Techno Textiles 2: Revolutionary Fabrics for Fashion and Design (Second Edition) (Bk. 2) [Paperback]

Sarah E. Braddock Clarke (Author), Marie O'Mahony (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 17, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0500286841 | ISBN-13: 978-0500286845 | Edition: Second Edition

This up-to-date book highlights advanced textiles in production and available to the designer, artist, architect, and consumer today.

It explores the exciting confluence of art, design, and technology: new textiles that shrink or expand to fit; fabrics developed from carbon, steel, glass, and ceramics; materials that protect the wearer from environmental extremes on earth and in space.

Featuring a wide selection of textiles at the cutting edge of technology, the book covers the field in three main sections:

Innovations: how the newest textiles are imagined and produced.

Applications: from fashion and design to architecture and art.

Reference: including a glossary, biographies, a bibliography, and directories of addresses and public collections.

Over 300 color illustrations

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This book builds on the first edition's theme of technologically-innovative textiles, with a focus on explaining the textiles and showing their applications in architecture, design, fashion and art. Many of the materials covered have origins in military, space or heavy industry (a shirt, for instance, made partially with metal alloys that "remember" their original shape has roots in the European space program), but have been transformed by engineers, designers, architects and artists into improved (or just different) versions of objects traditionally made with plastic or natural fabric, i.e. three-dimensional embroidery, used for a vascular prosthesis; ceramic-based fabrics that conduct very little heat and make ideal fuel filters and swimwear; and woven polypropylene, as used in architectural applications. Examples are presented in a thoughtful layout that includes hundreds of bright photographs. (Though the "Fashion" section, a fitful marriage of glossy fashion mags and dull techtalk, is lacking in the inspiration department.) The writing, however, runs the gamut from bland to clunky to grammatically or structurally flawed ("Fashion designers choose the new textiles largely for their progressive appearance and sometimes regardless of their supreme performance properties") and can belabor the obvious. ( "Umbrella structures are used in many outdoor sites to provide protection from the elements.") This book has a trove of information and eye candy, but its lack of writing chops makes it more a flip-through visual reference than a satisfying read.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

An artfully presented, glistening mirror of contemporary art and culture. -- Art Documentation

Demonstrates the intrinsic value of smart materials. Encyclopedic in scope and intensely visual. -- Surface

This exuberant collection celebrates how textile designers today are fusing astonishing new textile technology with traditional aesthetics. -- To the Trade

Traces the leap from fabrics that just look smart to fabrics that are smart. -- New York Times --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson; Second Edition edition (January 17, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500286841
• ISBN-13: 978-0500286845
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #945,647 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An exciting pick for any designer or artist working in fabrics, May 21, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Techno Textiles 2: Revolutionary Fabrics for Fashion and Design (Hardcover)

TECHNO TEXTILES: REVOLUTIONARY FABRICS FOR FASHION AND DESIGN will prove an exciting pick for any designer or artist working in fabrics. Here are features of new textiles developed from carbon, steel and even glass: materials which protect wearers from the environment or offer new versatility traditional fabrics can't match. Accompanying color photos of fabrics in use are discussions of changing trends in fabric construction, design and style - an outstanding display of images in a top-rated title juxtaposing art and functional style. Very highly recommended.

Diane C. Donovan, Editor

California Bookwatch

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get out your glow sticks!, October 30, 2007

By 

alison johnson "ali" (bozeman, MT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Techno Textiles 2: Revolutionary Fabrics for Fashion and Design (Hardcover)

I love this book. It is super visual and has so many crazy textiles and designs. This book is great for inspiration for design.

0 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not so good...., January 15, 2007

By 

V. Blessing "Aggie girl" (College Station, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Techno Textiles 2: Revolutionary Fabrics for Fashion and Design (Hardcover)

This book was not at all what was expected...

It almost has no purpose.