#smart textiles

Hot Wings

Flying kites and butterfly wings are common sights in the summer sky. Yet far from being just pretty membranes stretched out to catch the breeze, butterfly wings rely on inner beauty to cope with the heat. Here we see black and blue scales from a Bistonina biston butterfly (top row) and under a scanning electron microscope (bottom). Their structural patterns help regions of the wing absorb and distribute heat differently, while cells equipped with temperature sensors allow the insect to tune its flight path to protect its fragile flappers from extreme temperatures. Economical designs that make allowances for thermoregulation may inspire the development of new aircraft wings, or perhaps 'smart' clothing to distribute heat better around the body, decreasing the risks of heat stress when working in sun.

Written by John Ankers

Image adapted from work by Cheng-Chia Tsai and colleagues

Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

Image originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Published in Nature Communications, January 2020

Jiesheng Ren – Electron microscopy image of the conductive graphene-cotton composite.

1. A new process deposits graphene-based inks to produce a conductive textile made from our most widely used fabric – cotton.

2. This process was developed by the Cambridge Graphene Centre, UK, and Jiangnan University, China.

3. Most current wearable sensors use rigid electronic components mounted on flexible substrates such as plastic films and textiles – these can be uncomfortable to wear and can be damaged when washed. The researchers found that the graphene-coated cotton could reliably detect up to 500 motion cycles, even after more than 10 washing machine cycles.  

4. Graphene also benefits from environmental and economic advantages.

5. Potential areas of application include personal health technology, high-performance sportswear and military apparel.

Knit Alive

The word ‘robot’ might conjure up images of cogs and bolts, but these soft robots are knitted out of wool or silk. Nestled in their stuffing, clever stitches create tendons similar to those found pulling our muscles. A tug on one of these may make a bunny’s ears flop, or a scarf rearrange itself. Woolly robots present a new avenue for wearable technology that could adapt to the weather or time of day using sensors to feedback information to tiny motors pulling their strings. A step forward for fashion, perhaps, but also for creating smart devices that respond to changes in pressure to help with rehabilitation after injury, or body temperature to give a warm hug to those who need it most.

Written by John Ankers

Video by Lea Albaugh, Prof. Scott Hudson & Prof. Lining Yao Morphing Matter & DevLab, Carnegie Mellon Uni. Human Computer Interaction Inst.

Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Video copyright held by the original authors

Research published in CHI '19 Proceedings of the 2019 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Currently Bendy

Our clothes are getting smarter – sometimes fitted with wearable sensors that measure our fitness and health. Yet the choice of circuitry inside is often limited to 'soft' or 'hard' – restricting their potential uses or their durability. Here, a new method creates circuits that switch from hard to soft (and back again) – a change in temperature turns this circuit board from stiff and flat (top row), to soft and stretchy (bottom). The secret to these ‘transformative electronic systems’ is the gallium inside – rigid at room temperature, but stretching out when the raised above 29.8°C. Gallium is non-toxic, so these systems may be ideal for devices that work inside the human body as well as outside – such as a neural probe that becomes softer on contact with brain tissue.

Written by John Ankers

Image from work by Sang-Hyuk Byun and Joo Yong Sim, and colleagues

School of Electrical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea.

Image originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Published in Science Advances, November 2019

The long-term outlook for the Cooling Fabrics Market is characterized by technological convergence, bio-based polymer integration, and strategic corporate consolidation among leading chemical providers and apparel brands. Major textile manufacturers are investing heavily in smart responsive cooling yarns, thermal-regulation microcapsules, and automated AI-driven quality inspection systems. These technological advancements enable firms to reduce material production costs, enhance long-term wash durability, and accelerate production cycle times for demanding athletic programs. Sustainable circular economy initiatives, such as closed-loop textile recycling technologies, also enhance the industry's environmental profile.

Strategic mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures among independent yarn producers and multinational fashion giants will likely define future corporate growth strategies. By pooling financial resources and proprietary cooling patents, major market players can secure multi-year athletic apparel contracts and expand their geographic footprint more efficiently. Furthermore, ongoing research into active electronic cooling textiles that interface with personal temperature control devices allows companies to engineer next-generation wearable thermal management architectures.

Institutional investors and private equity firms continue to monitor the sector closely, drawn by strong recurring demand profiles and steady cash flow generation across health, wellness, and sportswear supply chains. As global climate warming drives continuous consumer spending on personal cooling solutions, cooling fabrics command attractive profit margins. Companies that successfully balance traditional textile performance with cutting-edge environmental sustainability will capture significant competitive advantages.

Long-term success in fashion retail demands a forward-looking perspective on global supply chains, material sourcing, and consumer shifts. Analyzing the detailed Lingerie Market forecast points toward a future defined by smart textiles, hyper-personalized retail, and regionalized manufacturing networks. As market dynamics mature, brands must balance premium quality with competitive pricing structures.

Smart textiles represent one of the most exciting horizons in intimate design. From temperature-regulating fabrics to sensor-embedded performance wear, undergarments are increasingly serving functional health and wellness purposes. These technical innovations appeal to active consumers seeking multifunctional clothing that transitions effortlessly from leisure to athletic performance.

Simultaneously, supply chain resilience has become a top priority for corporate leadership. Disruptions in global logistics have prompted brands to explore nearshoring and localized production facilities. By bringing manufacturing closer to primary consumer hubs, businesses reduce shipping lead times, lower carbon emissions, and respond faster to seasonal style demands.

The global Fire Resistant Fabrics Market continues to see strong demand from safety managers who want to safeguard workers from unpredictable thermal accidents. However, maintaining this upward path requires solving a variety of industry challenges, including high initial manufacturing costs and fluctuating raw material supplies. Despite these hurdles, the market remains resilient because heavy industries simply cannot compromise on worker protection without risking severe legal penalties. This constant demand encourages textile producers to continuously refine their manufacturing systems to lower overall production expenses.

A major challenge for the industry is the presence of low-cost, uncertified protective garments in less-regulated regional marketplaces. These substandard alternatives often look like authentic flame-resistant uniforms but fail under actual arc flash or flash fire conditions. The distribution of these unverified alternatives poses real dangers to unsuspecting workers and undermines the credibility of reputable textile brands. To protect their industries, established trade organizations are launching educational campaigns to help businesses distinguish certified protective fabrics from cheap imitations.

At the same time, the automotive and public transport sectors are expanding their usage of fire-resistant interior textiles to maximize passenger safety. Modern trains, commercial aircraft, and electric vehicles incorporate advanced flame-retardant materials within seats, side panels, and flooring compartments to prevent rapid fire spread during accidents. This focus on transportation safety provides a reliable secondary market for textile producers looking to diversify their revenue streams beyond industrial workwear.

Importantly, the Global Fire Resistant Fabrics Market recorded a sale of 475 thousand tons in 2024 and is estimated to reach a volume of 790 thousand tons by 2033 with a CAGR of 3.8% during the forecast period 2027-2033. This data highlights that despite short-term economic fluctuations, the overall volume of protective textiles utilized globally is set to expand significantly. This long-term expansion is anchored by the permanent integration of safety-first manufacturing cultures across all major international industrial hubs.

As material science progresses, the next generation of protective workwear will likely feature smart sensors that monitor ambient temperatures and worker heart rates in real time. Combining advanced electronics with high-performance flame-retardant weaves will give safety supervisors immediate visibility into dangerous field conditions. This ongoing technological transformation will completely redefine how heavy industries approach risk management, making workplace environments safer than ever before.