Issey Miyake and Nature Architects Explore the Use of Metamaterials
During Milan Design Week 2023.
Currently showing during Milan Design Week 2023 is a joint presentation by A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE and Nature Architects titled THINKING DESIGN, MAKING DESIGN: Type-V Nature Architects project. For the display, the team introduces a number of prototypes — including wearables, furniture, and lighting fixtures — all developed from just one piece of flat fabric. The feat is achieved by using metamaterials, defined as materials that have properties other than those found in nature, which contract predictably when heat is applied, allowing various forms to be developed via an all-in-one manufacturing process.
One of the standout products is a seamless jacket. While clothes are traditionally made by piecing together several fabric panels, the metamaterials allow for a significant reduction in sewing, transforming a flat fabric into a three-dimensional form using A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE’s original “Steam Stretch” technology while following the blueprint laid out by Nature Architects’ Direct Functional Modeling.
“The Steam Stretch by A-POC ABLE Issey Miyake is a technology that creates stretch fabrics with yarn that reacts to heat and contracts. Studying the properties of this transforming fabric, we calculated the rate and structures of the contraction and developed an algorithm that automatically generates weave patterns,” says Nature Architects.
THINKING DESIGN, MAKING DESIGN: Type-V Nature Architects project runs from April 18 to 23. More details can be found here.
ISSEY MIYAKE / MILAN
Via Bagutta 12, 20121, Milan, Italy
+39-02-781040
In other news, BerBerJin x eYe Junya Watanabe MAN ready a second drop.
