Smart Clothes

Friday, August 2, 2013 | Jon Foster

Have you ever thought that your clothing should be able to do more than cloth you and keep you warm? If you have then you’re not alone. Researchers are currently working on a variety of new clothing materials that will not only be multi-functional, but shockingly practical as well. In this article, we will take a look at a few of these new concepts, and explore the ways in which clothing is becoming ‘smarter.’

Our first look at this new generation of ‘smart clothing takes us to Scandinavia, where researchers at SINTEF have invented one of the world’s first-ever self-repairing fabrics. The concept works through the use of microcapsules embedded within a polyurethane liquid: that liquid is then applied to the surface of any material and left to harden. In addition, the microcapsules contain a powerful adhesive that is released when the capsules are ruptured; hence, when you tear the fabric it basically glues back together for you. Here you can find an example of this material already in use by a company in the United Kingdom.

​​Next, we look at a material that could revolutionize the way we think about clothing and environmental sustainability. Started by two U.K. professors, one at the London College of Fashion, and the other from the University of Sheffield, the Wonderland Project fused chemistry with fashion in order to create water-soluble clothing. The concept came together as a way to promote sustainability, by watching clothing articles dissolve in water, the viewer is made to think about what happens to their own discarded clothing. Nevertheless, you might not want to get caught in the rain if you’re wearing these clothes.

Fortunately, if your clothes are washed away in the rain, you can call Suzanne Lee, and she’ll grow some for you. The fashion designer turned biochemist has created a synthetic type of leather that can be grown using a few microbes of waste-eating bacteria. The bacteria then readily multiply leaving Lee with a usable bio-degradable material similar to leather. In addition, Lee speculates that the bacteria can even be genetically programmed to deteriorate after a certain amount of time, allowing for more environmentally friendly clothing.

The last fabric to make headlines is an environmentally responsive material, which not only responds to changes in moisture but also temperature as well. Developed in China and specifically adapted to Beijing’s climate, the material will change colors throughout the year, and shrink or expand depending on the temperatures. Check out the changing shapes and colors in the video below.