The Math Behind It

Math is an integral part of achieving zero waste, and for me, it is fueled by curiosity and a lot of passion.

The golden ratio has fascinated artists, mathematicians, architects, and designers for centuries, revealing relationships between proportion, balance, and growth in nature. When I founded Aplat, I began exploring how these mathematical principles could inform geometry, pattern engineering, and material efficiency. Through careful pattern placement and iterative prototyping, I discovered opportunities to transform every part of the fabric into something useful. What began as a mathematical challenge became a creative opportunity to design the product and its manufacturing process as one interconnected system.

Here’s a glossary of our most commonly used terms and concepts:

Marker:

A pattern marker is the first step to manufacturing a cut-sew product. Each marker reveals the positive (panels to sew) and the negative (waste). Working carefully with the marker is the mathematical key to projecting waste. We spend many hours adjusting the marker in order to retain zero waste each time. 

Golden Ratio (φ):

The Golden Ratio is really a genius ratio of relationships between the length and width of rectangles. Easier explained through visuals than words.

Pi (π):

Pi is an irrational number that continues infinitely, and it lends us infinite possibilities throughout our design process. The number is the ratio of the circle’s circumference to its diameter. We use Pi to account for the surface area of our round patterns and to accommodate for our offcuts.