Summary

As a pair, we have created this final collection following our research on the predictions of rising sea levels witch in future will cause major flooding. We have designs a range of garments that are inspired by the adaptations of underwater animals taking there functions and creating them into ideas that could help us. We have done this by using waterproof and breathable materials to create these fashionable designs ranging from latex sleeves to wool and lycra trousers. The garments include relaxed fitting pants and jumpers as well as tight insulating sweaters and all in one body suits. Since the designs were inspired by different animals the factors and inspiration for each garment varied and so to bring them together as a collection we used a series of prints designed on Photoshop from an original print created using bubbles and paint inspired by the pattern with in a turtle shell. The versatile materials have given each garment life and character while the continuous print embodied throughout the designs bring this collection together as a whole.

Aqua Resistance designs

Collection

To conclude all our our research and experiments that we have conducted with the concept of the world being engulfed by water and our life style having to change due to the causes of major flooding as a team we have came up with a water resident collection that could be used give that this happens. We have created a trend book including 12 designs that we have created following our research into water proof mateials and inspired by the functions of sea life that helps them survive in wet conditions. Although some of the designs can be seen as very differant given the occasion it would be used for we have used a range of prints throughout to bring the designs together that was first created from the insperational print inspired by the patterns seen on a turtles shell.

Illustrations

Experimenting with knit

In these experiments we have conducted a few tests, trying to create a waterproof knit. The samples tested on are, cotton for breath ability, viscose as it does not shrink when heated and is biodegradable and wool which is naturally water resistant due to natural oils such as Lanolin. The same amount of water with dye in is poured on each sample and left to absorb for five minutes to get a rough idea how well the products work.

 

 

Treated with varnish resin

  

Treated with XT Proofer

Without treatment..

 

Since conducting the experiments i is clear to see that the XT water proof spray has worked the best. It deffinatly worked better than i was expcting and i was impressed when I saw the results, I did not think that the XT Proofer would work as well as it did. Especially with the way it reacted with the cotton and Lycra mix creating a breathable, flexible and water resistant sample that we can incorperate as one of the materials to be used within the garments for our collection.

Latex prints

Since seeing the work of Andreea Mandrescu i have been inspired me to try something of my own. Using clay to create a print and then setting latex within it as displayed in the images below. I love the outcome of these experimentations and will deffinatly be using this as part of the materails in our outcome collection as it is in fact waterproof.

• exceptional resistance to wear and tear
• great tensile strength
• resistant to common abrasives and works well in low temperature environments
• water resistantt
• highly flexible

Andreea Mandrescu

The textile collections are an exploration of different materials that include faux fur, rubbers, leather and veneers on a variety of base fabrics. The fabrics are versatile, made to fit pattern garments for fashion design to being wrapped around the body as accessories.

 

I love the work of Andreea Mandrescu she creates some amazing pieces made from latex and since researching into this and finding that it is fully waterproof i intend to create some samples of my own inspire by andreas work. I think it will be a good material to work with especailly seen as i will be able to create my own prints using the insperation from my turtle print research.

Skin/Fur/Scales

Rosies research into how animals fur/skin/scales protect them and keep them waterproof.

SKIN 

 Skin is the largest organ of the body, with a complex structure being composed of many different tissues. It also performs many functions which are important to maintain internal body stability in the body. The most important of these functions is to control body heat, the skin also protects the body from physical damage and bacterial invasion in both humans and animals. HOW IS SKIN WATERPROOF? 

Skin acts as a waterproof, insulating shield guarding the body against the extremes of temperature, damaging sunlight and harmful chemicals. It also emits antibacterial substances that prevent infection, skin is also packed with nerves endings keeping the brain in touch with the outside world. Skin is an amazing versatile organ. Skin is mostly composed of water, like the rest of the human body. Composed of three layers, the epidermis, dermis and, subcutaneous fat. the dermis which is the second layer in our skin contains sebum which is a natural oil that keeps our skin lubricated, protected and water resistant.

 ANIMALS SKIN // PROTECTION

Skin exists on animals but of a different nature, the skin on amphibians, reptiles and birds is the first line of defence from external factors in harsh environments.`It is much like humans playing a main role in protecting the body against water loss, insulation, sensation and, the production of vitamin D fol ates. Animal skin varies from scales, fur and feathers, depending on environment and the climates, they do not wear their skin on the outside as their furs and feathers have unique properties that prevent water getting in while allowing insulation and condensation to escape.

  water which gets into the fur drains outwards keeping the skin of the animal dry. The wind then evaporates the water from the outer layer, the connection between skin and fur it a straight connection, this enhances breath ability, Fur garments on animals are immune to damage as the fur protects the skin, a layer of fat under the skin provides insulation.

animals with feather and furs use natural oils from their bodies to coat themselves making the outer layer water resistant. This is a method is called preening.   

