Laser Enhanced Biotechnology for Textile Design LEBIOTEX
LEBIOTEX was a collaborative research project between De Montfort University and Loughborough University in the UK. The project was led by Professor Jinsong Shen (De Montfort University) and Dr Faith Kane (now at Massey University, NZ) with consultation from Professor John Tyrer (Loughborough University, UK) and Dr Edward Smith (De Montfort University, UK), and research work undertaken by two PhD students - Laura Morgan and Chetna Prajapati . The initial project ran from 2012 - 2015 and explored new opportunities for sustainable textile coloration and surface design using enzyme and laser technologies. The project was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AH/J002666/1) and was supported by industrial project partners Camira Fabrics, Speedo and Teresa Green Design.
Enzyme and laser processing technologies present attractive alternatives to conventional textile coloration and surface patterning methods. Both technologies have the capability to reduce the impact of manufacturing on the environment by reducing the consumption of chemicals, water and energy. They also open up opportunities to reduce the generation of pre-consumer waste through facilitating on-demand production. The project has resulted in the identification of several new techniques for textile coloration and surface patterning, which can be read about on the project website.
Publications and presentations resulting from the project have been given in the UK, USA, Japan, China, Portugal and New Zealand, including papers given at: Transitions: Re-Thinking Textiles and Surfaces at Huddersfield University, UK 2014; Circular Transitions at UAL UK 2016; and The End of Fashion at Massey University, NZ, 2016. Dr Laura Morgan's work on the project was shortlisted for an Arts Foundation Materials Innovation Award in 2015.
The project received subsequent follow-on funding between 2017- 2018 for ‘Industrial Exploitation of Laser-Dyeing Processes for Apparel and Furnishing Textiles Markets’, also from Arts and Humanities Research Council (AH/P0149251), and continues through various research impact and commercialisation activities.
Publications
Prajapati C, Smith E, Kane F, Shen J, Laccase-catalysed coloration of wool and nylon fibres, 9th International Conference on Fiber and Polymer Biotechnology, 7-9 September 2016, Osaka, Japan
Prajapati C, Smith E, Kane F, Shen J, Laccase-catalysed coloration for textile fibres, 13th International Wool Research Conference (IWRC-13) and AATCC Sustainability Symposium (AATCC-SS), 10-14 June 2015, Hangzhou, China
Morgan L, Tyrer J, Kane F, Shen J, Laser-Dyeing for Sustainable Textile Design, 13th International Wool Research Conference (IWRC-13) and AATCC Sustainability Symposium (AATCC-SS), 10-14 June 2015, Hangzhou, China
Morgan L, Tyrer, J, Kane F, Shen J, Laser Enhanced Dyeing of Wool for Textile Design, Transitions: Re-thinking Textiles and Surfaces, 26-27 Nov 2014, Huddersfield, UK
Prajapati C, Smith E, Kane F, Shen J, Enzyme processing technology to generate textile surface patterning, Transition: Re-thinking Textiles and Surfaces, 26-27 Nov 2014, Huddersfield, UK
Prajapati C, Smith E, Kane F, Shen J, An investigation into enzyme processing technology to generate textile surface patterning, the 8th International Conference on polymer and fiber biotechnology, 25 - 27 May 2014, Portugal
Morgan, L, Tyrer J, Kane F, The Effect Of CO2 Laser Irradiation On Surface and Dyeing Properties of Wool for Textile Design. ICALEO, International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro–Optics, October 19-23, 2014, San Diego, CA, USA
Morgan, L, Tyrer J, Kane F, Shen, J. Laser Shibori Laser Moulding for Textiles: supporting sustainability in design and manufacture, Circular Transitions, A Mistra Future Fashion Conference on Textile Design and the Circular Economy, 23 – 24 November 2016 Chelsea College of Arts & Tate Britain, London
Kane F, Morgan, L, Tyrer J, Shen, J. Textile Led Sustainable Innovation for Sportswear, The End of Fashion, 8-9 December 2016, College of Creative Arts, Massey University Wellington, New Zealand