9. Wearables

Research

What are Wearables?

Wearables are wearable technologies integrated into clothing or accessories to add functionality that interacts with the body or its surroundings. These technologies can rely on sensors, lighting, motion, or smart materials that change in response to heat, touch, or electrical signals. This type of design aims to transform an item from a mere aesthetic element into a living system capable of measuring, communicating, or expressing itself, while maintaining comfort, flexibility, and everyday usability.

When did Wearables Start to Emerge?

The concept of wearables began to emerge in the 1960s with early attempts to integrate technology into wearable objects, such as wearable calculators and simple tracking devices. However, the real breakthrough came in the 1990s with the development of microcomputing, and the field expanded significantly after 2010 with the proliferation of flexible electronics, micro-sensors, and digital printing on fabrics. Today, wearables is a comprehensive field that integrates design, engineering, interactivity, and smart materials.

Wearables are used in a wide range of fields that combine technology and human interaction, including:

Health and Sports: Monitoring physical activity, measuring heart rate, tracking sleep, and alerting users to vital signs.

Safety and Surveillance: Devices that help track location, alert users in emergencies, or monitor workers in hazardous environments.

Interactive Fashion: Clothing that changes with light, heat, or movement, used in artistic and theatrical performances and in futuristic fashion design.

Education and Research: Tools that help study human movement, neural responses, or biology through direct measurements from the body.

Entertainment and Augmented Reality: Devices that create visual or auditory interaction with augmented reality and VR games.

Humanitarian Aid and Accessibility: Wearables support people with disabilities, such as tactile translation devices or systems that help the blind navigate.

These applications combine functionality and sensory experience, making wearables a bridge between technology and the body, and between science and design.

References & Inspiration

This section focuses on showcasing a range of designers and projects that formed the core inspiration for this work. By examining the work of specialists in wearables and interactive fashion, the aim was to understand the different approaches to integrating technology into textiles and to explore new ways of creating interaction between the body and the material. This section presents diverse examples illustrating how movement, light, sensors, or smart materials can be transformed into a design language that enriches the wearable experience.

1. Tommy Hilfiger

designed Zendaya's dress with this experimental vision, blending fashion with interactive technology. In this design, Hilfiger integrated LED strips into the dress, allowing it to transform from a muted gray to a vibrant blue in a dramatic moment, showcasing the dynamic side of wearables. This experiment demonstrates the designer's ability to transcend the boundaries of traditional fashion and move towards artistic wearables, where the garment is not merely a static suit but an interactive element brimming with energy and expression.

2. Pauline Van Dongen

One of the leading designers of wearables. She works on integrating technology into everyday clothing, especially solar fabrics and smart sportswear.

3. XS Labs – Joanna Berzowska

A researcher and designer who is an academic leader in smart fabrics and interactive materials. She focuses on integrating electronics into fabrics in an invisible way.

4. CuteCircuit

A brand specializing in smart fashion that utilizes LEDs, sensors, and connectivity between clothing and smartphones. They designed Katy Perry's light-up dress.

5. Studio XO

A British studio that works with celebrities like Lady Gaga. They specialize in wearable performance technology, combining robotics with theatrical costumes.

Experiments we enjoyed During the week

Microcontroller

We started working with the Arduino Uno in the previous weeks, learning the basics of operating electronic circuits and reading sensors. After mastering the fundamentals, we moved on to the next stage by starting with Seeed Studio.

The Seeed Studio ESP32-C3 is a small, lightweight development board based on the ESP32-C3 microcontroller. It features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) support with low power consumption. Its compact size makes it ideal for interactive fashion and wearable projects, as it can be easily integrated into clothing or accessories without affecting form or movement. The board allows for the integration of smart lighting and body sensors, enabling the design of fashion pieces that interact creatively with the body or surrounding environment.

