FEATURES
STRANGEROUS SURFACES written by ANYA HABER illustrated by MASHA ZHDANOVA and ERIK ZIMMERMAN
T
he textile industry is often dismissed as something that pertains to a small range of occupations, namely fashion and interior designers. However, the role of textiles is, pun intended, ingratiated into the fabric of society’s existence. Textiles protect our health, safety and improve our quality of life. From architecture to aerospace to medical, the future of textiles is not only intriguing for fashion, but supports humanity in its primal need to go further, faster and be better. Regardless, the future of textiles is at the intersection of science, technology and traditional methods. That being said, the future of textiles is a vast subject matter that has filled dozens, if not hundreds, of books. In an effort to condense and simplify, the focus here will be on but a few of the many innovations to come in our lifetime. Milk, algae and seaweed are not substances commonly associated with clothing. However, with scientific advances in the field of what is known as “technonaturals,” companies are now able to take the benefits of non-textiles and infuse them with traditional fibers. Casein, the protein substance found in milk, can be used to treat fibers before being woven into clothing. This animal protein was originally used as a binding in paints because of its long-lasting, bright white color. In clothing, milk-treated fibers can lead to clothing that maintains whites for longer while also making the clothing softer and more moisture-absorbent.
SCAN MAGAZINE // WINTER 2017