Kinematic Konnection Ao

Press Kit

Unique Properties

The Kinematic Konnection garment is comprised of laser cut acrylic pieces, deliberately designed to parallel the weighted nature of the ballet industry and the struggle of fitting unrealistic cosmetic standards of physical image. The garment pattern is constructed mathematically in the Adobe Creative Suite, meticulously comprised of intentional juxtaposition. Unlike the flow of fabricated textiles, this garment pushes technical boundaries through contrast of kinetic freedom and restriction.

Dimensions & Packaging

Acrylic roundels measures 1"x1", cut from four 12"x18" sheets. I'd calculated 30 excess roundels in the event of additive alterations for length or width of the garment if necessary. Inclusivity is an underlying theme; with joinery, one size fits all with customized additions or reductions. With fabric, there is often little room for a one-size-fits-all ability when tailored for traditional measurements. This garment computes 3.5' in length & 2.8' in hip width, made specifically for our model.

Tags

kinetic, garment, structure, fashion, reflection, textile, acrylic, lasercut, material, innovation

Production Technology

Adobe Suite files were digitally arranged to include roundel shapes with interior hole dimensions. Sample variations were created in order to arrive at the ideal width, size and thickness for the garment pattern. Sample considerations were paired down to the millimeter with the best result selected for the final cut. The finalized template is then laser cut into individual pieces from a 12"x18" "smoke" colored acrylic sheet, prepared to be joined with hundreds of assembled gold jump rings.

Design Challenge

One of the greatest challenges were the mathematical calculations of this garment. Following several laser cut test prototypes, I'd noticed the heat of the laser beginning to warp the acrylic towards the end of the job. Calculating the distance of the joinery holes from the edge of the roundels, the ideal mm width of the jump rings, warping preventions, the exact amount of acrylic sheets needed with safety excess and the mathematical alterations for the model's dimensions was a tedious task.

Research

A second career in design opened my eyes to the extent of traumas contingent on what psychologists call "mirror-gazing." Research on Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) stems from studies with the British Journal of Clinical Psychology, medical podcasts and discussions with doctors at Boston Behavioral Medicine. Mirror-gazing is an almost unavoidable complication, ingrained as unrealistic standards of living. Social research includes interviews with Simon Biles, Laurie Hernandez and Kathryn Morgan.

Inspiration

This garment, part of my senior thesis, is inspired by the 15 years I'd spent dancing under international ballet companies. Dancers in training dedicate 75-80% of their waking lives to mirror-gazing. Over 28,000 hours of my own life have been spent analyzing my reflection. Textiles' reflective materiality conveys physical and emotional confinement. Scandinavian principles of minimalist craftsmanship lay the aesthetic ground-work for this garment, voiced through appreciation of textile design.

Project Duration

This project began in Georgia, USA in May of 2021 and was completed three months later at the end of the summer. It was then captured in-studio at Savannah College of Art & Design's Adler Hall.

Operation Flow

One of the most captivating elements of this garment is its play of light; the glossy surface returns subtle reflections, just as a mirror would. Kinematic Konnection balances fluidity with weighted restriction; joinery techniques serve as the metaphorical juxtaposition between freedom and confinement. The purpose of this garment is to provoke an awe-inspiring allure of constructed elegance imagined from heavier subject matter of mirror-gazing.

Image Credits

Image #1 : Patrick Cox
Optional Image #2: Patrick Cox
Optional Image #3: Patrick Cox
Optional Image #4: Patrick Cox
Optional Image #5: Patrick Cox
Film Credits: Patrick Cox