Fabric question (Mesh-material)

Johnnymuffintop

Johnnymuffintop

Well-Known Member
There's been something that's been bugging me for some time now.

WHERE can I find this sort of fabric/material?!?
DSC_5834.jpg

from: ZHEJIANG TEXWELL TEXTILE CO.,LTD.
Something like the mesh on these, but somewhere I can buy it by the yard:
8669.jpg


I know it was mentioned in a thread on here back in '08, but I still am left without answers as to where I can buy it online.
Though it was used for TDK's Batsuit, and that's what I'm planning on using it for.
I've got a HEV suit (from the Half Life games) planned and want to make this my undersuit, as well as a Spiderman costume that I want to have my own version of, based heavily on the Amazing version in Shattered Dimensions: http://www.spidermancrawlspace.com/...2010/10/shattered_dimensions_screenshot01.jpg

Any light on where to get this type of fabric would be greatly appreciated.
 
If I remember correctly, the TDK batman suit actually had two fabrics layered on-top one another to give it that look. It does look a lot like the material you posted, and from afar what you are asking for is perfect. What Dougie Fett posted would be good for the top layer if you did an exact match, but you would still have to get the bottom layer and attach the two. The other fabric would be much easier.

The type of mesh you are looking for is called Airmesh. It's used on gloves and shoes all the time and it matches your pictures. Make sure you get the right type because there are a lot of variations. I looked quite a bit into this for another costume of mine, but I ended up going downtown for the fabric. Unfortunately I do not know a good online place to get this type of fabric by the yard (most the places sell it by bulk), but I hope this helps. If you do find a good place, lets us know. :)
 
The specific fabric in question is called
AERO-MESH
or
SPACER-MESH

But I've never seen anyone sell it beyond a foreign distributor... in fact, the only people I know who have access to it are over-stockers or industrial surplus stores. Working at a fabric store (NOT JOANNS), we couldn't even order it.

A few people have gotten a hold of the same stuff though. Spidey4fun over at the BOTB (Australia) and MattMunson got some, but I think that might have been from Brad (spidey4fun), lol.
So I suggest looking at overseas retailers...not distributors because they have minimum yardage, where unless you felt like making 100 of these things to sell they won't shell out for the little man.
*EDIT* According to the rumor mill, that is what Brad (Spidey4fun) did. He got a bolt, and has begun producing under-suits from the fabric.

Granted, things could have changed... and I may be wrong. This is just what my (months) of searching yielded to no avail.

*EDIT* MattMunson got his fabric from Brad (Spidey4fun).
Here is Brad's build page on his website here: http://www.spidey4fun.ncable.net.au/knight21.htm
 
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Tsuyosa, good research. The fabric for the TDK suit is VERY interesting. It may be screen accurate, but its a TOTAL PITA to work with. It's also not very flexible. It has some give to it, but it doesn't stretch like lycra, spandex, or milliskin. Very odd fabric.

If you're going to try to do a spidey suit, the TDK screen accurate stuff is not for you. Just my advice. :)
 
Yea the TDK suits all have stress areas in them in the joints because the spacer material does not give at all past the normal "stretch" a material might have. Check out Manufacturers, Suppliers, Exporters & Importers from the world's largest online B2B marketplace-Alibaba.com and type in "Spacer Mesh" or "Air Mesh" and find one of the suppliers who carry it, and 9 times outta 10, they'll just cut a few yards off a larger order. I've done it in the past, but not going to lie, it will cost you some bread.


*Edit*
Forgot to mention, you want to look for a 3D mesh - whether you use the search term Air or Spacer... 3D will give you the depth you need, and you can order it from 1/32" up to over an inch thick if need be...
 
Spacer mesh has been found I just can't recall xctly which of the stretch stores sells it so off I go to look...
Welcome to Spandex House Inc.
Brill, first try :)

There are two kinds, 4 way and 2 way stretch, and a small mesh and a larger celled mesh.
 
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Those look like decent, low cost alternatives. Probably worth looking into if you're not going for 100% screen accuracy, and want some additional flexibility.

In my opinion, unless you're an accuracy hound, I would go for comfort. There were GAPING errors in my costume for halloween, and NOBODY called me on them. Heck, I wasn't even wearing the neck armor, or the mesh around my neck. Nobody noticed. It bugged the heck out of me, but nobody cared.

I guess my point is that if you can do it much cheaper and have it be much more comfortable, I say go for it. If I had it to do all over again, I would probably go that route.
 
mdb said:
Spacer mesh has been found I just can't recall xctly which of the stretch stores sells it so off I go to look...
Welcome to Spandex House Inc.
Brill, first try :)

There are two kinds, 4 way and 2 way stretch, and a small mesh and a larger celled mesh.
Click to expand...

Hm, a year ago I could swear they didn't carry that.

Well, like I said... It wasn't available when I did my research! :(

On another note... They have the green mesh. I'm thinking a Robin re-design? Or for the ladies out there... Tomb Raider Underworld outfit?
 
Thanks to all, you'd been quite helpful, and special thanks to Glitterbomb and MDB, your links are looking to be the most promising for my needs.
The 3557 Athletic Mesh available at Seattle Fabrics over a black spandex suit will probably work for the Spiderman costume since none of the spacers on Spandex House come in red. Though the Spandex House spacers will come in handy for my HEV suit, and maybe I'll also attempt to get some in white and die it.

And the spacers will also come in handy for the Spider-Man 2099 costume I'm planning.
I'm thinking about first doing a spacer layer, the solid sheets and then stitching in a diagonal checkerboard pattern. Then running some EL wire throughout the suit, rigged to alternate from my chest outward, then through a very fine mesh fabric over it. Thoughts on how well this could be executed?
 
Tsuyosa: Yeah I think it's a new product to them. Pam from Flagship Eclipse also recently found matte 4 way PVC on one of those spandex online places which wasn't there when I looked a few months before ;)

It may also be possible to find the mesh layer in the right colour and overlay that on another. I haven't really seen any in person that was very stretchy though.
 
Oh man! I wish we had that four way stretch matte finish PVC over here in the U.K. Sure would make my Kroenen costume a helluva lot more comfortable.
 
So, you guys don't think the "four way stretch matte finish PVC" would be very hot to wear. it doesn't look very breathable.
 
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