 

 

sculpting with knit

Inspired by the shell of the turtle i wanted to create a sculptural piece that could be used for protection within our design ideas. I coated some samples of knitting in pva glue and positioned them round a bowl to try and create the shell like shape. Unfortunetly when trying to remove the knits when dry they lost shape and so the experiment did'nt work as i hoped, but the samples when very stiff showing that they would be sturdy and if i could mange to get the shaping right in development tests this could maybe be used in our design ideas..
 

Flooding

When the UK floods we are unprepared and inexperienced, how do other countries deal with this?
We are already begining to see how damaging flooding can be here  in the UK have experienced heavy floods first hand.

Venice

Following our previous research, we tried to create a garment that would take into account the possibility of such a climate change. We looked at parts of the world that are already experiencing conditions that could be replicated in the UK and we focused on Venice.

Prints photoshop

Prints

 

I created these prints by using dyes and straws to create bubbles and then hold a piece of paper over the top to catch the print of the bubbles , i think that some have worked really well and reflect the print from the turtles shell i then want to put these into photo shop to create a range of prints that can be used in our final collection.

How animals have adapted to underwater life

Fish

Duck

Octopus

Turtle

To help us create this collection we decided to look at things that are already living underwater and were inspired by sea life. We thought of all the unique qualities that these animals have that enable them to survive on or underwater:

Fish - gills to breath

Duck - webbed feet and waterproof feathers for insulation

Turtles - protective shell

Octopus - tentacles to help them move underwater



Turtle inspo

At this point we divided into two sub groups (two pairs). I focused my research around the sea turtle. I am particularly interested in the shell; its pattern and protective qualities.

Climate change

We wanted to look at how things could really be in the future given the recent changes in climate. One of the things that we have experienced in the UK as a result of global warming, is the increased risk of flooding and greater rainfall. With this in mind, we thought that if this trend was not halted, parts of the country could become permanently under water and the land mass decreased.

Brief

Concept: As sea levels are rising yearly , raning and flooding is getting worse and by 2100 it is predicted that the whole world will be engulfed by water. Our aim is to produce a trend taking inspiration from animals which have already adapted to surivie in these enviroments already suchs as the sea & rivers and use them as inspreation to create something that would help us survive giving the situation.

Context: To create a source of inspiration in the form of a trend book inspired by these under water creatures and adaptations.

brief ideas..

As sea levels are rising yearly , raining and flooding is getting worse. In 2100 it has been predicted that the whole world will be engulfed by water . over the past century burning fossil fuleds and other human and natural activites have release an enormouse amount of heat trappin gases into the enviroment which have affected the atmosphere this has caused the earth temprture to rise this means that oceans absorb around 80 bpercentof the additional heat. The rise in sea levels are connected to three primary factors all caused by this golbal climate change:

Thermal expansion : when water heats up and expands. About  half of the past centurys rise sea level is attributable to warmer oceansoccupying more space.

Melting of glaciers and polare ice caps: large ice formations such as glaciers and the polar ice caps naturally melt back a small amount each summer. In winter snows made primarily from evaporated sea water are generally sufficient to balance out the melting . recentky higher temeratures caused by global warming have lead to a high recording in summer melting as well as diminished snowfall due to later winters and earlier springs. The imbalance results in a significant gain in evaoration for the ocean causing sea levels to rise.

Ice loss from greenland and west antarctica: with glaciers and the ice caps increased heat is causing the ice sheets that cover greenland and antartica to melt at an accelerated pace. Scientists belive meltwater form above and sea water from below is leaking from beneath greenland and west antarcticas ice sheets effectivlet oosening ices strea,s and causing them to move more quickly into the sea . higher sea temperatures are causing the ice shelves that extend out from antarctica to melt form below weaken and break off.

When sea levels rise rapidly, which have been happening over the centurt a small increase can have devasting effects on the costal habbitats. As the sea water reaches farther inland it can cause destructive erosion flooding of wetlands contamination of aquifers and agricultural soils and lost habbitats for fish, birds and plants. Hundreds of millions of people live in areas that will become increasingly vunrelable to flooding. Higher sea levels will force them to abandom their homes and relocate. Low lying islands will evantully submerge completley.

Our air is to creater a collection of water resisdant garments taking insperation from animals that have already adapted to these enviroments.

Richard Nicoll

Richard Nicoll S/S12

PVC and neoprene materials in pastel pinks and powder blues dominated a 60s and 70s influenced collection that still managed to be modern in its cuts

Here richard demonstrates how materials such as neopreme and pvc can be transformed into these amazin catwalk pieces very insperations into a research and thoughts on waterproof designs for out trend book.