2023 Bridges Conference Fashion Show

S. Louise Gould

Designers

S. Louise Gould

Professor Emerita

Department of Mathematical Sciences, Central Connecticut State University

Connecticut USA

goulds@ccsu.edu

Biography

S. Louise Gould is a retired professor who uses many kinds of technology to explore mathematics in fiber. She spins, sews, weaves and more to create objects that connect to mathematics. She enjoys machine embroidery and digitizing original designs. Most recently she has explored original network drafting and weaving on a 24 shaft mechanical dobby loom. She has created models of parts of infinite polyhedra. She has used kumihimo to explore Brunnean rings. She has made mathematics related garments. The ideas start with the mathematics and then she seeks ways of representing them in textiles.

Looks

Image for look 'The Orbifold Jacket'

The front of one face of the Orbifold Jacket

Frank Gould photographer.

Image for look 'The Orbifold Jacket'

The front of the other face of the Orbifold Jacket.

Frank Gould photographer.

Image for look 'The Orbifold Jacket'

The back face of one side of the Jacket showing 5 of the orbifold embellishments.

Frank Gould photographer.

Image for look 'The Orbifold Jacket'

The back face of the other side of the Jacket showing 5 more of the orbifold embellishments.

Frank Gould photographer.

About the look

The Orbifold Jacket

Seventeen original, related fabric designs. Printed by Spoonflower on polyester fabric.

2020

This jacket was originally made for the fashion show in Bridges Aalto in 2020. Of course Bridges Aalto never occurred in person until 2022 and there was no fashion show. In the intervening time a long description of the jacket and it’s construction appeared in the special issue on Fiber Arts in the Journal of Mathematics and the Arts published in 2023. This reversible jacket is made of 17 custom designed fabrics illustrating each of the 17 planar symmetry patterns. Each pattern is labeled with its orbifold notation. Each side of the jacket has a floating panel embellished with 5 orbifolds related to the patterns in the garment. It was made to be worn at a mathematical event!