Fashion & Textiles Futures Center--Summer Renovations

It's a very exciting time here on campus.  The major renovation to our textile and fashion studios has begun!  We had a hectic month of May, packing the studios in preparation for the construction.  This is what the Textile Design studio looks like as of June 1.  We also thought you might enjoy the mannequin that greats guests as they enter the "hard hat" area of Hayward Hall.  Check back in Fall for images of our new spaces, once the dust settles.  Hopefully you will be able to visit campus in the Fall as well to check out the wonderful changes. 

Textile Design studio as of June 1, 2016

Nike Visit Inspires!

Jay Meschter, Vice President of Innovation Exploration, of Nike's innovation kitchen visited Philadelphia University today to speak about design and exploration. Providing case studies and speaking to students about successes and missed opportunities in innovation, Jay inspired students from architecture, engineering, industrial design, and textile design to think beyond the boundaries of their disciplines. The end of the fall term was the perfect time to re-ignite the students fire for making! We expect great collaborations between these groups as we move forward.

Nike as a brand is identifiable. It is edgy and irreverent.

Like a concert pianist playing with an oven mitt, if design is not crafted and pushed to meet the needs of its end user it is bulky and inefficient. Nike strives and pushes to make each application, fit like a glove. 

Sharing ways the team works to solve problems and create to meet the needs of the athletes they serve. Materials and their textile components are key to creating products that are successful. 

Each piece is meaningful. And cut and sew production is no longer the key to great design. Innovation in textile production, in no waste knit technology is at the forefront of the push for shoe engineering. 

Jay with Lyn Godley of Industrial Design and Marcia Weiss of Textile Design

Find out more about the innovation at Nike at NikeLab.com

Textile Design bringing a Brighter Future: Abeer Seikaly, Weaving a Home

Photo by Abeer Seikaly,
You can see her inspiration from snake skin and weaving in the construction of these tents

A mobile living space that folds easy for transport, collects rainwater and solar energy, and is 4 season capable? It seems like an impossible dream, but for Abeer Seikaly, a mission she has made a reality. 

Since graduating from RISD in 2002, Seikaly has worked with organizations worldwide to bring innovation and beauty to the realms of architecture, textiles, fashion, and art. 

Photo by: Abeer Seikaly, energy stored from solar panels allows for illumination at night

Follow this link to One Million Women's website to read about this incredible textile innovation!

This link will take you to Abeer Seikaly's website to see her other inspiring works.

Exhibitions Not to Miss: GROWTH AND FORM: GLASS AND SILK SCULPTURES · SARA BAKKEN

Tomorrow night, March 11th at 6:00pm at the National Liberty Museum (321 Chestnut Street, Phila, PA)

Sara Bakken and Eva Shelley will be participating in the first Wednesday Night Market.
From the National Liberty Museum's site: "Eva has been a long supporter of the museum and we are thrilled to have her join us in our inaugural Wednesday Night Market. She is a local freelance artist creating glass art and glass jewelry. Eva has described glass as her first love and that passion translates in her art. Both artists derive inspiration from nature; while Eva’s glass tends to take on a lot of floral forms, Sara’s leans towards the botany found underwater. Sara is a local fiber and glass artist that has been shown globally. She was also the recipient of a juried award for a scholarship to UrbanGlass during the National Liberty Museum’s 2014 GLASS NOW Auction. "

https://libertymuseum.org/calendar-of-events/wednesday-night-market-eva-shelley-sara-bakken/

Deep Sea Reef 2, 2014

Additionally, you can see Sara's work at the opening of:

GROWTH AND FORM: GLASS AND SILK SCULPTURES · SARA BAKKEN

Pink Coral, 2014

Friday, March 27th from 6-8pm

at the University City Arts League  4226 Spruce St · Philadelphia, PA 19104

Artist's Statement:
Glass is a material that naturally gives reference to the biological world. At a molten liquid state, glass has the ability to expand, contract and move. Silk is a material that is delicate, yet tough, organic and resilient. By combining these materials through a process of accumulation, these objects begin to project ideas of growth, development and reproduction. Mysterious ecosystems filled with life forms of all different shapes, sizes and colors are a common inspiration for me. They carry many properties of beauty. The world beneath the water’s shore, visions of microscopic life and clusters of fungi in a forest are all important sources in my art making. My work represents a desire for the exotic and the unknown.

This is an exciting opportunity to see the work of a textile artist who pushes the boundary of how we think of textile forms!

Flyknit Technology @ Nike

Ben Shaffer, Studio Director at Nike's Innovation Kitchen, introduces the core principles of Nike Flyknit technology: Lightness, Performance, Formfitting and Sustainability.

Nike Visits Philadelphia University Textile Students

This week two Nike employees paid a visit to Philadelphia University's textile design students. Andrew Croll, Product Design Recruiter, and Nate Van Hook, Senior Footwear Designer and 2003 Industrial Design PhilaU Alum joined the graduate and undergraduate students for a presentation about the company. This was a rare opportunity for students to speak personally to the Nike representatives about the internship program, employment opportunities, what Nike looks for in a candidate, and life at their headquarters just outside of Portland, OR.

In the past, Nike has recruited several Textile Design students for their 12-week paid summer internship program and many eventually turned into full time offers. Nike seeks out Philadelphia University students for their passion for design and innovative ideas.

"We want to see how you go to the next level. How can you guys challenge and introduce tensions to our company," Andrew Croll asks as he explains what drives Nike's quest for fresh ideas and creativity. "Nike is always in motion."

"I think what I find so cool about working for Nike is that I'm kind of seeing the future. I'm wearing the shoes that I designed two years ago," PhilaU industrial design alum says as he shows off his colorful kicks.