Fosshape textile forms

Making Invisible Mannequins: The ‘invisible mannequin’ is a type of mount favoured by curators and conservators for displaying historic garments. In this webinar, MAAS (Australia’s Museum of Applied Arts and Science) textiles conservator Suzanne Chee demonstrates two techniques for making them. She briefly touches on a traditional papier-mâché-like technique using strips of linen, then concentrates on using ‘Fosshape’ — a non-woven, synthetic, heat-activated fabric that can be shrink-formed into any shape. The result is a quickly-made, inexpensive, extremely lightweight form that can even be suspended on fishing line. The discussion includes both male and female garments, as well as hats.

• Australian Dress Register article adding detail and specifics to the webinar above; part 1 of 2
• ADR article, part 2
• Wonderflex World is the manufacturer of Fosshape and typically the least expensive source. Their products include:
  • Fosshape 300, a thin and pliable white felt
  • Fosshape 400, a slightly thicker black felt
  • Fosshape 600, double the thickness of 300
  • Wonderflex, a rigid thermoplastic composite sheet with a scrim layer for stability
  • Wonderflex Pro, rigid sheet without scrim layer is more pliable; can even be pressed into molds
• Flickr album of the construction process for a Fosshape 300 mannequin
• Custom mounts for a World War I exhibition at Kent State University Museum