What the Flax

Description

“What the Flax” is a material research project exploring
the potential of inflating flax composites into shape us-
ing sustainably produced natural materials and binders.
Traditional composites require expensive moulds and
tools as well as non-recyclable thermoset binders. By
creating a biobased composite which can be sewn, hung
and blown up, tailor-made solutions avoiding these
problems become feasible. These offer strength and sta-
bility dependent on shape and cross sections, embracing
the inherent qualities of flax. Driven by the memory of
an elderly mountain farmer who once used flax to make
almost everything, this project challenges conventional
textile norms, aiming for a new aesthetic characterised
by confusion and innovation.
In addition, the project seeks to reconnect the result-
ing material with the soil and the people who grew it,
demonstrating a new possibility for flax cultivation in
the Alpine region, where it hasn’t been an economical
crop for many years.