1️-Size and Weight Very small (approximately the size of a coin)

Lightweight → Won't pull on fabric or distort the cut Suitable for internal sewing or concealing between layers

2️- Battery Operated Supports small Li-Po batteries

Includes a built-in battery charger Cleaner design, fewer wires, and greater safety within garments

3️-Low Power Consumption Long-lasting operation

Can be "sleep" and activates only when interacted with Excellent for interactive fashion and exhibitions

4️-Lighting Control Excellent for powering:

NeoPixels, LED strips, Fiber optics

Allows for the design of light embroidery or soft light elements

5️-Body Interaction Reads signals from:

Touch sensors, Pressure, Heartbeat, Conductive fabrics

Ideal for emotional fashion and bio-wearables

6️-Wireless Connectivity Bluetooth control Phone

Wi-Fi for interacting with space or display

The piece becomes "alive" and dynamic

7️-Ease of use Programmable with Arduino

No extensive engineering experience required

Suitable for designers, artists, and fashion students

8️-Flexible design integration Can be:

Sewn, Magnetically attached,Hidden in a tech pocket

Maintains the piece's aesthetic appeal

you can read more about SEED STUDIO & FABRI XIAO in Etextile week by clicking HERE.

The next step was seed studio & fabri xiao soldering. In this step, we must be very careful during the soldering process so that the points do not touch each other and cause a short circuit.

And this is soldering result:

The picture below is the pinout of the FabriXiao with the Seeed XIAO

After soldering I made a test of connectivety with breadboard circuit

It is simple blink circuit,but instead of arduino uno in the picture we used the fabrixiao.

I used the blinking code:

// the setup function runs once when you press reset or power the board
void setup() {
  // initialize digital pin LED_BUILTIN as an output.
  pinMode(D5, OUTPUT);
}

// the loop function runs over and over again forever
void loop() {
  digitalWrite(D5, HIGH);  // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
  delay(1000);                      // wait for a second
  digitalWrite(D5, LOW);   // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
  delay(1000);                      // wait for a second
}

Transistor circuit preparing

Definition of a transistor

A transistor is a small electronic component that acts as a switch or amplifier for electrical signals within circuits. It allows for the control of current flow using a small signal, making it fundamental to the operation of motors, sensors, and lighting in most electronic projects.

What is a Transistor Driver Circuit?

A Transistor Driver Circuit is a circuit that uses a transistor (BJT or MOSFET) as an intermediary element to amplify the current or voltage, enabling the microcontroller or sensor to operate components that require more power than it can directly supply.

In other words, it's a circuit that acts as a power bridge between a small signal (from an Arduino, for example) and a load that requires more power (such as a motor, a high-power LED, a relay, etc.).

How does it work in short?

The microcontroller sends a small signal → the transistor receives it and acts as a switch or amplifier → allowing a large current to flow from an independent power source to the load (motor, LEDs, etc.).

What are its uses?

1. Operating motors (DC motors, servo motors, stepper motors)

Because motors require a much higher current than the microcontroller can handle, a driver circuit is used to control them.

2. Powering High-Power Loads

For example:

High-intensity LEDs

LED Strips

Buzzers

Coils

Solenoids

3. Controlling Wearables and E-textiles

For example:

Powering LED lighting embedded in clothing

Mobilizing small parts with soft robotics

Converting a small signal from an Arduino into a large current within smart fabrics

4. Isolating and Protecting the Microcontroller

Because the transistor can handle the high current instead of the microcontroller.

5. Converting a small signal into a powerful electronic switch

It can be used as an electronically controlled on/off switch instead of a mechanical button.

For this circuit we use TIP 120 BJT trnsistor

Tools:!!

Transistor

Resistor

Copper tape

Cardboard

Soldering iron + solder

Tape for insulator

Multimeter (continuity mode)

Jumper wires

Sound flows from the loop:

The Coil experience transforms into a wearable headset.

