MATERIALS + SURFACES

Wirkungsvoll Kettwirkware
Warp-Knitted Fabrics

Credits: Rökona Textilwerke GmbH & Co KG
Rökona_01, Rökona_02, Rökona_03

Manufacturer
Rökona Textilwerke GmbH & Co KG
D-72072 Tübingen
www.roekona.de

Design
Inhouse

While it’s no secret that only mono-materials can be recycled efficiently, they present developers with major challenges – especially when it comes to combining different characteristics. But there’s another way – as demonstrated by these two warp-knitted textiles for vehicle interiors, intended for shading panoramic sunroofs. The textiles’ degree of sheen depends on the way the individual threads were laid. The surfaces reflect differently depending on how the light falls – in strong light the fabrics look shiny, in weak light they appear extremely matt. The metallic effect is produced without the need for an additional coating, ensuring that the material remains completely metal-free. The warp-knitting process can be varied to produce different metallic colours.

Jury
A materials development that points in the right direction and shows that composite materials are by no means the only alternative. In this case the intelligent modification of processes is tied to the demand for contemporary design and circular practices. Although initially conceived for the automotive industry, the textiles are also intended to find their way into other areas.