Rapid Prototyping as an Experimentation Method of Designing Tools to Improve the Quality and Variety of Stitch-Resist Dyed Motifs

Abstract

This paper discusses initial findings from an ongoing research project that designing a tool to improve the quality and variety of stitch-resist dyed motifs in Indonesia. Stitch-resist dyeing technique has been used to produce Indonesian traditional cloths, such as Jumputan cloth, Tritik cloth, Pelangi cloth and Sasirangan cloth. In the past 30 years, the use of this technique has been transformed from producing an individual artwork to mass craft production. Although the transformation provides economic benefits for the craft makers, an issue had been raised about the decreasing motif quality and the increasing number of defect patterns. Designing a stopper tool using the rapid prototyping method with biodegradable materials can be one of the alternatives to improve the quality and variety of motifs. The tool would increase the resist area which has been done manually by knotting the sewing thread after it is pulled. The resist area prevents the dye liquid from entering the area which eventually forms a pattern at the end of this process. The method used in this study used an experimentation approach with rapid prototyping method using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) based 3D printer. The biodegradable material focuses on the use of Polylactic Acid (PLA), made from corn with a low environmental impact. At this stage, the research is still an ongoing process and the validating stage had not been conducted, although the final design of the prototyping tool had been done. The prototype is expected to solve the production issue of the stitch-resist dyeing technique by producing more precise and consistent pressure compared to manual knots without changing the existent culture among Indonesian craft makers. The further works are to analyze the effect of using the tool on the stitch-resist dyeing process and how it will affect the resultant motifs