A soft speaker is a flexible speaker made using soft materials such as fabrics, polymers, or thin layers of conductive copper, instead of the rigid components found in traditional speakers. This type of speaker relies on integrating a coil with a flexible diaphragm, allowing it to produce sound vibrations despite its simple construction and soft materials. Soft speakers are used in e-textiles, wearables, and soft robotics projects because they are lightweight, flexible, and can be integrated into fabrics or flexible surfaces without compromising user comfort. They offer an innovative way to transform sound into a soft, tangible experience that can be worn or seamlessly integrated into a design.

I tried two types of materials for the soft speakers.

First experiment: Conductive tape speakers:

For this experiment I used a conductive copper tape & a piece of paper.

To get the sound from the speaker we need to connect it to power supply 9volt, so when I connect it clicks sound appeared, we checked all the parts of the circuit and we didn't find any shorts or problems, so I complet check the sound:

to get the sound we use a big magnet.

Second experiment: Conductive thread stitched speakers:

For this experiment I used denim fabric and a conductive thread, and made a hand stitching coil.

I tried it two times with the same circuit, in the first try it didn't work, but in the second try it works very well.

The code that I used

int buzzerPin = 8; // Pin connected to the buzzer
int melody[] = {262, 294, 330, 349, 392, 440, 494, 523}; // Frequencies for C4 to C5

void setup() {
  pinMode(buzzerPin, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  for (int i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
    tone(buzzerPin, melody[i]); // Play the note
    delay(500); // Wait for 500 milliseconds
    noTone(buzzerPin); // Stop the tone
    delay(50); // Short pause between notes
  }
}

Discover how sensors make our projects interact with our surroundings

First type : LDR sensor: I tried LDR sensor in Etextile week so you can read more about my experiment HERE

Second TYPE: DISTANT SENSOR-HC-SR04

This is an ultrasonic distance sensor used to accurately and affordably measure the distance between itself and any object in front of it. It works by emitting an inaudible sound wave and then receiving its echo to calculate the distance based on the time it takes for the wave to return.

Main components:

Trigger Pin: Emits a short pulse to initiate the measurement.

Echo Pin: Receives the reflected wave and measures its time.

Transmitter (TX): Emits ultrasonic waves at a frequency of 40 kHz.

Receiver (RX): Receives the reflected waves.

Electronic board: Contains the signal generation, transmission, and reception circuitry.

Below one of using trials:

And the arduino code that I used

/int trigPin = 6;    // Trigger
int echoPin = 7;    // Echo
long duration, cm, inches;


void setup() {
  //Serial Port begin
  Serial.begin (9600);
  //Define inputs and outputs
  pinMode(trigPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(echoPin, INPUT);
  pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);

}

void loop() {
  // The sensor is triggered by a HIGH pulse of 10 or more microseconds.
  // Give a short LOW pulse beforehand to ensure a clean HIGH pulse:
  digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);
  delayMicroseconds(5);
  digitalWrite(trigPin, HIGH);
  delayMicroseconds(10);
  digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);
  digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);

  // Read the signal from the sensor: a HIGH pulse whose
  // duration is the time (in microseconds) from the sending
  // of the ping to the reception of its echo off of an object.

  pinMode(echoPin, INPUT);
  duration = pulseIn(echoPin, HIGH);

  // Convert the time into a distance
  cm = (duration/2) / 29.1;     // Divide by 29.1 or multiply by 0.0343

  Serial.print(cm);
  Serial.print("cm");
  Serial.println();


 if ( cm < 15 )
  {
    digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);
  }
  else
  {
    digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW); 

  delay(800);
}
}

Exploring Light Control with LEDs and Neopixels:

LEDs are small, efficient light points used to add simple illumination or indicators in electronic circuits, and they are characterized by low power consumption. Neopixels, on the other hand, are smart LEDs, each of which can be individually controlled in terms of color and brightness, allowing for the creation of complex and customized lighting effects in wearables and digital interaction projects.

