Silk from Spiders

Over one million spiders were used to make up this textile, made in Madagascar it took 4 years to complete. It was displayed in the in The American Museum of Natural History and the National Geographic site provides the full story.

Paola Lenti

Some cracking textiles at large scales from this italian company who specialise in rugs and seating furniture. They seem very experimental with materials and like to upscale techniques.

www.paulalenti.com

Matthew Harris

Matthew is currently exhibiting in the Men of Cloth exhibition, Manchester. This piece feels particularly striking, quilting, collage, drawing, dying, painterly.

http://www.matthewharriscloth.co.uk/

loop.ph

Metabolic Media, 2008.

New Orleans - experiment in architecture, 2009.

A long time fan of the work by loop it continues to develop in the space between technology, computers, design, nature.

Design duo Rachel Wingfield and Mathias Gmachl work together and with nobel scientists through Central St Martins to develop disigns / products that have the intention of making a difference.

http://www.loop.ph/

Material Combo's

Meadham Kirchhoff 2010. Knits, sari's, foils, stitch, beading, prints. Source: 5

Wunderkind, 2010. silk taffeta, metal, rug, tastles, plaids, prints, chiffons, leather. Source: 5

Balenciaga 2010

Source: 1

It is always tricky to source alternative materials, you then have the challenge of working with them and getting them to work in combination.