9. Wearables¶
Research¶
This week we explored the world of wearable technology, focusing on how textiles can be enhanced with electronics, sensors, and responsive materials. Wearables can react to stimuli like heat, touch, or sound, turning garments into interactive systems.
We studied thermochromic materials, soft circuits, and sound-based embroidery — all key elements in expanding the potential of textiles beyond their traditional uses
References & Inspiration¶
We were inspired by various artists and designers working with thermochromic inks, conductive embroidery, and textile sound systems. These projects showed how wearables can be poetic, expressive, and functional.
Tools¶
Arduino Flora (microcontroller)
Conductive thread
Thermochromic paint
Fabric (cotton)
Embroidery machine (Brother)
Rhinoceros + plug-in for embroidery paths
Magnets
Audio cable + music source
Power source (battery pack)
Process and workflow¶
We began by experimenting with thermochromic paints applied to fabric. These paints change color when exposed to heat.
To activate the thermochromic effect, we embroidered a pattern using conductive thread and connected it to an Adafruit Flora. When powered by a battery, the current running through the thread heats up the embroidered area, making the color change visible and revealing the shape of the design.
Important: If the design is intended to be wearable and reactive, make sure to use conductive thread where needed to close the circuit or heat specific zones.
This is how we set up the circuit with the Adafruit board to heat the conductive thread and make the ink change color
Code Example¶
Use the three backticks to separate code.
// #define MOTOR_PIN 5 // D1 en NodeMCU
void setup() {
pinMode(MOTOR_PIN, OUTPUT);
}
void loop() {
digitalWrite(MOTOR_PIN, HIGH); // Enciende el motor
delay(5000);
digitalWrite(MOTOR_PIN, LOW); // Apaga el motor
delay(5000);
}
Sound¶
One of the most interesting exercises we did during Wearables week was creating a fabric speaker using conductive embroidery.
The idea was to turn a textile surface into something that could emit sound, and we achieved this by stitching a spiral with conductive thread, which was later connected to an audio source.
First, I embroidered a spiral pattern on a piece of fabric using conductive thread. This spiral acts like a coil — similar to the coil inside a regular speaker.
Then, I placed a big magnet on or very close to the center of the spiral. The key here is the interaction between the electromagnetic field created by the current going through the conductive thread and the magnetic field of the magnet.
To make it work, I connected the two ends of the spiral embroidery to the positive and negative wires of a headphone jack or an audio cable. This cable was plugged into a music source (like a phone or computer with amplified audio).
When the audio signal (an alternating current) passes through the conductive spiral, it creates small vibrations due to the electromagnetic interaction with the magnet. These vibrations generate sound — it’s not very loud, but it's clearly audible, especially when the fabric is resting on a surface that helps amplify the vibration.