Materials Engineering x fashion

[safeera]

Hey everyone,
I'm a fresh graduate of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering. I'm currently figures thing out whether I want to continue my degree or working as professional instead.
I'm really interested in fashion, and I have this idea of my master degree topics in fashion materials area. Unfortunately, I couldn't found that much helpful journals/books regarding this field of research. Is there any recommendation for specific topic, or is it not possible at all to choose this as my research topic?

P.S.: If any university recommendation It would be helpful too. Anywhere across the world.

Thank you in advance.

 

[EdStainless]

The first thing that think of is the SS and Ti jewelry that uses chemical tinting to get various colors, just because I am a metals person.
In non-metals the question is how strong is you organic chem? The field of using natural fibers to replace synthetics is big. But mostly organic chem work.
What are your interests?


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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed

 

[GGedge]

I suspect metallurgy won't be much use other than as mentioned by Ed there might be more scope with other materials science stuff. A couple of suggestions, high performance fabrics are big business for things like sports clothing and thus can end up being trendy. Think beyond the likes of Nike/Adidas to companies like Arcteryx, Inov8, On Running in the outdoor world and Fox or Rapha for cycling. I suspect they are more interested in the design and rely on the fabric suppliers for the clever stuff. It is all about combinations of light, hardwearing, wind or rain resistance. I have no affiliation with any of that lot other than they cost me a fortune for good kit

Second suggestion, think about areas of sustainability/circular economy subjects to replace man made fabrics particularly for "fast fashion" but also more widely. While there is probably a stack of organic chemistry in converting algae/fungi and the like into shirts and dresses there will also be significant elements of materials science around the manufacture and processing. Not my area at (I'm old school metallurgist) but perhaps have a look at somewhere like the Ellen Mcarthur foundation for some clues.

Cheers

GG

 

[safeera]

@EdStainless : Thank you so much for the jewelry idea. I am also a very much metal person. I used to be Metallurgy and Heat Treatment Laboratory, and my thesis was about Nickel Direct Reduction optimization. However, for my next career/study, I would like to do something that I love, new, and also sustainable.

I'm more interested in sustainable fabric and coloring. I would like to make it biodegradable, but not necessarily comes from biomaterials, it would be more fun if its hybrid. But still, my point is to make it modern biodegradable.


@GGedge : Thank you for lots of references and amazing idea, and YES, I'm really into getting rid of fast fashion since a few years ago. I love fashion, but its hard for me to make it works when I need to buy new pairs every season. Thrift shops is not helping either, so I'm going to make it works in materials engineering.

That idea of sport stuffs is amazing, but I think I would go with womenswear and bold prints. I really hope it'll works out. I'm going to take Japanese Gov Scholarship for next year, I'll do research and study more about fashion until then.

PS: I'm really done with metallurgy and mineral processing and desperate to find a refreshing topics.

 

[MJCronin]

https://textiles.ncsu.edu/tecs/unde...deal with,processes, products, and machinery.

MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer