The theme this month on culturethemes.blogspot.co.uk/ is Socks, yes Socks. Socks in paintings, knitted socks, pictures of socks.
Plastics are not necessarily the first materials you may think of when it comes to your feet. Some people think it is sweaty and not breathable but we have some interesting socks and sock accessories in the collection which we would like to share.
These cotton and Nylon socks are see through and the knit is quite loose so your feet will have plenty of ventilation:
When exercising, feet tend to get particularly hot and sweaty but these sports socks have a
special four-duct polyester fibre that is naturally water repellent and
shaped to optimise capillary action, helping to keep the foot cool and dry:
Plastics can be mixed with other materials to create a fabric with outstanding properties. Here, polyester has been mixed with silver, an antimicrobial, before extrusion to create a healthy environment for the foot:
There was a time when socks were a more valued commodity than they are today, they were often handmade. This added investment meant that the act of throwing holey socks away would have been unheard of, they would have been darned and what better tool to help you than a darning mushroom? The top two have a light inside to help you see the holes:
In
2010, MoDiP was donated a large archive of images relating to a single
company. Bakelite Xylonite Ltd, also known as British Xylonite Ltd or
BXL, was possibly one of the first British firms to successfully
manufacture a plastics material in commercial quantities. The company
was established in 1875 and after a long history went into liquidation
in the late 2000s. The images we have in the collection are concentrated
around the 1960s through to the 1980s and show us glimpses of the
manufacturing process, products and the company’s employees during this
time. We plan to share an image each week to give a flavour of the
archive. If you want to see more you can view the
whole collection on our website.
We
are still working on the documentation of the archive, some of the
images we know more about than others. It would be fantastic if we could
fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge, if you know anything about
the company or specific
images it would be good to hear from you.
MoDiP
has the kind of collection that you may think you are very familiar
with. We have objects which we all use every day, and some pieces which
are more unusual.
By looking at this
distorted image are you able to guess what the object is? What do you
think it could be used for?
Post your
answer in the comments below or find out more about the object by
looking at the MoDiP catalogue.
In
2010, MoDiP was donated a large archive of images relating to a single
company. Bakelite Xylonite Ltd, also known as British Xylonite Ltd or
BXL, was possibly one of the first British firms to successfully
manufacture a plastics material in commercial quantities. The company
was established in 1875 and after a long history went into liquidation
in the late 2000s. The images we have in the collection are concentrated
around the 1960s through to the 1980s and show us glimpses of the
manufacturing process, products and the company’s employees during this
time. We plan to share an image each week to give a flavour of the
archive. If you want to see more you can view the
whole collection on our website.
This week’s image shows a bottle mould in various stages.
We
are still working on the documentation of the archive, some of the
images we know more about than others. It would be fantastic if we could
fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge, if you know anything about
the company or specific
images it would be good to hear from you.
MoDiP
has the kind of collection that you may think you are very familiar
with. We have objects which we all use every day, and some pieces which
are more unusual.
By looking at this
distorted image are you able to guess what the object is? What do you
think it could be used for?
Post your
answer in the comments below or find out more about the object by
looking at the MoDiP catalogue.
In 2010, MoDiP was donated a large archive of images relating to a single company. Bakelite Xylonite Ltd, also known as British Xylonite Ltd or BXL, was possibly one of the first British firms to successfully manufacture a plastics material in commercial quantities. The company was established in 1875 and after a long history went into liquidation in the late 2000s. The images we have in the collection are concentrated around the 1960s through to the 1980s and show us glimpses of the manufacturing process, products and the company’s employees during this time. We plan to share an image each week to give a flavour of the archive. If you want to see more you can view the
whole collection on our website.
This week’s image shows a range of bottles produced to contain household chemicals.
We are still working on the documentation of the archive, some of the images we know more about than others. It would be fantastic if we could fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge, if you know anything about the company or specific
images it would be good to hear from you.
MoDiP
has the kind of collection that you may think you are very familiar
with. We have objects which we all use every day, and some pieces which
are more unusual.
By looking at this
distorted image are you able to guess what the object is? What do you
think it could be used for?
Post your
answer in the comments below or find out more about the object by
looking at the MoDiP catalogue.
MoDiP is delighted to have acquired a pair of innovative Mojito high heel shoes designed by the architect,
Julian Hakes, in which the use of plastics rather than traditional shoe making
materials has enabled the rethinking of shoe structure. We are most grateful
for his generosity in presenting a pair as a gift for the permanent collection.
The Mojito high heels were brought to MoDiP’s attention by
the Arts University Bournemouth’s National Teaching Fellow, who said ‘they will
provide a very interesting design example for teaching’. As a result they are
shortly to be featured as a highlight in an HEA funded workshop, Object Power: the use of museum artefacts in
creative object-based learning & teaching in HE being held here at the
Arts University Bournemouth at the end of March. To sign up please go to http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/events/detail/2013/Seminars/Disciplines_AH/GEN285_AUCB.
Julian, with his partner Cari-Jane Hakes, won his first
architectural commission in 1995 when still at Cambridge University, both aged
22. Hakes Associates was founded in 2000 and is amongst the most influential UK
architectural practices with a substantial international reputation. While they
design the full range of work you would expect of such a practice they have
made something of a specialism of bridges.It was the same process as they use in bridge design that informed the
design of these shoes: ‘examining the load path and looking at the most simple
and elegant yet poetic expression of the forces at play within the materials
used’. The shoe in particular recalls the Hakes design for the Mobius Bridge
Bristol, for which site preparation works ahead of construction are underway.
The inspiration for the design ofthis
unusual shoe began with a foot imprint in sand which in Julian’s words ‘makes
it very clear that the main force goes to the heel and the ball …and the foot
naturally ‘spans’ the gap’. The architect worked with his own foot wrapping it
in tracing paper, binding it with masking tape, drawing various geometries over
it, then cutting the shape with a scalpel and peeling it from his foot.
