Graphic Arts in Manufacture ECO Design event

Our next GAIM (Graphic Arts In Manufacture) Sustainable Design and ECO event is on Monday the 13th of December from 12.30pm - 4.30pm in Jobswell Campus, Carmarthen.

Our speakers are from the Eco Design Centre in Cardiff and Menter Cwm Gwendraeth and will be speaking about cradle to cradle design and the future of our design world.

It is looking like it going to be an exciting and knowledge rich day, a great chance to bounce ideas around with like minded people and a great opportunity for networking.

If this sounds like your cup of tea then please RSVP to either myself: orla.ocarroll@colegsirgar.ac.uk or saron.jones-hughes@colegsirgar.ac.uk as soon as you can!

Hoping to see you there

Orla and Saron

GAIM R&D Team

A Passion for Wool

Hannah Wright from Swansea is from a farming background and wants to drive and promote wool as a textile. She also works on the Textiles Technology Project.

“Different sheep breeds produce varying qualities of fibre and every fleece has a use, whether it’s for high-end fashion or building insulation. It’s a complete waste to be discarding this natural resource so we’re looking for fact and figures to address the needs of farmers and industry demand to try and increase supply of the fibre in every form.”

Hannah Wright produces her own range, see below:

Hannah Wright is about traditional tailoring with a contemporary twist.

For Hannah, designing is an expression of who she is as a person. It's not about the clothes, it's about the person's lifestyle. Inspired by colours, textures and shapes, Hannah designs for the balance of comfort and luxury as well as the balance of what is practical and desirable. Farming is in Hannah Wrights genes and she wants it to enjoy being fashionable again.

Campaign for Wool

The Textiles Technologies Project is focussing on wool issues to make designers, manufacturers and consumers aware of the benefits of wool as a fibre and is currently backing Prince Charles’ Campaign for Wool, which is a five-year project hoping to bring wool back into fashion and address the falling prices offered to farmers for fleeces.
When we attended the Llandovery Sheep Festival, we carried out a feasibility study with the public and farmers to get their opinions about the British wool industry and how it could be improved. Many farmers admitted to discarding the sheared fleeces rather than selling it on because of the low prices they are paid.
A number of companies signing-up to the project have been trying to source Welsh wool to use in their products, but have been unsuccessful. We felt that this needed further research and we are hoping that if we gather enough evidence, we will be in a strong position to set up a major project at the college dedicated entirely to wool and its potential uses.

Top 2 Toe Supreme

Sharon Parr owns and runs Top 2 Toe Supreme based in Ceredigion. Sharon produces and sells bespoke tweed garments and classic show riding wear.

The Textiles Technologies Project is assisting Sharon with developing a new collection of children's wear garments using the pattern cutting skills and Gerber Accumark grading technology, within the project. The work which has been carried out so far is proving to be very successful with the new garments, and the company, increasing in popularity.

Sebold's Originals

Sebold's Originals, design and make, one piece, felt products from 100% Merino wool. Using a traditional process it takes time and skill to make a one piece, felt item. The various items in the range can take from several hours, up to a day or two, to make.

Ingo Hans and Rhian Wyn Rushton, who own Sebold's Originals, were interested in the proto typing are of the Textiles Technologies Project, as they want to create a sewn version of their characters.

website update

Our brand spanking new website is very nearly up and running! I'll be in touch soon with the address and information about our Website Launch Party!

Julia Griffiths Jones

http://www.juliagriffithsjones.co.uk/

Julia Griffiths Jones is an applied artist living and working in South Wales. Julia works closely with The National Woollen Museum, Drefach Felindre, Ceredigion and was commissioned to produce a wool book to complement the museum’s historical archive and the heritage of the Welsh Woollen Industry.

Julia uses traditional printing methods in her work and was keen to learn about new technologies and specifically the digital printing process we have on the TTP. The TTP assisted Julia in developing a prototype of the book from initial sketches, CAD development and sampling to the finished product.

This project proved very successful with the prototype being put into small scale production. These woollen books will be available to buy from the National Woollen Museum.

Inch Blue

Inch Blue is a company based in Wales specialising in hand made soft leather baby shoes.

The company is well known for its simple applique designs in leather.

 

Inch Blue have been working on the TTP (Textiles Technologies project) as they are interested in producing more complicated, customised designs and have worked with the expertise in Coleg Cir Gar to identify appropriate solutions. This has included researching into the limitations of embroidering on to leather and the types of designs and backings needed to produce successful embroideries.

http://www.inch-blue.com/

Furtech

furtech

The owner of furtech is Andy Davison who has been working on furtech products for a few years now, testing and developing fabrics and designs. It all started many, many years ago when Andy was walking in the Lake District wondering why he was getting wet in his new waterproof breathable kit.



Andy studied engineering and worked at DMM as a student. While there he remembers reading about 3D weaving and he wondered about making thinner, single structure pile/pertex type garments. As an engineer he studied thermodynamics in great detail, providing some insight into condensation and evaporation.


Throughout the intervening years, expeditions throughout the world and mountain rescue experiences, his understanding of garment physics and design has evolved and deepened. furtech is the result.


Andy is now working with Coleg Sir Gar and the TTP project on garment development.


http://www.furtech.co.uk/

http://www.furtech.typepad.com/

Howies

http://www.howies.co.uk/

Admire Howies' belief in the best quality product, lasting the longest time, sustainable too!

http://www.howies.co.uk/content.php?xSecId=20

Great illustrations in the Carnaby Street Store by Dave Sparshott, fantastic!

http://brainfood.howies.co.uk/

Peratech

http://www.peratech.com/index.php

Interesting material made in the UK by Peratech.

Quantum Tunnelling Composite (QTC) is a new class of electrically conductive material that has been developed to advance the capability of switching and sensing systems. 

QTC is a pressure switching and sensing material technology.

Peratech works with manufacturers to add new functionality to existing touch designs or to develop new, simpler, more reliable designs.

There are millions of uses for QTCs and Peratech has background knowledge to assist customers in thousands of application areas, for example; sports, medical, toys and games, robotics.....etc.

Water cutting and Laser cutting and etching

Our laser joining machine at Carmarthen College

SATnet Launch

I went to the SAT net launch at CIRIC today... lots going on for companies.. Get in touch if you have a project related to CAD/CAM pattern design, laser cutting, laser textile joining and virtal sampling. We are helping companies form all walks... Textile designers, companies using technical textiles....

1st Day blogging on Textiles technology project

Here we are on the first day of blogging and the 7th month of the Textiles Technology project. We hope to keep you all informed of what we are doing as frequently as we can.... so watch this space!
Yesterday I attended the WAG Innovation and e-Business Roadshow at Liberty Stadium. All about e-commerce including e-crime. There were also speakers talking on Entrepreneurial skills, Tweeting and how to use PR in your company. All very interesting!