Textile Applications: Digital and Traditional; Industry and Academia.

ABSTRACT: Innovative print techniques are a specialist area for Belford. Having originated Belford Prints (1986) a small unique textile Print Company based in the UK. Pre digital, bonding, flocking shrinking and devore were just a few of the process used to create tactile textiles. The introduction of digital printing (1999) into the business, brought new scope and demands and although a great new way forward for print, had a feeling of flatness, and for Belford a creative distance from the process. In 2004 relocation back to Belfast working at a new research centre for art technologies and design (Interface, University of Ulster) gave Belford the opportunity to peruse innovative print techniques. TurnbullThopmson (Thailand based print company) consult with Belford, in the quest for new innovative commercial applications for fashion and interior textiles. This paper will chart some of the methodologies applied from a Research centre in academia into a large commercial application. In particular the development of digitally printing a silk or linen warp, and inserting the weft using the craft of hand weaving. The hybrid processing of traditional and digital bringing depth and tactility into digital translation. Continually interested in the quest and challenges of Industry and academia embracing each other the second part of the paper will chart the progress of Girli Concrete a project crossing disciplines (architecture and textiles) Working between the interfaces of industry and academia, practice and theory, exposes the prejudices of both, and their miss-match. This paper will illustrate that not one particular discipline sits on its own but can weave between territories and continents.Keywords: digital print, weave, innovation, hybrid materials,textiles,concrete,building products.