KRYSTALLOS
cultivation of crystals on textile substrates
The work’s focus was on documenting inorganic salts and their growth on textiles. The aim was to create a new type of tissue, which has not yet been tested in connection with chemistry in this type.
A few experiments with substrates such as cotton, silk, leather, artificial leather, felt, loden and effect textiles, as well as the differentiation of the four selected crystal types (borax, alum, copper sulfate, prussiate of potash), provided an overview of their crystallization. Methods were worked out to change the stones and the fabric in their texture via dyes, epoxy resins and PVD coatings. Also the ductility and the element light were related to the crystals. By the crystallization of edges they gain a new shape. The inclusion of LEDs could also lead to an effective variant.
The special feature of this research-oriented design is the combination of two components, which were not yet to be experienced. The basically very flexible and light textile material is given a new aesthetics by the natural crystal growth. The resulting facets of transparencies and color harmonies enable a staging of light in the room. The conscious assignment of inorganic salts and textile material creates surfaces that are found in the interior, as wallpaper, light element or the like, but also in the field of fashion. Each fabric is unique, as the crystals look itself for their space on the textile.
