Sonic Fabric
How cool is this stuff? Sonic Fabric is woven from 50% recycled prerecorded audiocassette tape and 50% cotton. Not only does it look amazing but if you draw a tape head over the surface of the fabric the sounds recorded on the tape can be heard. Pictured above are some silk screened flags by the artist, John Fishman, made from a collection of his favourite songs. The fabric is available made up into messenger bags and flags and what-not, but is also available as swatches and by the yard: “Sonic fabric is currently available by the yard in solid black and in a jewel-toned stripe. Yards are 60″ wide with curly tapeloops at the selvedges. Custom colors can be created by varying the cotton or polyester thread used in the warp.” Imagine your next quilt singing to you! (and possibly being a bit scratchy too). (via swissmiss)
February 17th, 2006 at 6:02 am
Wow! I heard that Radiohead had some custom-made clothing out of that stuff and performed with it during a live show. I’m a weaver and I’ve always wondered what it would be like to weave that stuff.
February 17th, 2006 at 6:26 am
Are you kidding me ?
This is like something out of Dr Who.
I want it - now !
February 17th, 2006 at 6:55 am
I agree with MC. I thought it was an April Fool joke! Aren’t people inventive? I want also!
February 17th, 2006 at 6:58 am
It is awesome!
February 17th, 2006 at 7:48 am
This cloth is fantastic! Neat stuff!
February 17th, 2006 at 8:21 am
This is extraordinary! I’ve not heard of anything like this before. I wonder if Radiohead will put their next album out on t-shirts made from the stuff?
February 17th, 2006 at 12:15 pm
Excellent find!!
February 17th, 2006 at 12:44 pm
That’s brilliant!
February 17th, 2006 at 10:29 pm
Ok. You can’t get cooler then that. Especially if you could request what was on the material. Nifty!
February 20th, 2006 at 1:23 pm
Sonic fabric *is* super! I’ve been working with the last little while to make guitar straps, and while it’s not the easiest thing to sew with (it’s a little fragile if you’re cutting and then sewing because of the delicate weave), the “this is so cool” factor starts a lot of conversations.
So worth it if you’re looking for something totally unique!
February 21st, 2006 at 9:31 am
Wow, how fantastic. I love recycled products with creativity like this.
February 27th, 2006 at 10:38 am
Hi there, I was so happy to see this post. I met Alyce Santoro about 5 (?) years ago, when she was developing this fabric. She told me all about it while we toured the Natural History Museum in NY. She is awesome, and I was so glad to see her sonic stuff took off.