempts to provide for specific needs rather than imitate nature. The roots of Modernism may be found in the work of Berthold Luberkin (1901-1990), a Russian architect who settled in London and founded a group called Tecton. The Tecton architects believed in applying scientific, analytical methods to design. Their stark buildings ran counter to expectations and often seemed to defy gravity.
Modernist architecture has these features:
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/7/V/K/cornell9170006.jpg
- Little or no ornamentation
- Factory-made parts
- Man-made materials such as metal and concrete
- Emphasis on function
- Rebellion against traditional styles
Expressionism: Expressionism evolved from the work of avant garde artists and designers in Germany and other European countries during the first decades of the twentieth century.
Key features of Expressionism are:
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/7/t/j/BabelsbergEinsteinturm.jpg
- Distorted shapes
- Fragmented lines
- Organic or biomorphic forms
- Massive sculpted shapes
- Extensive use of concrete and brick
- Lack of symmetry
- Many fanciful works rendered on paper but never built
Structuralism: Structuralism is based on the idea that all things are built from a system of signs and these signs are made up of opposites: male/female, hot/cold, old/young, etc. For Structuralists, design is a process of searching for the relationship between elements. Structuralists are also interested in the social structures and mental processes that contributed to the design.
Structuralist architecture will have a great deal of complexity within a highly structured framework. For example, a Structuralist design may consist of cell-like honeycomb shapes, intersecting planes, cubed grids, or densely clustered spaces with connecting courtyards.
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/7/r/j/berlinmemorial.jpg
Formalism: Formalism emphasizes form. The architect is interested in visual relationships between the building parts and the work as a whole. Shape, often on a monumental scale, is the focus of attention. Lines and rigid geometric shapes predominate in Formalist architecture.
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/0/B/8/pei-bankhongkong-pritzker.jpg
High-Tech: High-tech buildings are often called machine-like. Steel, aluminium, and glass combine with brightly colored braces, girders, and beams. Many of the building parts are prefabricated in a factory and assembled later. The support beams, duct work, and other functional elements are placed on the exterior of the building, where they become the focus of attention. The interior spaces are open and adaptable for many uses.
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/7/m/j/pompidou.jpg
Bauhaus: They wanted to use principles of Classical architecture in their most pure form: without ornamentation of any kind. Bauhaus buildings have flat roofs, smooth facades, and cubic shapes. Colors are white, gray, beige, or black. Floor plans are open and furniture is functional.
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/7/7/Q/gropiushouse046.jpg
International Style: The International Style is the favored architecture for office buildings, and is also found in upscale homes built for the rich.
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/0/8/F/united_nations-at.jpg
Brutalism: The term Brutalism was first used in the early 1950s to describe the simple concrete buildings designed by Le Corbusier. Stark and angular, Brutalism grew out of the International Style, but the designs may strike you as less refined. Brutalist buildings can be constructed quickly and economically.
Brutalist architecture has these features:
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/7/r/P/01_Mendes.jpg
- Precast concrete slabs
- Rough, unfinished surfaces
- Exposed steel beams
- Massive, sculptural shapes
Minimalism: one of the important trend in modernist architecture.
Minimalism includes:
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/0/o/G/luisbarraganhouse-ppl.jpg
- Buildings are stripped of all but the most essential elements
- Emphasis is placed on the outline, or frame, of the struture
- Interior walls are eliminated
- Floor plans are open
- Lighting is used to dramatize lines and planes
- The negative spaces around the structure are part of the overall design
Deconstructivism: s an approach to building design that attempts to view architecture in bits and pieces. The basic elements of architecture are dismantled. Deconstructivist buildings may seem to have no visual logic. They may appear to be made up of unrelated, disharmonious abstract forms. Deconstructive ideas are borrowed from the French philosopher Jacques Derrida.
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/7/u/j/seattlelibraryiStock.jpg
Organic Architecture: Organic buildings are never linear or rigidly geometric. Instead, wavy lines and curved shapes suggest natural forms.
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/0/3/I/utzon-sydney-pritzker03.jpg
Postmodern Architecture: evolved from the modernist movement, yet contradicts many of the modernist ideas. Combining new ideas with traditional forms, postmodernist buildings may startle, surprise, and even amuse. Familiar shapes and details are used in unexpected ways. Buildings may incorporate symbols to make a statement or simply to delight the viewer.
http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/7/s/j/attheadquarters.jpg
Fabric/Fiber/Finish (Ashley, Lindsey)
HEMP TRADERSWelcome to Hemp Traders, the world’s largest supplier of hemp products.
This site has a full product list of fabrics sold and there prices. They could be compared to other fabrics to see best cost for lower productiona and sales
Hemp is earth’s most beneficial agricultural crop, providing all the basic necessities for human life: food, clothing, shelter, and medicine. Learn all about the four basic uses of hemp by reading HEMP 101.
Hemp Traders began in 1993 selling both wholesale and retail hemp products such as hemp fabric, hemp twine, hemp rope, hemp oil, hemp clothing, and more. We keep all our products in stock for immediate delivery, http://www.hemptraders.com/
This site has a full product list of fabrics sold and there prices. They could be compared to other fabrics to see best cost for lower productiona and sales
Hemp is earth’s most beneficial agricultural crop, providing all the basic necessities for human life: food, clothing, shelter, and medicine. Learn all about the four basic uses of hemp by reading HEMP 101.
Hemp Traders began in 1993 selling both wholesale and retail hemp products such as hemp fabric, hemp twine, hemp rope, hemp oil, hemp clothing, and more. We keep all our products in stock for immediate delivery, http://www.hemptraders.com/
Technology (1998)
The most popular gifts this year to give are tech-savvy items such as computers and digital cameras. Popular gift price points range from a $300 digital camera to a 2,300 notebook PC. Even an Inkjet printer was reccomended as a christmas gift for the 1998 holiday season! The number 1 recommended gadget, though, was the PalmPilot, and the new and improved Palm 111, personal assistant/cellular phone that became the hot seller of cell phones and wave of the future for PDA's. Color
Pantone "Color of the Year"
"Blue Iris" was announced late in 2007 as being the "Color of the Year" for 2008. This color is used as an example to encapsulate the emotions that is predicted will describe the consumer direction ("dependable" blue, "soul-searching" purple; "anchoring and meditative with a touch of magic"). Not only is it predicted to lead consumers in fashion, but also in cosmetics and home fashion.
Color Enhances Mood
Color not only reflects a particular design aspect, but can affect the physiology of a person, making them feel hungry, calm, excited, or even arroused. Color choice is not just important within clothing, but also home fashion (wall paint, slipcovers, the popularity of HGTV), and even in technology. Oftentimes, you will see common color choices across a broad spectrum of environments. Hospitals use blues and greens, reds are used often in restaurants and dining rooms, and yellow is best used in dimly lit areas. The folowing is a quick list of some colors and the affects they may have.
Red: Raises excitement, energy, appetite, and arousal levels.
Orange: Warm and welcoming
Yellow: Warm and welcoming, attention-getting
Blue: Calm and tranquil, appetite suppressant
Green: Calm and relaxing, very versatile
Violet: Often disliked by adults but liked by younger children
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