As part of her long-term ‘Tailored Bond’ research project, designer Inés Sistiaga worked with the TextielLab to develop a technical library of knitted fabrics. Her aim is to create a database of samples from which tailor-made textiles can be developed that interact with the body's soft tissues.
‘Tailored Bond’ investigates the design of a tailor-made production system for orthopaedic sports bandages that meet specific needs. Taking human anatomy as her starting point, Sistiaga created a system that gathers information from medical images, turns this into three-dimensional forms and ultimately converts them into a knitted pattern. The project’s aim is to create a closed circuit in which textile and body work together to improve performance and/or aid the treatment of specific muscle injuries.
The knit in ‘Tailored Bond’ is designed zonally. Each zone has a different function, as indicated by the different colours. These knitted zones, with their specific functions, correspond to the previously mapped muscles, tendons, ligaments and other soft tissues.
After studying in Barcelona, textile designer and researcher Inés Sistiaga moved to the Netherlands to pursue a degree at the Design Academy Eindhoven. She graduated with honours from the Design for Wellbeing department in 2018. Since then, she has worked as a university lecturer and independent designer. Through her work, which mostly focuses on materials and textile structures, she investigates visual languages and material constructions by mediating artisanal and digital technology. This research finds expression in design and interior design projects.
