ganit goldstein creates an interactive embroidery piece with VR applications

what if textiles could respond to body movements? this is the question that led ganit goldstein to create an interactive embroidery piece as part of her MA at the royal college of art in london. titled ‘rhythm of matter’, the project explores the role of physical materials in a digital space through a flower-patterned fabric with embedded electronics and virtual reality applications.

images courtesy of ganit goldstein

the recent master’s graduate spent three months in eastern switzerland to produce a large-scale embroidery piece measuring 2 x 2 meters with embedded electronics, which was made possible with the help of saurer machinery. the collaboration was part of a textile and design alliance residency program, supported by textilmusuem in st. gallen, and launched by the cantons of appenzell ausserrhoden, st.gallen and thurgau.

large scale embroidery pattern with embedded electronics

goldstein worked closely with the R&D team of saurer to produce the large piece of fabric. they worked together with special yarns that can change the fabric properties with a light system integrated into the design. the result consists of a flower pattern that reacts to hand movements using a virtual reality application designed on top of the physical fabric.

the fabric reacts to hand movements using a virtual reality application designed on top of the physical fabric.

the VR application reads the movement of the physical hands when the hands approaching the physical fabric, where the change appears with an interactive movement of the virtual fabrics. this system, a cycle of day and night, communicates movement, color and sound through physical hand gestures and a light system.

the VR application reads hand movements when the hands approach the fabric

the research investigates the border between ‘digital hands’ and tangible materials – how the former might extend the reality of the latter. it asks whether haptic experience might be explored differently by the hybrid of presence and remote matter. goldstein’s research on embedded systems within textile creations will continue to be explored through her SMArchS studies at MIT architecture from september 2021, while she will be working on collaborative research together with the tangible media group at MIT media lab.

rhythm of matter explores the role of physical materials in a digital space

embroidered fabric with glow in the dark capabilities was used

more than 100 needles and special yarns produced the interactive fabric

goldstein worked closely with the R&D team of saurer to produce the large piece of fabric

the piece exhibited at a graduation event at the royal college of art, london

close-up view of the repeated flower shape, which was designed to allow movement of the petals

goldstein with the final piece

the large scale embroidery piece was produced in collaboration with saurer machines as part of TaDA residency

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom