Studio Adaptive Skins = design yarns -> design fabrics -> design wearables. Why? To improve and sustain the fashion production system. To bring the individual closer within the design process. Fashion manufactured by rain is about creating a direct creative dialogue between: the body versus adaptive materials and using the environment as a tool to create new shapes.

Studio Adaptive Skins was founded in 2018 by designer Jef Montes. Adaptive skins is a textile architecture studio based in Arnhem with a strong emphasis on responsive materials. A new approach on creating shape within zero waste producing materials, rather than the conventional cutting patterns out of 2D fabric. The materials are applied on the human skin but also connected and experimented to the structure of a building and interior. Responsive to the human and its surrounding the textiles improve the function and experience of: body, light, energy, areas, acoustics and climate. The studio has its own signature projects that are focused on: wearable designs, high fashion and material installations. Next to that the studio also offers a wide spectrum of biodegradable materials and innovation production development services to other platforms/companies. Sustainability and upcycling are an important starting point in each project. No waste is the design norm. Finding alternative ways to recreate the production system is constantly researched. The idea is to design a new production chain, starting from the fiber/yarn and following up all the way towards the material/garment. Projects are collaboratively explored with technicians and product developers, that mainly work with industrial filament and textile producing machines. Illusion, shape and transformation play an essential factor within the design development. The signature developed materials are non seasonal and keep on expanding. Everything starts with an elemental flat shape, that afterwards unravels into 3D forms.
-> the Adaptive Skins material that creates its own tailoring technique, because It’s all about the natural ongoing process. - Jef Montes {-} ”I see clothing and materials as living architecture. Adapting to the environment, organic and emotional.'' 

Bio:  
In 2012 Montes graduated with honors degree at fashion design ArtEZ institute of the arts Arnhem. The brand Montes was founded with the idea of designing textiles in parallel to fashion. Creating fiberglass materials at his studio resulted into experimental haute couture. Collection Illuminosa debuted at Amsterdam Fashion Week 2014. With support from Creative Industries Fund NL Montes initiated research and development projects. The goal was to learn more about industrial textile producing machines. Projects Velero and Tormenta were developed in collaboration with TextielLab Tilburg. Creating woven fabrics that have a luxurious appeal, mainly by using upcycled ocean clean up materials. In 2018 Tormenta was selected for category fashion at the 33rd Villa Noailles Hyères festival international. The collection was based on the fishing-line that his grandfather used working as fisherman in the south of Spain. The idea of creating filaments became evident and motivated Montes to found Adaptive Skins, a textile architecture studio. This direction led towards international partnerships via EU Horizon and COSME tech hubs. Interdisciplinary teams produced sustainable bio-plastic yarns and zero waste 3D knitted patterns. Initial prototypes have been presented at the Fashion Scout Ones2Watch showcase in London. In 2022 project Marinero was awarded BIAAF grand prize, category A – fashion @ the 8th edition of Bilbao international art and fashion.