Mathematics: method and creativity in fabric design creation

Abstract: The present work addresses two cultural aspects: scientific culture, through the use of mathematics as a tool, and project culture in the creation of fabric designs and decorations. Depending on the role we want to give mathematics in the project process, this work has a two-fold didactic character. If we think of mathematics as an important and rigorous tool to describe and then actualize an idea, we here aim at showing how important it is to build a scientific culture as the basis for modern design. If we then recognize another aspect of mathematics, namely its creative power, we propose in this work some pleasant applications of mathematical ideas to the creation of patterns and textures in fashion, thus highlighting the power of mathematics as an incentive to creativity.