Particles of color
Designer
Researcher
Illustrator
Laser Cutting
Spring 2024
Ongoing till January 2026
Background
Particles of Color was a collaborative exhibition exploring the intersections of material innovation, sustainability, and design. My contribution centered on developing alternatives to petroleum-based embellishments, specifically sequins, which are an industry standard yet a major source of plastic waste. Along with material production I was also responsible for producing these sequins for clients and producing a garment of my own for the exhibition.
Problem
The fashion industry relies heavily on sequins, beads, and other small-scale plastic trims that are virtually impossible to recycle and often shed microplastics into waterways. There is little innovation in this space, leaving a major gap in sustainable garment embellishment.
Research
The lab’s focus combined technical material exploration and client-driven design. The lab partnered with the UT Chemistry department to explore the properties of PLA (polylactic acid), a biodegradable polymer, as a potential base material for sequins. Prototyping involved testing flexibility, durability, and surface qualities compared to conventional plastic sequins. Parallel research included looking at precedents for sustainable embellishment and interviewing both designers and clients about expectations for wearability and aesthetics.
Goals
Balance sustainability with the visual and tactile qualities designers expect from sequins
Translate material research into a personal narrative object that connects local environmental issues with global fashion concerns
Share this work through an exhibition that highlights both technical research and design impact
Process
The sequin production process resulted in this process:
1. Chemically mix naturally derived mica powder and PLA to produce custom colorways.
2. Melt PLA into squares by using a heated hydraulic process.
3. Through the use of Illustrator, sequin designs are developed and then laser cut into the PLA sheets.
4. The laser-cut sequins are then sewn onto garments and other accessories.
Exhibition
For the exhibition, the PLA sequins were displayed on over 50 objects, all integrated in different methods depending on the designer. These designers ranged from brands such as Lonesome Ft & Nikolaj Storm, to TXA Alumni, Faculty, & Students. During the production of the exhibition our sequins, Punchinella, were transported to designers across the world and during the production of the exhibition objects my fellow researchers and I coordinated with designers throughout the process to ensure the arrival of their work and to troubleshoot any issues with the sequins. I assisted in the exhibition design and layout alongside Gail Chovan, an assisting professor on the exhibition, along with the set up of the exhibtion.
I extended this research into a personal object produced for the exhibition, inspired by the eutrophication of Lady Bird Lake in Austin. By layering PLA fringe-shaped sequins in shifting shades of sheer white and blue, I wanted to highlight the lake’s algae blooms, linking local ecological disruption to the broader issue of synthetic fashion embellishments polluting waterways.