Before start my experiment with neopixels, first I downloaded the Adafruit Neopixels from arduino library:

then I started to test the Neopixels using Arduino uno:

I used the following code for this try, you can change the stripe color numbers to get different colors.

#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

#define PIN 6
#define N_LEDS 10 // Change this to the number of LEDs in your strip

Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(N_LEDS, PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

void setup() {
  strip.begin();
}

void loop() {
  for(int i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
    strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0, 20, 255, 50)); // Red color
    strip.show();
    delay(500);
    strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0,0,0)); // Turn off
  }
}

The Magic of Color Change: An Experiment with Thermochromic Pigments:

Thermochromic pigments are dyes that change color when exposed to heat, making them ideal for interactive applications in fabrics and smart materials. They are used in wearables, textiles, and educational experiments to demonstrate an immediate visual response to temperature changes.

In our lab we have a pigment that turns white after reaching 40 degrees Celsius.

It's my first time to try thermochromic pigment, but I think I will use it in the future for real projects.

For this experiment ( It was a fast experiment) I made a fast turmeric dye bath and soak the fabric in it to get the golden brown color, then I tried to make a random lines on the fabric.

then I used the heat gun to see the result!!!

SERVO 101, an experiment with Servo motor

A servo motor is a precision motor that allows for precise control of the angle of movement within a defined range, responding directly to signals from a microcontroller such as an Arduino. It is widely used in interactive projects, robotics, and wearables to create precise and controlled movements.

For the servo motor it was very easy circuit, the picturw below show the circuit.

To imagin how it may work on the project I made a fast flower using a piece of felt and put it on the wing of the servo motor.

For the servo motor I used the code:

#include <Servo.h>
Servo servo;
int angle = 10;
void setup() {
servo.attach(9);
servo.write(angle);
}
void loop()
{
// scan from 0 to 180 degrees
for(angle = 10; angle < 180; angle++)
{
servo.write(angle);
delay(15);
}
// now scan back from 180 to 0 degrees
for(angle = 180; angle > 10; angle--)
{
servo.write(angle);
delay(15);
}
}

Glowlace Belt

For this design I imagined a glowing belt with a pattern like the lace. So I used the Qubba Tile Pattern which I designed and expereminted before in the computational couture week.

(you can find the pattern and the 3d files in the link above)

So I started with printing the pattern, I faced some difficulties in this step because I chose to print using TPU filament with so it's harder to print especially while using ULTIMAKER printers according to the filament insertion point which is from the back.

And of course I chose the organza fabric to give that glowing effect.

Then I started making the circuit with the NEOPIXELS, I used 12 LEDs and connect it to the Fabrixiao, with soldering ofcourse.

Then i made another circuit for the LDR resistor

and I used the code:

#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

#define LED_PIN D6
#define N_LEDS 12
#define LDR_PIN A0     // 

// RGB
Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(N_LEDS, LED_PIN, NEO_RGB + NEO_KHZ800);

// 
#define LIGHT_THRESHOLD 500  

void setup() {
  strip.begin();
  strip.show();
}

void loop() {

  int ldrValue = analogRead(LDR_PIN);

  // 
  if (ldrValue < LIGHT_THRESHOLD) {
    for (int i = 0; i < strip.numPixels(); i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(5, 60, 90)); // 
    }
    strip.show();
  }
  // 
  else {
    strip.clear();
    strip.show();
  }

  delay(100); // 
}

After finishing the circuit and try the codes, I started to Assemble all the pieces togethr, so I started to prepare the organza fabrics using the sewing machine, then the white fabric that i will attach the circuit to it.

After I fix the circuit to the fabric, I assemble the 3d printed pieces to the organza then apply above the circuit belt.

NOTE: I made sure the LDR resistor was installed in a location where it could easily reach the light to ensure its effectiveness.

FINAL RESULT

---

Fabrication files

For all information and files about Qubba Tiles pattern visit Qubba Tile