This paper addresses the topic of material engagement in the context of textiles and architectural design. Our aim is to propose an integrative interface based on elastic and non-elastic textile materials that uses motion capture devices as tool to translate physical performances into a digital workflow. It is an attempt to embed the material at the early stage of the design process in order to have a better understanding of how such material behaves by identifying its nuanced expressions. Exploring the material performance suggests a more integrative design process that extends beyond digital simulation of the material by understanding real-time performance. This performative process, enables the designer(s) to creatively interact with the material, manipulate it, perceive its logic, eventually transform it and ultimately fabricate it.