The advent of new and advanced technologies has had a dramatic impact on the world of textiles. Its influence can be seen in every area from fashion and product design to art and architecture. Highly engineered fibers and fabrics are allowing new structures to be produced with enhanced performance characteristics. New surface treatments are transforming the appearance, aesthetic and performance of fabrics. Digital advances are changing both the appearance and viewpoint of textiles, while new developments in electronics have opened up whole new areas of interactive art and design. The outcome is that we are seeing not only textile artists and designers reassessing fabric, but product designers, engineers and architects have come to regard the material in a new light.

The first part of this lecture will be given to the textiles themselves. The second will look at applications in product, fashion, art and architecture. This will include technology transfer and multi-disciplinary design practice. The lecture will conclude with a discussion on the growing importance of international collaborations.

Marie O'Mahony is an independent textile and technology consultant based in London. Her clients range from NIKE to Arts Council England to Zaha M Hadid and Hussein Chalayan. She has curated numerous exhibitions, including The Fabric of Fashion for the British Council and her books include TechnoTextiles, SportsTech and Cyborg – The Man Machine. Her most recent book titled TechnoTextiles 2 (coauthor) was published by Thames and Hudson last year. During August 2006 she is a visiting lecturer at UNSW COFA conducting workshops on 'Camouflage'. Her visit to UNSW is supported by the Ove Arup Foundation.

Enquiries: Liz Williamson, School of Design Studies COFA, tel 9385 0610 or email Liz.Williamson@unsw.edu.au
Where: COFA Lecture Theatre EG02, Corner Greens Road (Gate 2) and Oxford Streets, Paddington NSW.

Marie O'Mahony


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+ Textiles