Philippa Brock

Philippa Brock is Woven Textiles Specialist Subject Leader (0.6) at Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design and also works as a textile designer, consultant and researcher. She graduated from Goldsmiths' College (1991) and The Royal College of Art (1993). Brock has worked in both the textile industries and in various roles in Higher Education including Senior Research Fellow in CAD/CAM Woven Jacquard Textiles at Winchester School of Art 1994 - 96.

Brock designs woven and printed textiles for the international market, (DMC, Otton, Fisch-Bacher, Weisbrod Zurrer, Witchery, Teseo, Miroglio, Jaeger, amongst others), has worked with yarn companies designing concept woven textiles for showrooms and exhibition at Expofil and Pitti Filati, in particular exploring innovative use of companies yarns within the CAD/CAM Woven Textiles industrial production method (Lurex, Safilin, Lame Ledal) and up until recently was consultant designer for the Taiwan Textile Federation, designing and producing their twice yearly fabric collections, trend themes and colour presentations. At present Brock is researching and developing smart textile systems exploring in particular the aesthetics, handle, drape and conductivity within both fashion/clothing and interior settings.

Philippa Brock is currently working in three areas of research

Investigation into the Development of Design Led, Integrated Woven Textile Circuits, Switches and Sensors. ( Smart Textile Systems):Alongside the existing on going research, new research (commenced 2004) is an investigation into the design and production of conductive woven fabrics, which can be used in conjunction with electronic components. Researching, both the suitability for electronic function (of both yarns and resultant construction) and the aesthetics of these fabrics for use within a fashion/clothing/interior end use. Initial prototypes developed and applied into garment construction and tested, include, textile pressure/touch sensors, textile stretch sensors, textile heat pad, textile galvanic skin response sensor and textile circuits for both power and data. The potential for patenting is presently being investigated. The initial developments have been part of a joint research project with Sharon Baurley and Andrew Moore.

CAD/CAM Woven Jacquard ‘on - loom' Finishing Effects: The research investigates ‘on-loom' finishing effects within the industrial CAD/CAM woven jacquard process. The resultant prototypes require only scouring and stentering. The research poses the hypothesis that previously finished surface effects i.e. post woven embellishments (pleating, embroidery etc) can be achieved at the earlier weaving stage.

The outcomes of this research have a dual focus: creative and innovative fabrics; and new approaches to the industrial production method. The fabrics developed in this research are not to replicate existing fabric methods but are a product in their own right. The research includes investigation of CAD/CAM, yarn and woven structure innovation to achieve these 'on loom' effects and the potential for cost, time and energy efficiency. Both the research and professional practice require a keen awareness of new developments in yarn, fabric and finishing processes and existing and potentially new markets.

Investigating the Construction of Specialist Woven fabrics for Laser Cutting and Etching: The development of specialist woven textile substrates, for laser cutting/etching. This research is in conjunction with Anne Smith (Laser specialist)
Recent outputs have included:
2005 Joint conference paper at 9th International Symposiums on Wearable Computers Osaka – Japan
2005 June: Exhibited at Avantex, Frankfurt
2005 Feb: Exhibited at Innovate, Predicate, Fabricate. Royal Society of The Arts London
2003 Sept – Nov: Exhibited at Museo Del Tessuto, Prato, Italy. Artists at Work – New Technologies in Textile and Fibre Art,