Dezeen Magazine

Noyberg & Bulka uses sewing machines to stamp ink patterns onto clothes

Israeli designers Idan Noyberg and Gal Bulka have replaced sewing-machine needles with stamps that print lines of patterns onto fabric.

Noyberg & Bulka designed the Sew-ink stamps as a way of revamping old clothes.

Sew Ink by Noyberg and Bulka

"The inspiration for our project began with working with our own sewing machine trying to make an interesting pattern with strings on an old T-shirt," Noyberg told Dezeen. "Then we had this idea to connect between ink and sewing machine in the most simple way, in a way that offers a new concept of sewing."

The stamp's node radius is the same size as a standard sewing-machine needle shank, so is secured onto the machine in the same way.

Sew Ink by Noyberg and Bulka

As the fabric is fed under the foot of the sewing machine, the stamp prints a small motif onto the garment over and over to form a linear pattern.

The patterns can be added around collars, cuffs and pockets to add details to plain garments.

Sew Ink by Noyberg and Bulka

The duo experimented with a series of simple shapes and more complicated designs for the stamps, and hope that users will be able to 3D-print their own versions.

Initial tests were carried out with diamond, sun and ant-shaped stamps on white shirts.

"There are unlimited options for production and a future option to print your own design shape using 3D printing," said Noyberg.

Sew Ink by Noyberg and Bulka

The stamps can be dipped in various colours of ink, either permanent or non-permanent so a new design can be added after each wash.

Ivan Noyberg and Gal Bulka recently graduated from Jerusalem's Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design.