#Knitting & Hosiery

2021-01-07

Oxman’s Silk Pavilion II arrives at Integral

Esquel proudly presents Silk Pavilion II from the Mediated Matter Group at the MIT Media Lab. The centerpiece of the project is on display from November 2020 in the Learning Center at Integral.

Exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) in New York earlier in 2020, Silk Pavilion II is one of the most recent iconic works of Neri Oxman, award-winning architect, designer, inventor and professor of media arts and sciences at the MIT Media Lab.

Exploration, as part of the eCulture, prompts us to stay curious and to always keep learning and innovating. Silk Pavilion II is here to serve as a conspicuous reminder that disruptive technologies are constantly knocking on our door, and we shall never get complacent with the status quo. Blurring the boundaries of engineering, biology, art and computer science, Oxman’s project aims not only to take our breath away with the astounding construction, but also leave us inspired by what can be achieved from cross-disciplinary innovations.

Through her work, Oxman offers a version of future where architecture and manufacturing can work synergistically with nature rather than dominating over it. This makes the scenic campus of Integral a perfect home to the masterpiece. It accentuates Esquel’s commitment to sustainability as embodied in the development model of Integral. The goal to also create value for the environment in our pursuit of business growth and industry leadership is firmly embedded in Esquel’s (hardware), operations, products and people.

More about Silk Pavilion II

In the Silk Pavilion II project, Neri Oxman asks what may be the radically sustainable methods for knitting, making and building in the age of the Anthropocene, and how humankind and other species like silkworms may collaborate in the construction of objects, products and buildings. Standing six meters tall and five meters wide, Silk Pavilion II offers insights into these questions by combining kinetic manufacturing with biological construction, uniting the built and the grown, fusing technology and biology.

It is comprised of three interrelated layers – firstly the innermost one-dimensional steel cable system, secondly a two-dimensional soluble knitted fabric scaffold, and thirdly a three-dimensional structure biologically spun with the output of 17,532 Italian silkworms sourced from one of the most extensive silkworm rearing facilities in Europe.

The structure was produced horizontally, with a jig to enable constant clockwise rotation that facilitated the silkworms’ upward spinning motion. Structural forces were biochemically influenced according to local environmental factors. The final appearance, including the holes and the variations in thickness, paints a metabolic canvas of the silkworms’ behaviors.

Traditional silk harvesting involves boiling the cocoon and killing the larva. The project demonstrates that man-made engineering setup can be used to guide the silkworms’ movement and silk deposition, so that the silkworms can still mature and reproduce after the fabrication process.

Silk Pavilion II was Neri Oxman’s centerpiece of her solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York from February to October 2020. It is a sequel to Silk Pavilion, which Oxman created in 2013 on the ground floor of MIT Media Lab with a swarm of 6,500 silkworms.

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

RDJ 6/2 in E 32: Finesse in Motion

The appearance of sports and casual shoes is as diverse as their applications, ranging from sporty to stylish and from functional to fashionably practical. In particular, spacer fabrics produced on highly flexible KARL MAYER double needle bar raschel machines with Jacquard technology are in high demand for manufacturing these trendy shoes. These efficient production machines enable attractive designs with integrated multifunctional zones on one or both fabric surfaces, such as breathable mesh structures. Flexible in size and positioning, these features enhance both aesthetics and wearing comfort.

3D designs with a wow factor made on HKS 4-M EL ECO: When crepe, ruffles, and sheer fabrics redefine fashion

Seersucker, flip-flap items, Fırfır, or crepe materials: structured fabrics have long been more than just a passing trend. They lend timeless looks depth, dynamism, and an exciting tactile dimension. Whether classic striped patterns or modern solid-color interpretations, these versatile pieces pair perfectly with casual and business-casual outfits and effortlessly create a modern look.

SHIMA SEIKI to exhibit at Première Vision Paris

Leading digital textile solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan will exhibit at Première Vision Paris in Paris, France next month. The company will exhibit in the "Smart Creation" area, dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge technologies that integrate sustainability and innovation. The knitting expert will be demonstrating solutions that optimize product development workflows and enhance sustainability through proposals in Digital Product Creation (DPC).

Archroma wins ICIS Innovation Award for sulfur dye breakthrough

Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals, has won a coveted 2026 ICIS Innovation Award for Best Product Innovation from a Large Company for FiberColors®. These high-performance sulfur dyes are synthesized from pre-consumer wool waste, reducing industry reliance on petroleum-based inputs while contributing to the circular economy by upcycling unwanted wool that farmers would otherwise pay to dispose of.