Butterfly wing under microscope, Laboratorium, 2026CRAFTING STRUCTURAL COLOUR
Design research, OngoingWhat new material languages and sustainable practices might be revealed by the emergence of colour from the structure of a textile itself?
Crafting Structural Colour explores how weaving techniques can mimic the optical phenomena of natural nanostructures, such as those found in butterfly wings or bird feathers, to create new forms of colour and material experience, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical dyes. Unlike traditional dyeing methods, structural colour is not pigment-based, but results from the refraction and diffraction of light at the structural level, creating dynamic, light-responsive effects .
By combining design research with scientific insight, the project aims to generate new technical knowledge and material strategies that contribute to innovation in the application and use of colour in textiles.
Currently supported by Stimuerlingsfonds and Institut Français.