A MATTER OF TACTILITY
Sensorial Fabrics
A Matter of Tactility is based on a low-tech approach to stimulate an interaction with the body through the sense of touch. The project has been developed exploring new possibilities of tactile expression through coating techniques, in order to change the tactile properties of the base textile and to bring another dimension of experience strictly related to touch. The realized textile pieces have been applied to the body, to express their potentiality in a wearable context. To show that clothing can be experienced not only in terms of function or aesthetic but also to stimulate unexpected sensations.
Piece n.1 - Nasty spikes
This first piece is characterized by a pattern composed of a series of repeated small squares that end up in sharp edges. In the
This first piece is characterized by a pattern composed of a series of repeated small squares that end up in sharp edges. In the
T-shirt where the pattern was applied, the shoulders and sides of the waist are the main focus as they are the parts of the body that we involuntary touch during the day. The tactility was not designed to be pleasant but rather sharp and unexpected both for the people in direct contact with it and for those that will enter in contact with it from the outside. For this piece, a second version has also been realized. It differs in terms of motif size and placement ( the pattern is not visible from the outside as it is applied on the wrong side of the t-shirt), it was realized with the intention of being experienced with the body and not with the hands. Compared to its other version, the final effect of this example differs quite a lot as it feels less pronounced due to the internal contact point that has less nervous endings.
Piece n.2 - Follow the path
This second piece is characterized by a placeable pattern made out of a series of fading lines designed to create a path that can guide a finger through its length. The shapes are dynamic and organic, following the natural body shapes, the lines were found to be a means to create paths that invite certain movements on the textile surface, as a possible way to relieve a moment of anxiety or just to create a bond between the garment and the one who wears it.
Piece n.3 - Funky Bubbles (Contrast Version)
This third piece is characterized not only by volume, but also by the visual contrast that highlights the appearing/disappearing pattern that makes it appealing to be touched from the outside. Applied on the shoulders and the back it gives a feeling of protection to the wearer.
Piece n.3 - Funky Bubbles (volume version)
The second version of the third piece highlighted by the volume of the textile's texture, and the appearing/disappearing pattern that creates a strong three dimensional wearing sensation. Applied on a collar, the texture is in contact with the wearer’s neck to give a pleasant, soft and conforting sensation.
Piece n.4 Sticky Dashes
The forth piece is characterized by a rubbery touch sensation. The dashed rubbery surfaces has been placed on a pair of elastic leggings at the bottom of the back and on the ankles, the pieces of the pattern works like small pressure point on the legs, leaving the legs energized. Overall it is the only expression that does not go smooth when touched, because there is a sort of an opposition between the hand that wants to follow the pattern direction and the sticky composition of the paste.
Piece n7. Tender Touch
In this last piece very small bubbles create a subtle oversurface on top of the fabric that feels comforting and delicate for the skin.
The tactile pattern on the skirt starts from the sides of the waist, to accompany the hand towards the inside of the pocket in the front.
Even though the volume of the tactile upper layer in this piece is very small, the tactile expression is very strong due to the contrast that is created between the base fabric and the paste: smooth/matte.
INTERACTION STUDY:
Different people were asked to try on the different pieces. The feelings that they expressed can not be generalised, since the sense of touch is very subjective and it has to be dissociated from being measurable. The feedback has shown huge diversity from one person to another. For example somebody was feeling very pleasant feelings by wearing the spiky t-shirt, while somebody else was feeling quite disturbed by that. But this was not unexpected because of the subjectivity of feelings. The most interesting observation was the reaction to the wearing experience, all the experiment’s volunteers claimed that they felt more connected with their body and with the garment they were wearing, and that usually they don’t pay that much attention to these factors.
