“Soft silica” is made from knitted glass

Canadian designer Sarah Roseman is working in a new material that straddles the boundary between textile and glasswork. According to a story on designboom.com, Roseman began her research experimenting with knitting glass fibers, working to find innovative and sustainable industry alternatives in materials. The result is a material called “soft silica,” that can be formed into an ever-growing list of samples and possible applications for the hybrid material. 

The process of begins by melting fiberglass in a kiln. Once it reaches a soft state, the designer can manipulate the glass and knit it into complex shapes. The project currently shows glass tapestries and vessels that combine the tactility of textile with the vibrance of glass. 

Another direction of the research focuses on integrating copper wire inside the glass and allowing electricity to flow through it to power light sources. Since copper wiring can be integrated when the material is still flexible, Roseman can accurately run lines through the final fused glass object.