9. Wearables¶
Research¶
In textiles, wearable refers to any material or fabric designed to be worn on the body as clothing, accessories, or functional garments. These textiles are typically flexible, durable, and comfortable to suit the needs of the wearer. Wearables also extend to technologically enhanced garments that incorporate electronics or sensors to perform specific functions. These items go beyond traditional apparel by offering advanced functions such as sensing, tracking, communication, and environmental interaction, blending style with functionality.
Concepts¶
• Integration of Technology and Aesthetics: The core idea is to embed technology unobtrusively into fabrics and designs. This moves beyond clunky gadgets to create products that are comfortable, stylish, and practical for everyday use.
• Smart Textiles/E-textiles: The term often overlaps with "smart textiles" or "e-textiles," which are fabrics that have embedded electronic components like sensors, actuators, and conductive fibers. These materials can sense and react to external stimuli (e.g., pressure, temperature, movement).
• Functionality Beyond Fashion: Wearables in this context serve specific purposes beyond simply covering the body or aesthetics.
o Health Monitoring: Tracking vital signs like heart rate, breathing patterns, body temperature, and movement for fitness or medical purposes.
o Enhanced Performance: Providing data and feedback for athletes to optimize training and prevent injuries.
o Interactive Experiences: Allowing users to control external devices (like smartphones or music players) through gestures or touch on the fabric itself.
o Adaptive Comfort: Garments that can self-regulate temperature, change color, or alter their shape based on environmental conditions.
• Data Collection and Connectivity: Most wearables contain microprocessors and wireless connectivity (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) to collect and transmit data to a smartphone app or cloud platform for analysis and user feedback.
As fashion design evolves, staying informed about new materials, sensors, and connectivity options can keep you ahead. This tech revolution means learning about the integration of LEDs for aesthetic purposes or biometric sensors for health monitoring. It's about understanding how these innovations can lead to more personalized, functional clothing that still aligns with your style preferences. The key is to remain open-minded and curious about the possibilities wearable tech brings to fashion.
The key is: seamless integration. you should consider the placement of tech components to ensure they complement the garment's aesthetic.Technology should enhance the design, not distract from it, so think about how it can be woven into fabrics or hidden within seams for a sleek and functional finish., wearables in textiles and fashion represent a convergence of style and innovation, transforming clothing into intelligent, interactive systems that enhance the user's daily life.
Inspiration¶
Sound Embroidery is an installation of Claire Wiliams where speakers have been made using embroidery techniques. Visitors are invited to activate the speakers by placing a magnet in the centre of the copper shapes creating a magnetic field. A sound and vibratory composition is played between the eight embroidered shapes making a palpable experience of the sound phenomena. I looked for her biography, but could not find it.
CuteCircuit is the first wearable technology fashion company in the world, having been founded in 2004. CuteCircuit is a trailblazer in this area, fusing cutting-edge fashion design with cutting-edge technologies and intelligent textiles to produce stunning garments with amazing interactive features. The co-founders of CuteCircuit, Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz, have backgrounds in anthropology and interaction design, respectively, and couture fashion design (Valentino).
Asher Levine is a visionary fashion designer known for his innovative approach to fashion, combining high technology with avant-garde aesthetics. Renowned for his work with iconic figures like Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and Doja Cat, Asher has cemented his reputation in the industry by creating groundbreaking and designs that challenge conventional norms in fashion.
You can follow all on their websites: [CuteCircuit]{https://cutecircuit.com/} [AsherLevine]{https://www.asherlevine.com/} [ClaireWiliams]{https://vimeo.com/user40491861}
Exploration¶
I really like the lesson that Liza Stark gave us. It was very interesting and ilustrative. The tutorial of Emma Pareschi was as well amazing. Both have the ability to explain in a very simple way something as complex as technology. I made a research through all the references gave on the lessons I was amazed by the wonderful works made.
I made the Mosfet circuit for the lesson, but I couldn´t found an amplifier or speaker to connect it onto. So I decided to try another option and looking for other option I found out that there are different topologies for flat speakers design.
Having a sewing machine at home, I tried to sew an spiral and a small square on different pieces of textile with conductive wire. The spiral I made sew them only with conductive wire on one side and the square in both. After that I connected them to a battery to see if it made any sound, when ever I get them near a magnet, but I assumed my magnet was nor as good as it meant to be because I could not hear a sound.
Sadly, no sound was heard so I decided to try it with a Arduino UNO. I
Sound Circuit¶
Tools¶
. Board
. Mosfet
. Buzzer
. Caimans
. Arduino UNO
. Boton switch
. 9V Battery
I prepare my board with all the elements requiered. I tried to do it using my logic, without asking ChatGTP. For my surprised I did manage to do it. Then I did ask Chat GTP to help me with the development of the Arduino circuit to be able to try it on. The circuit worked fine, but the button did not work as i was meant to, bur I discovered that the switched was damaged, so I made it with the computer mouse. The sound is not very loud, but if I had an amplifier I bet I would be different.
Vibrator Circuit¶
Tools¶
. Board
. Mosfet
. Mini vibrator
. Caimans
. Arduino UNO
. Boton switch
. 9V Battery
Having my board prepared for the sound circuit, I mantained the same arrangement but only removing the buzzer and adding the mini vibrator. The vibrator functioned perfectly and I could control it by clicking the mouse. My biggest doubt is how to adapt it to a garment or a clothing element.
Light-Up Clothing¶
Components:¶
Lily-pad microcontroller
Battery holder
Neo pixel
Conductive thread
Needle
Cr2032 battery
Procedure¶
I looked for a garment that I could used to place the Lily_pad, the battery holder and the neopixel. I decided to use an old blazer for it. Before I prepared the needle and I sew all the components, I decided to tried it on. Ghat GTP helped me to programmed the code. I wanted to the neopixel to change colors in a sequence and with a velostat sensor.Once I had the code ready I opened the Arduino application on my computer and looked for the Lily_pad fuction and reviewed the port to see whether evething was all right. It seemed all right. I proceeed to connect all the components and the Lily_pad to the computer and when I ran the code, there was a message saying that it couldn´t find the connection. I asked the to ChatGTP to help me solved the problem, bur even though I tried all the suggestions I could not solved the problem, saldly I dropped the mission.
