Kent State University’s School of Fashion showcases 161 innovative designs by students using advanced digital knitting and eco-friendly materials during its annual Fashion Week, blending artistry with cutting-edge technology and sustainability.

Kent, Ohio — Kent State University’s School of Fashion is highlighting a unique blend of artistry and cutting-edge technology during its annual Fashion Week, a highly anticipated event that showcases the creative and technical talents of its students. This year’s fashion show, which serves as the centerpiece of Fashion Week, features an impressive lineup of 161 looks designed by 41 students, emphasizing how science and technology are increasingly integral to the world of fashion.

Mourad Krifa, the director of the Kent State School of Fashion, emphasized the critical role technology plays in garment creation. “The amount of technology that goes into creating, even a cotton garment, is amazing. And it’s increasing continuously,” Krifa said, underlining the school’s commitment to integrating innovation into the design process.

Students at Kent State are harnessing advanced tools like the university’s Digital Knitting Lab—a facility that resembles 3D printing, but works with yarn. This allows designers to produce intricate and complex details in their garments with greater ease and efficiency. Senior fashion student Madalyn Maglione described her experience using the technology: “So, I programmed the top and knit it all out of the machine. And it has this, like, raglan sleeve detail with these point towels. It’s using technology to your advantage of cutting down the time, cutting down the labor.”

The applications of this technology extend beyond fashion design itself. According to the program, high-performance polymers knitted in this way can be used to create protective gear for first responders and even components for automotive and aerospace industries. Kent State is also exploring experimental knitting techniques for medical implants, highlighting the intersection of fashion, science, and medical technology.

Parastoo Aramesh, another student designer, explained how they incorporate digital tools in their creative process: “For the entire collection, we use digital designing software, the cool 3D, to create the garments before we make them out of fabric, which helps visualize them and problem solve the fit and the pattern before we move on to the fabric.” This approach not only streamlines design but also reduces waste and improves accuracy in the final product.

Sustainability is a key theme threaded throughout the students’ collections. Branch Zimmerman showcased an example of this with his use of more eco-friendly materials. “On the garments, instead of using metal rivets to reinforce high-stress areas, I used cutouts of leather dots to be a little more sustainable,” he said, demonstrating how alternatives to traditional fasteners can contribute to environmentally conscious design.

Krifa highlighted the industry’s ongoing effort to adopt biodegradable materials and improve compatibility with the human body, signaling a shift toward more sustainable and innovative fashion production methods. Advances like “made-on-demand” fashion—where consumers can customize a garment’s fit virtually and have it produced after purchase—are also part of this evolving landscape.

Kent State Fashion Week thus offers a glimpse into the future of fashion, where creativity meets technology, and sustainability is woven into every stitch. The event takes place on the university campus in Kent, Ohio, attracting attention from industry insiders and fashion enthusiasts alike.

Source: Noah Wire Services