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'Living in space' at Techtextil, Texprocess exhibitions

29 Apr '17
3 min read
Courtesy: Messe Frankfurt/Hohenstein Textile Institutes
Courtesy: Messe Frankfurt/Hohenstein Textile Institutes

Without having completed a dizzying astronaut training programme, visitors will be able to take a journey through space to Mars via virtual-reality glasses at this year's Techtextil and Texprocess exhibitions during May 9-12, 2017, being organised by Messe Frankfurt in cooperation with the European Space Agency and the German Aerospace Centre. 
 
The two shows will present 'Living in Space' exhibition. Among the exhibits to be seen are materials and technologies from Techtextil and Texprocess exhibitors in a 'Material Gallery', architecture for space by Ben van Berkel, space-inspired fashions and an original Mars Rover. 
 
"At the 'Living in Space' exhibition, Techtextil and Texprocess visitors can see examples of textile materials and processing technologies in an application-oriented setting. In cooperation with our partners and exhibitors, we have created an informative and entertaining area, the like of which has never been seen before at Techtextil and Texprocess," explains Michael Jänecke, brand manager, technical textiles and textile processing, Messe Frankfurt. 
 
Given that technical textiles are to be found in almost every sphere of human life, the materials and processing technologies shown are oriented towards the 'architecture', 'civilization', 'clothing' and 'mobility' areas of application.
 
Visitors will be able to get an idea of how building in space could function at the 'architecture' area curated by Stylepark architecture magazine. Lightweight construction and canopy specialist MDT-tex joined forces with star architect Ben van Berkel of the international UNStudio firm of architects to create a 'Space Habitat' especially for Techtextil. Comprising 60 individual modules, each of which is double twisted and under tension, the lightweight pavilion has an area of 40 square metres and consists of specially designed aluminium profiles covered with PTFE sheets. MDT-tex designed the fabric especially for the pavilion in an extremely light grammage without sacrificing its high-temperature resistance and technical properties.
 
Ultra-lightweight materials play a leading role in space travel because the lighter the space capsule's load, the cheaper the transport. Reclining in comfortable seats, visitors to the Space Habitat can also travel to Mars using virtual-realist glasses and, at the same time, find out more about technical textiles and their processing in space.
 
The 'Clothing' segment of the exhibition will show designs for space-wear which should not only protect the wearer from extreme temperatures but also regulate their body temperature, drain off moisture and be durable and easy to clean. The ESMOD Fashion School from Berlin presents outfits made by students within the framework of the 'Couture in Orbit' project (2015/2016), which was organised by ESA and the London Science Museum. Additionally, the POLI.design centre of the Politecnico di Milano (Milan University) presents outfits from the follow-up project, 'Fashion in Orbit' under the scientific supervision of Annalisa Dominoni and the technical supervision of Benedetto Quaquaro in cooperation with ESA and garment manufacturer Colmar.  
 
In addition to the exhibits at the special exhibition, around 40 Techtextil and Texprocess exhibitors offer ideas for fibre-based materials and processing technology suitable for use in space in a 'material gallery'. For the 'Civilization' segment, they include spacer fabrics for growing vegetables, for 'mobility' a carbon yarn, which was used to make a fairing for the solid-fuel booster rocket of the Ariane 6. (SV)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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