FIDM Acquires Iconic 3-D Printed HY Clutch Designed by Award-Winning Austrian Designer Julia Koerner
Textile & Materials Manager Kristine Upesleja announces FIDM's most recent acquisition for the Innovative Materials Collection, the iconic 3-D printed HY Clutch—the latest product designed by award-winning Austrian designer Julia Koerner.
Sustainably manufactured from plant-based materials in JK3D's solar-powered lab in California, the clutch features intricate and complex organic forms that are inspired by natural hymenium lamella structures and is created using additive manufacturing, meaning the bag consists of 3,626 layers.
"We are so lucky to have acquired this exciting visual piece," said Kristine Upesleja in a recent Instagram post.
Fully 3-D printed, it features an integrated closure clasp, partial opening hinge, and interior pocket - all monolithically created by the same process and material. It can be carried by hand with an ergonomic grip along its lamellas, or through a shoulder strap with integrated loops.
Selected from over 4700 entries in 87 countries, the HY Clutch has been longlisted in the product design category of Dezeen Awards 2021.
Koerner collaborated with Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth Carter for Marvel's Black Panther, on the original designs for 3-D printed crowns and shoulder pieces showcased in FIDM Museum's "28th Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design" exhibition.
In 2014, Koerner collaborated with Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen on the Biopiracy Collection which utilized TPU 92A-1, a highly flexible and durable material for 3-D printing. The result was then coated in silicon by Iris's team to give the flowing, flexible dress a glossy sheen.
Industry professionals, professors, researchers, and students from as far away as Osaka and Amsterdam visit FIDM to see, feel, and be inspired by the Innovative Materials Collection, curated by Kristine Upesleja who has over 20 years’ experience in the fashion and design industry as a lecturer, educator, researcher, connector, curator, and visionary.
Many items are on display in the FIDM Library for students to examine up-close, including two denim pieces from Pharrell Williams’ collection for G Star Raw that are made from a textile woven with recycled ocean plastic.
Students can also touch textiles made from salmon skin, coffee grounds, milk proteins, orange fibers, pineapple, mushrooms, recycled cassette tape, and bark cloth as well as samples of Wearable Tech, such as the Levi's/Google Commuter Jacket and the Tommy Hilfiger Solar Panel Coat, which they use for inspiration as they pursue their own sustainable concepts.
