Results from the first phase of research were presented on 27 May at the International “Virtual-Wool” Research Conference organised by AgResearch.
Lanas Trinidad, a Uruguayan producer and exporter of washed wool and combed wool top, joined designers Ana Piñeyro and Agustina Bello to promote the project, which aims to explore new uses for wool fibre.
The initiative, supported by the Creative Industries programme of the National Research and Innovation Agency and IDB Lab, offers an alternative look at wool fibre, a traditional, sustainable material with a recognized value to the textile sector and Uruguay as a whole. Through a practical exploration informed by scientific and technological research, approached through craft techniques, and guided by a curious and inquisitive attitude, the work examines the hygroscopic expansion of wool fibre — traditionally considered a disadvantage for the material — seeking to turn it into an opportunity to design active and responsive structures.
The project provides preliminary studies into the capabilities of wool fibres in the development of hygromorphic materials, elements that alter their shape in response to moisture, with the main goal of identifying implementation opportunities offered by this vision. The exploration conducted so far demonstrates that it is possible to create passive-acting materials with wool fibre. The textile samples generated are proof of concept and suggest possible paths for further exploration and analysis.
About the Designers
Ana Piñeyro designs textile-based materials and researches active and responsive soft technologies. Her work seeks to enrich the aesthetic and functional vocabulary of materials, revealing their latent capabilities through an artisanal approach. Ana has worked in e-textile research and development, as well as in the field of innovation in colour and materials for the automotive industry. She has a master’s degree in cognitive systems and interactive media from Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, and a PhD in textiles from the Royal College of Art, London.
Agustina Bello is a multidisciplinary artist and designer. She has participated in exhibitions in Montevideo, New York, London, Boston, and Providence.
Agustina studied in Montevideo at the Centro de Diseño Industrial and — as a Fulbright scholar — completed her MFA in Textiles and New Media at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), in addition to completing professional specialization courses in innovation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Source: Marca País
