Sensitiveme

Jie Lin, a textile designer and independent fashion model with a Master's degree in Textile Design from Chelsea College of Arts - UAL, has unveiled an innovative design that seamlessly integrates elements of light and colour into sensitive fabrics. This project highlights her adept use of diverse materials to express her creative vision. Lin extensively researched colour schemes throughout the design process by visiting numerous hospitals and drawing inspiration from their settings.

Her colour selections are not arbitrary; they are deeply informed by medical and psychological research, ensuring a thoughtful integration of these elements into her colour coordination. Her work transcends the conventional boundaries of knitting, an art form with applications in clothing and decoration and sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and defence. Knitting is divided into two categories: hand knitting, known for its long history and intricate craftsmanship that allows for versatile designs, and machine knitting.

Lin firmly believes in the profound impact of light and colour in daily life. She understands that the perception of colour, born from the interaction between light and the eyes, is subjective and deeply influenced by individual backgrounds. Lin recognizes the subtle yet significant ways colour can affect people, advocating for its use in environmental design to foster emotional relaxation and calmness. Colour psychology in hospital interior designs exemplifies this concept, where colours are strategically employed to provide emotional and psychological support to patients. Furthermore, the physiological healing effects of colours are evidenced in colour light therapy, which involves the penetration of light and colour into the skin to rejuvenate the body, considering cultural differences and colour perceptions.

Lin masterfully manipulates knitting needles in her craft, transforming various yarns into knitted fabrics through intricate looping and interlocking techniques. These knitted materials, characterized by their softness, wrinkle resistance, breathability, stretchability, and elasticity, offer unparalleled comfort. Lin carefully selected materials such as monofilament nylon, 2/16s cotton, glow-in-the-dark thread, and photochromic thread for this particular design. The monofilament nylon is especially notable for allowing 100% UV penetration, thereby harnessing solar energy. Cotton, a staple in daily life and medical fields, offers natural, skin-friendly, and highly absorbent properties. Incorporating the element of light, Lin employed photochromic materials that react to UV light intensity, changing colour in direct proportion to the strength of UV rays. This feature is a visual reminder of UV ray exposure, offering protection.

Additionally, the glow-in-the-dark material she used can absorb sunlight during the day and emit light at night, presenting a dynamic visual experience: a natural colour indoors, a transformative colour in daylight, and a glowing effect in darkness. Lin’s creations are a testament to sustainable and multifunctional fabric concepts that cater to various human needs. These fabrics engage in an interactive dialogue with both the human body and the environment. Her concept adheres to her commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly textile design, pushing the limits of sustainable fabrics beyond mere material selection. This approach aims to curb consumerism, mitigate the environmental impact of fast fashion, and maximize fabric utility. It resonates with the principles of slow design, benefitting both people and the environment.