Week 3: What is this “Worbla”?

On my last post, I experimented with Mesh Worbla. This time, I want to explain: What exactly is this “Worbla”?

As a matter of fact, “Worbla” is in fact a brand name for a company that manufactures thermoplastics, and they can be found easily in hardware stores. Since 2012, they started to create moldable plastic sheets around 1mm thick which became one of the most common crafting and prop making material next to craft foam or playmat foam. Worbla’s goal is to be a brand that gives an innovated thermoplastics to give artists a product that promotes endless creativity. Their brand products are all 1mm thick sheet that is self adhering and sculptable. When heated with a heat gun at around 80 degrees celsius, they get sticky, soft, and flexible like fabric.

Worbla products have become extremely popular materials to costume makers and designer due to the ease of use to create realistic armor and prop parts. Aside from making costume and props, Worbla brand thermoplastics are also used to make sculptures, toys, and masks.