Merging Textiles and Technology
Written by: CITL’s Shenika Glover and Robert Baird
Media Producer: Bob Dignan, CITL
Professor Chiara Vincenzi, a CITL Fellow and Clinical Assistant Professor at the School of Art & Design at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, partnered with the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) to incorporate technology such as Adobe Creative Suite, Open Brush, CLO3D, 3D Printing, and Virtual Reality to rethink the art of fashion design. In her courses, students are encouraged to learn fashion fundamentals then gradually integrate digital software to bring creations to new levels.
View the full mini documentary: Merging Textiles and Technology
"I feel this job is very rewarding to me - seeing the students develop throughout the semester, navigate different courses, and grow throughout their years at the U of I." Chiara Vincenzi, Clinical Assistant Professor at the School of Art & Design at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Do you remember the first time when you realized that you wanted to work in fashion design?
I grew up in Italy where I spent a lot of time with both of my grandmothers. I remember they did lots of sewing, mending garments, or embroidering textile for both clothing and home decor. So, when growing up I always was fascinated by what you can do with your hands. I always loved drawing, so I wanted to study something creative.
You started using fashion design software to reimagine sketches, fabrics, and proper sizing on models. Can you tell us a bit about your process integrating the software into your practice?
In my career, I use several mediums from watercolors to oil paint, and charcoal drawings. In my schooling, I learned how to use Photoshop and Illustrator, which are very important software in the industry.
Currently, in partnership with CITL, I am using Open Brush and other virtual reality tools to bring the sketches to reality. But I love to explore many mediums because I think every medium is bringing a different level of creativity in the work. I enjoy using digital tools but also love going back to materials that I can touch and feel.
How where you able to integrate the tools at CITL's Innovation Studio to teach your fashion design courses?
I am grateful for the environment that I found here at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. From the first time that I started teaching here, I was just teaching fashion illustration but throughout the years and with my colleague Susan Becker, we are now running the Fashion Concentration Studio Arts program.
Someone told me that there was a Virtual Reality Lab on campus! So, I had to learn more and invite my class to explore. While at the Innovation Studio, I started using Tilt Brush to create a dress once a week. Over time the one hour a week turned into several hours of me designing this nice dress. After finishing the dress and learning more about the available tools, I brought my classes and encouraged my students to merge technology to develop tangible textiles and use a laser cutter and 3D printing to create new designs. For example, I brought in leather pieces and fabrics to see what can be done. Now I am experimenting with biomaterial and algae yarn. With the available software, I was able to learn and show my students was to make digital garment samples using virtual reality in a few hours. This is way more sustainable!
A few of the tools we used included Tilt Brush which Google closed but then turned it into Open Brush. We’ve experimented with Gravity Sketch that is more sustainable along with the Komodo, which is part of the VR at Illinois. I was included in this developing and implementing this software at the IDEA Lab at Grainger Engineering Library Information Center.
What are some Fashion Projects that you and your students were able to conduct at the CITL Innovation Studio?
Every year we host a fashion show at the School of Art and Design, which includes all the works in the Fashion Concentration. The Innovation studio gives us an environment to develop and customize fashion. I remember working with the innovation team to create a space where the students can interact with each other, present their work, import mood boards and provide timely critiques.
A few more projects included the creation of Met Gala dresses designed by students based on past Met Gala exhibitions. Another project that I tend to focus on is creating high-end haunted costume inspired by the Halloween season. My students spend a few days in the Innovation Studio using the software.
I believe that one of the good things about virtual reality is drawing. Students and I can change the model form, dress the model, and still explore ever detail in 3D while having the 360-degree rotations of the garment. A unique virtual reality space that cannot be done with a simple pencil and paper. Sometimes it's also a challenge because a student may have a great rendering and drawing by hand but to recreate it in a virtual space is different environment. The challenge is to understand the new tools to create a very stunning illustration through the exploration of different tools and lights and colors and volume.
What advice would you share with students on ways to incorporate AI or digital software while still owning their craft?
In my class, I introduce a little bit of Artificial Intelligence (AI) because it's embedded in digital software, but I remind them to always keep their ideas and make sure that they own the process of designing and creating. In addition, I challenge my students to try new processes, techniques, and experiments while looking for inspiration from other artists, designers, and brands. It’s important to see the entire process and how to apply it to an internship or future job.
So, I want to prepare them to know how to use digital software and tools that are required as a standard. Then they can enter the job market and succeed in the fashion industry. I hope to inspire my students to pursue their dreams in becoming artists or designers and guide them in owning and presenting their work in the best way possible while becoming conscious designer to think about the materials, the resources available, how they can the materials and software to create collections that are sustainable while respecting the environment.