London-based design duo Glithero wove a range of patterned textiles using organ punch cards. Glithero was commissioned by Zuiderzee Museum and the Textiel Museum in the Netherlands to make the project.
To create the fabric, Glithero used punch cards that are normally used to feed music through a mechanical organ. The punch cards have holes that have air blown through them in order to create music. When the punch cards are fed into the mechanical sewing machine, hooks drop through the holes and create a pattern that is determined by the song. The result of the process is range of fabric with a musical pattern.
Glither chose the colors and the types of yarn for the fabrics. The studio also worked with a weaver named Wil van den Broek and a master organ maker named Leon van Leeuwen.
Musically Patterned Textiles
Glithero Wove Textiles Using Organ Punch Cards as Pattern Templates
Trend Themes
1. Musically-patterned Textiles - Using punch cards from mechanical organs to create unique fabric patterns.
2. Innovative Textile Design - Exploring unconventional methods of fabric creation using punch cards.
3. Collaborative Design Projects - Partnering with experts in different fields to create unique textile designs.
Industry Implications
1. Textile Manufacturing - Integrating punch card technology into textile production processes.
2. Music Instrument Manufacturing - Exploring new applications for punch card technology, such as in textile design.
3. Art and Design Exhibitions - Showcasing innovative textile designs created through collaborative projects.