Twist and Shout!

 

How fabrics help amusement parks create an amazing experience.

  While materials like steel, wood, and plastic play dominant roles in the construction and design of amusement parks, fabrics are present in more ways than you might think.   From high-resolution digital printed textile backdrops to create immersive scenery to costumes specially designed for park entertainers, fabrics play a vital role in creating the ultimate theme park experience.  

   

Creating an Immersive Experience

One way in which textiles are used in amusement parks is to create an immersive experience for rides and attractions, says Scott LaRocca, associate chair of themed entertainment design at the Savannah College of Art and Design, who is also a former Disney Imagineer.   “I think my first project was Asia Animal Kingdom … even within that space, you’re designing the visuals and show set pieces that bring that environment to life,” he explains. “And part of that includes the materials you’re using—textures (and) fabrics … that can do different types of things.”   LaRocca says high-resolution digital printing on textiles—what he calls super graphics—is a new way of creating backdrop fabrics instead of using traditional paint. This could be used for simulating an environment, including plants and trees.      

Theme park and theater fabric maker ShowTex is highly involved in this area. For example, the company created all the backdrops and scenery fabrics used at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, says sales and project manager Laura Lippo.   “We can print on a lot of textiles and we also can print on quite wide fabrics. That’s also really convenient so you won’t have any joints in your prints,” she continues. “A lot of clients are specifically looking into printing as wide as possible because they don’t want to have any seams or any joints in their fabric. We can print on pretty large fabrics, so that’s an advantage of what we do.”  

 

Working With 3D

Another big fabric trend at theme parks right now is the use of scrim textiles, LaRocca says. “Scrim has got this translucent type of appeal,” he explained. “If it’s in a show, you’ve got the ability to project on the front of it with light. And if it goes off, you can see what’s behind it.”   ShowTex offers a variety of scrim fabrics, including their PepperScrim material. “Our PepperScrim is the most popular one because you can create 3D effects with that fabric,” Lippo explains. “It’s used a lot in theme parks. It has a metallic coating (and) it comes very wide so usually it’s possible to just make it out of one piece so there aren’t any joints in the fabric. We can also custom make it with whatever finishing the client wants.”   The PepperScrim is used in conjunction with some type of projector to create the 3D effects. “You need to project in a certain kind of angle so the projection won’t get lost like in the ceiling or somewhere (where) people cannot see it,” Lippo adds.  

Bringing the Sparkle

Obviously, a lot of textiles are used in making costumes for characters and performers at amusement parks. One person knows all about this is Ellen Rastorfer, costume designer and area manager of live entertainment at Worlds of Fun‘s in-house costume design department dubbed the “Sparkle Factory,” which also makes costumes for other Cedar Fair Entertainment Company attractions and events.   When it comes to theme park costumes, durability, movement, and comfort are all key. For example, Rastorfer says they use a lot of brocade fabrics in their costumes because it is very durable and has a big impact. “The brocade designs on a suit jacket or vest just really jumps out and makes a difference as opposed to just like a flat cotton,” she explains.   Sparkle Factory costume designers turn to French silk for designs requiring a lot of movement. “Last year in our Moulin Rouge show we had a can-can show and all of those ruffles (were) French silk because of the movement,” Rastorfer says. “When you’re shaking the skirts, you want to see those ruffles go.”

Rastorfer says they almost always build their costumes with a cotton broadcloth lining to help performers stay comfortable and dry. “You really want to take into consideration the comfort of your performer wearing the costumes,” she adds. “Usually in our theaters it’s a high-performance aerobics dance and they all come out pretty sweaty.”  

Coasting Towards the Future

Looking towards future fabric trends in amusement parks, Lippo says they are seeing more and more theme parks using large projection screens to create an even more captivating experience for park goers. “The idea is to create a space with projection screens and then the people walking (feel) like they are in a painting or something like that,” she continues. “We are constantly doing research to have better fabrics that can create a better projection and that it’s even more vivid. I think … projection … will get bigger … also because of virtual reality. I think the special effects will get more real looking and more important.”

LaRocca agrees and highlights interactive and immersive art installations like Meow Wolf. “Everything we do starts with a story. So, you’re walking through a story—how do you bring that to life?” he explains. “And the more you can create a story with different materials is definitely big within the space. If you look at Meow Wolf and a lot of the attractions they do, they’re very obscure. You almost have to explore to solve and figure it out. It’s not traditional storytelling, it’s [about] exploring.”   LaRocca also mentions 3D printing—something that has been around for a while, but is now starting to enter the fabric space. “Now you can use these different plastics or materials that can then be 3D printed, which is amazing because it has the same consistency of fabrics where you’re just taking actual 3D models and printing,” he adds. “That’s very unique, especially the types of textures that you can get from that.”   The next time you visit an amusement park, keep an eye open for all the different ways in which fabrics are used to create the full experience. With all the textile innovations currently being used—and with more on the horizon—there’s no denying that fabrics will remain an integral part of theme parks.    

About the Author

Corrie Pelc is a journalist, editor, and freelance writer with more than 25-years’ experience. A former associate editor for Nonwovens Industry, her byline can be found in a variety of consumer and trade publications, with past and current clients including Medical News Today, IAAPA’s Funworld Magazine, Rinksider Magazine, International Bowling Industry magazine, and HomeTalk.com, as well as AATCC Review and AATCC News.