Novel construction suggested the use of novel materials.
Thus the core is made of composite polycarbonate and fibre reinforcement which
provides the shoe with both the strength needed to support a person’s weight and
the springiness necessary for easy movement. The composite frame is laminated
with synthetic rubber on the floor side and leather padded with sculpted 3D memory
foam on the side that touches the foot. The shoes were two years in
development. Early prototypes of a carbon fibre core version were made by Julian
Hakes in his London Studio using sculptor supplies and old wooden foot
lasts.Hakes also wanted furniture or
automotive firms to stitch the leather because of the superb quality of their
work. The shoe is currently manufactured in China in a plant owned by one of
the architect’s key investors. Although these are white, they are
made in a wonderful array of contrasting colours, the leather dyed to a
wide range of different colours and the outers likewise painted, coated in metal
or printed. In spite of their unusual appearance they are said to be remarkably
comfortable.
Mojito presents a
completely new shoe structure resembling a sliver of lime peel, from which it
takes its name. For those less familiar with their cocktails, a Mojito is one
such which originated in Cuba made from white rum, sugar, sparkling water, mint
and lime juice.
Susan Lambert (Head of the Museum of Design in Plastics)
With thanks to Julian Hakes London and Rachel Aldersley, Hakes Associates
In MoDiP's exhibition Encore! Re:formed Plastics we featured the innovative product designed to be healthy for both the body and the environment. The Mooncup is a mestrual cup which helps to reduce our reliance on dispoabale sanitary products.
In line with the innovative nature of the product, the company who make it have come up with a fantastic ad campaign highlighting the battle between menstrual cups and tampons.
Louise Dennis (Assistant Curator)
I would like to thank Kath Clements, from Mooncup, for the following information:
Tampon vs Mooncup Rap Battle
Two crews,
representing Mooncup and Tampon ‘battle it out’, pitting the typical emotional
reactions of users of conventional sanitary products against the factual
benefits of using Mooncup.
Mooncup Ltd are
a small ethical business manufacturing a product that’s a one-off purchase, so
need to be creative in flexing their marketing budget’s muscle against the
multi-million pound spend of disposable sanitary product giants.
On average, each
woman will have around 500 periods in her lifetime, and will use about 22 tampons or pads per
period. During the 2010 International Coastal Cleanup, 24,607 tampons and
applicators were found on our world’s beaches (Ocean Conservancy 2010).
Since 2002, 855 million tampons and pads have already been prevented from
entering the waste stream thanks to women changing their habits and using the
Mooncup instead.
Kath Clements,
Campaigns and Marketing Manager at Mooncup says, “Ultimately choosing the right
sanitary product for you is really personal: we’d just like to make sure that
women choose knowing the facts. Staging a rap battle was a playful way to
present some of the reservations about using the Mooncup that we hear,
alongside the benefits that Mooncup users enjoy- in the end, as ever, it’ll be
down to the viewer to pick her ‘crew’!“
Facts
about Mooncup
Whether you want to reduce your carbon footprint, save money
or just look after your health, there are many reasons to choose the Mooncup.
Eco-friendly
The
reusable Mooncup offers a simple way to dramatically reduce the amount of waste
you produce.
• One woman will use over 11,000
disposable sanitary products in a lifetime
• 22 tampons or towels are used, on
average, each period
• In the UK alone, 4.3 billion disposable
sanitary products are used every year
These
items, their packaging, applicators and backing-strips will end up in landfill
or in the sea.
Over
one weekend, the Marine Conservation Society found 30 sanitary product items
per km of UK beach surveyed. (Source: MCS Beachwatch survey 2010)
Mooncup
Ltd. is the first sanitary protection manufacturer in the world to be awarded
Ethical Business status for its people and environmentally -friendly practices.
Healthier
The
Mooncup is made from soft medical grade silicone and is latex-free,
hypoallergenic and contains no dyes, BPA, phthalates, plastic, bleaches or
toxins.
Because
the Mooncup is non-absorbent, it will not cause dryness and does not disrupt
your body’s natural pH levels (35% of the fluid tampons absorb is natural
moisture.
The
Mooncup does not contain any absorbency gels, additives or perfumes. Unlike
some conventional cotton sanitary products, it is also free from pesticides and
GM materials.
Tampons
can cause dryness and leave fibres behind. The Mooncup is designed to respect
your natural balance.
Convenient
The
Mooncup holds three times the fluid of a tampon, giving longer lasting
protection on heavier days. And, because it is non-absorbent, it won’t cause
dryness when your period is light.
Cheaper
One
Mooncup costs the same as the average woman will spend on disposable sanitary
protection in 4-8 periods* and will last for years. (*One woman will roughly
have 500 periods in her menstruating life)
Notes
About Mooncup
Mooncup, the
world’s first medical grade silicone reusable menstrual cup, was created by
Brighton entrepreneur Su Hardy in 2002 and is now distributed in over fifty
countries worldwide. In the UK, the Mooncup is available in Boots,
independent health food stores and at mooncup.co.uk.
Contact
details: Kath Clements, Campaigns and Marketing Manager – kath.clements@mooncup.co.uk
About St. Luke’s
Directors of the ad campaign - Independent
co-owned communications agency, clients include: Littlewoods, Very.co.uk,
Strongbow, Mayor of London, Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
and Majestic Wine Warehouse.
MoDiP
has the kind of collection that you may think you are very familiar
with. We have objects which we all use every day, and some pieces which
are more unusual.
By looking at this
distorted image are you able to guess what the object is? What do you
think it could be used for?
Post your
answer in the comments below or find out more about the object by
looking at the MoDiP catalogue.
