Textile & Material Research
6 weeks · 0 milestones
Material research project exploring textile properties for a specific design context. Triad: concept/ideation artifact (material research brief: design context, performance requirements, aesthetic direction, and sustainability constraints — written before sampling begins), technical execution artifact (swatch development or documented surface exploration: minimum 5 fabric samples or material options tested or evaluated against the brief requirements, with each sample's properties documented — weight, handle, stretch recovery, care requirements), documentation/critique artifact (written supply chain and sustainability research: fibre sourcing, certifications claimed and verified, country of manufacture, environmental impact rating, and a justified material selection decision with rationale). Studio critique: textiles specialist or fashion professional reviews the material research against the design context and sustainability criteria — generic material research with no connection to a brief does not satisfy this standard. Proof: material research brief, sample documentation or swatch records, supply chain research document, critique notes. Verifier: textiles specialist, fashion design tutor, or fashion industry professional with materials expertise.
Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Source a minimum of six fabric samples spanning at least three fabric categories (woven, knit, non-woven or technical). For each, test against four performance criteria relevant to your design concept: drape, opacity, stretch recovery, and wear durability. Document tests with photographs and notes.
Proof required
Submit your fabric sample set (photographs of each sample, labelled with fibre content and weave structure) alongside test records for each of the four performance criteria per sample.
What gets checked
- Six fabric samples present, spanning at least three distinct fabric categories
- All four performance criteria tested for every sample — not selective testing
- Test records include photographic evidence for drape and opacity tests — not just written descriptions