Art and design
REINVENTING SCOTLAND ’ S TEXTILE INDUSTRY
Sam Vettese is on a mission to turn scraps into saleable goods
Scotland ’ s textile industry is synonymous with the country . A key trade for generations , many can still be found operating to this day , with their clothes and items continuing to furnish the fashion capitals of the world .
But like many industries , the wind of change is blowing and manufacturers are looking to diversify in an effort to remain at the forefront of the textile world .
Edinburgh Napier ’ s Dr Sam Vettese has made it her mission to help them achieve this and has embarked on a journey of her own to showcase how new technology can be harnessed to support the Scottish textile industry .
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Dr Sam Vettese
After identifying a demand to find a solution for unused textiles and offcuts , Sam and her research assistant Ari Loughlin have devised a process that can turn leftovers into a 3D printable material that not only withholds the aesthetic provenance and desirable storyline of the craft of Scottish textiles , but can also be used to manufacture new products .
The process is simple – if you have the correct equipment . The leftover textile is laminated between two sheets of plastic and is turned into a pellet type material before being extruded to produce a filament . The result ? A material that not only holds the same colour as the original textile but one that can now be used to 3D print intricate and ornate objects .
Sam explains : “ Many offcuts are downcycled for things like carpet underlay and cushion fillings , but we want to help produce something that is of a higher quality that allows the material to stay front and centre rather than being hidden away for a practical use .
“ What we have at the moment are two types of filament – one is flexible that could be used to weave with come time and another is slightly more rigid that can be used to 3D print . Both consist of 10 per cent wool and 90 per cent ecoplastic . The process is quite time consuming but we ’ re making improvements all the time .