top of page

x

Apple-Logo-1977.png

Internationally acclaimed Wearable Artist  specializing in Avant Garde + Couture Fashion and Costume designs made from recycled materials.

the bowl challenge

designed, photographed, and built by Grace DuVal

apple_102.jpg
apple_085.jpg

The Challenge:

Make a bowl out of fabric that is 50mm ±2mm tall

 

The bowl must hold 8oz of water for one minute without leaking

The bowl must have an attachment point so that it may hang vertically from a piece of string

---

For this challenge I created a bowl that incorporated a structured frame to provide support

and a consistent height to ensure it fulfilled the measurement requirements. I designed the frame in Fusion 360

and fabricated it using PLA 3D printing. This allowed me to create an extremely precise,

aesthetic and functional outer skeleton to support the fabric bowl interior.

 

I created a hammock-like fabric interior that is strung from the outer pillars of the frame via metal standoff screw hardware. The outer shell of the fabric bowl is made from the provided orange polyester woven material, which I chose for its stability, weight, and color. I crafted a waterproof inner layer made from a stackup of white and grey waterproof ripstop nylons, and heat activated seam tape to seal all sewn seams. The perimeter of the fabric bowl was finished with

white fold over elastic to create a beatifically finished edge with minimal bulk.

After completing the sewn element, it was attached to the 3D printed frame via standoff screws that connect through holes in the fabric bowl. Fully completed, the bowl sits at precisely 5omm high, holds water for at least a minute, and features beautiful triangular cutouts that allow the bowl to be hung from any direction.

Materials Provided

apple_009.jpg

2pcs stretch woven; polyester/nylon; black
2pcs knit spacer; polyester; dark grey
1pcs knit mesh; polyester; light grey
2pcs woven; polyester; orange

Initial 2D Sketches

Materials utilized

Material stackup transparency tests to find the ideal fabric combination with zero transparency to the orange backing.
(Left) 1 layer white ripstop nylon, seam sealed. (Middle) two layers white ripstop nylon, seam sealed. (Right) one layer white ripstop nylon, one layer grey.

3D CAD Renderings

Initial Frame Design Tests

Final Frame Design

Initial Waterproofing Tests

apple_010.jpg
apple_011.jpg

Test 1:
Materials: Single layer reflective waterproof cordura

Heat activated seam tape

Results: Leaked after 5 seconds

apple_026.jpg
apple_028.jpg
apple_029.jpg

Test 2:
Materials: Double layer waterproof ripstop nylon

Heat activated seam tape

Results: Held water with no leaking for 1 minute 30 seconds

3D Printing v1 Frame Sample

apple_012.jpg
apple_013.jpg
apple_014.jpg
apple_016.jpg

Testing Hardware +

Making Fabric Pattern

Sewing First Fabric

Bowl Sample

Initial sample (Left) to test fit and shape of fabric component. Second sample (Right) to test ripstop fabric and seam sealing in final application.

Leak test

8oz. of water poured into the bowl and left for one minute and thirty seconds with zero leaking.

3D Printing v2 Frame Sample

Sewing Final Bowl Sample

Assembling Final Bowl

Completed Bowl

Outstanding Issues +

Next Steps

apple_085.jpg

-Improve design of frame to minimize supports required during 3D printing process.

This will reduce print time (currently 36 hours) by half, and will reduce material usage by half.

-Alternatively, utilize SLA printing to reduce print time and material usage.

-Replace purchased standoff screws with custom designed, 3D printed components to reduce external sourcing and increase design strength.

-Laser cut fabric instead of hand cutting to improve precision and prevent fraying.

-Adjust 3D printed frame cutout sizes to prevent torsion breaks.

-Adjust screw hole placement in fabric for more taut fabric bowl component.

-Choose more dynamic/aesthetic top material. Bottom of bowl is very beautiful, top of bowl is boring.

bottom of page