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Fabric + form = a mask that uniquely fits your face | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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Form-fitting clothing is not always governed by sartorial choice. The global pandemic, for example, has underscored the need for face masks that effectively seal around the nose and mouth. But faces and their features differ from one person to the next and can render one-size-fits-all face masks less effective. Well-fitting masks have proved to be a sought-after accessory. Lavender Tessmer, a doctoral candidate in MIT’s Department of Architecture, has developed a new active fiber and designed a process that — combined with a specific knit textile architecture — uses heat to activate a mask to conform to an individual’s face. With standard textile equipment and the new customization process, any manufacturer can create a customized mask. Before coming to MIT in 2017, Tessmer had no formal introduction to textiles. She began working with Skylar Tibbits, associate professor in the Department of Architecture and founder of the Self-Assembly Lab, where programmable materials — simple materi

Department of Architecture doctoral candidate Lavender Tessmer has advanced the process to produce textiles that can be individually customized. Maria Iacobo | School of Architecture and Planning Publication Date : July 18, 2022 Press Inquiries Press Contact : Melissa Vaughn Email: vaughn@mit.edu Phone: 617-253-5380 School of Architecture and Planning Close Caption : Doctoral candidate Lavender Tessmer wears a mask she customized for herself. Her paper outlining instructions to create customizable masks was awarded top honors by the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture. Credit

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