2024 | Professional

MUSE Design Awards Silver Winner

Parametric Reptilia - Ethical Reptile Leather Alternative

Entrant Company

Xuanhao LLC

Category

Fashion Design - Textile & Materials

Client's Name

Xuanhao Li

Country / Region

United States

Parametric Reptilia utilizes recycled Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) sourced from industrial waste to create scale-textured textiles as a sustainable alternative to reptile leather. The exquisite scale texture and exotic visual style make reptile leather highly sought after in the fashion industry. However, the sourcing of reptile leather often involves unethical practices, including cruel treatment and illegal hunting of endangered species. With parametric modeling, the design meticulously replicates the rhythmic distribution of reptile scales. This innovative approach highlights how the seamless integration of digital fabrication and craftsmanship can leverage the materiality of recycled TPU, resulting in aesthetically pleasing, functional, and durable textiles that offer an ethical alternative to reptile leather. Additionally, it transforms animal killing into CNC fabrication and crafts, potentially creating more meaningful job opportunities in the fashion industry. Parametric Reptilia embodies a fusion of materiality, sustainability, craftsmanship, and bio-inspired computational design.

Credits

Designer & Photographer
Xuanhao Li
Assistant Professor/ Georgia Institute of Technology
Yaling Liu
Assistant Professor/ Georgia Institute of Technology
Lisa Marks
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