Embroidered Spaces: A Textile Innovation hub

Abstract

Pakistan’s textile industry is faced with a lot of challenges such as ethical production, resource efficiency, and global relevance. But through such challenges, it stands at the edge set to embrace technological advancements and innovation for national growth and international competitiveness. Thus, this architectural thesis embarks on a visionary journey to conceptualize and design a Textile Innovation Hub (TIH) tailored to the unique context of Pakistan to bring about this industry as a frontrunner in the global economy. The advancements in this field such as 3D printing, natural dyes, knitting technologies, nanotechnology, and smart materials foster innovation and a need for adaptation in this context. The thesis highlights the importance of national and international collaboration in propelling Pakistan’s textile industry to a path of great achievements. By nurturing and encouraging partnerships with leading innovators, designers, researchers, and producers both in the local context and globally, the textile innovation hub will create a vibrant ecosystem of creativity and design, where knowledge exchange will be facilitated, attracting the country's top talents. Central to the thesis is the architectural manifestation of the numerous embroideries of Pakistan. Pakistan has a rich history and culture of designing and adorning textiles with different types of embroideries all over the country. By translating the basics of such, a method is extracted to plan and design the landscape to house the textile innovation hub that will accommodate the diverse needs of textile research and development. The thesis aims to present a compelling vision of the future of Pakistan’s textile industry by conducting thorough research encompassing a literature review, case studies, and design exploration. By harnessing the potential of architectural innovation, it seeks to bring about the country’s textile industry in the global textile arena, driving the country's economic growth and cultural resurgence.