Fashion design application of the mobius strip as a formative principle

Abstract

Background This study has three aims: understand the principle of Mobius, through the definition of the Mobius strip, and to identify its application scope, method, and mode, by targeting fashion and shoes, and Korean traditional costumes, to identify designers' sensibility and artistic identity through cases in which the principle of the Mobius strip was applied in the design field, and to find out the characteristics of the Mobius strip in formatively expressing designers' works and products. From a practical or artistic aspect, this study has significance by examining how creators use the principle of the Mobius strip as a design factor and how they broaden the creative horizon from the practical or artistic aspect. Methods For the analysis, we retrieved a literature review that covers books, which include fashion, architecture, interior designs, traditional fashion, and Web site and imagery data. We investigated the cases of designers' various creative outcomes as Mobius strip application. Results The principle of Mobius simultaneously has finite and infinite existence values, and has a symbolic meaning as a permanent vision of the universe. As a principle manifesting creative design in fashion, the principle plays a role in improving aesthetic values by changing and expanding the existing notional design development category, reinforcing functionality, or awarding a designer's aesthetic inspiration or formativeness. Conclusions The principle of the Mobius strip may become a design source for item development that can grant an ergonomic aspect, wit, and fun. The Mobius strip principle may express philosophical value by the application to Korean traditional costume, and Western fashion.