We saw a lot of interesting progress made in the smart textiles/e-textiles realm this year, from new manufacturing techniques like programmable weaving to self-repairing materials. Here are our top 5 favorite e-textile advancements from 2023!

Conductive Cotton

Researchers at Washington State University recently developed a conductive cotton fiber that possesses the flexibility of cotton and the conductive properties of a polymer. One section of the fiber is standard cotton material, and the other section is a conductive material. This project is in the early development stages, but the hope is to integrate the fibers into apparel and other applications that require a more seamless integration of the technology. The promising news is the two materials, cotton and polymer, showed strong interfacial bonding—meaning they will stay intact through stretching and bending. So, the technical aspect hasn’t provided a large challenge as of now.

2. Self-Repairing E-Textiles

Research scientists at North Carolina State University and Flinders University have developed a metallic coating that can repair itself, repel bacteria, and monitor heart rate through ECG signals. The conductive circuits in the coating are created with liquid metal particles that “heal” when cut. When the material is cut, new conductive paths are formed along the cut line. Additionally, when force is applied, the metal particles merge to create a conductive path. These are promising advancements as they could one day improve the longevity and performance of e-textiles that are damaged.

3. Spider Silk Smart Fabric

Professor Tan Swee Ching at the National University of Singapore’s College of Design and Engineering has produced a new fiber that is made using a method inspired by spider spinning. The fibers can be incorporated into several applications, including a strain-sending glove and a face mask that monitors sleep apnea symptoms. Why they modeled this novel method after spiders is simple: spider silk spinning is very efficient and forms strong fibers under sometimes difficult conditions. The process is called Phase Seperation-Enabled Ambient, and the result is a fully functional soft fiber that possesses mechanical and electrical functionalities.

4. Fiber Barcodes

Textile recycling is gaining more traction as more states pass legislation to meet climate change-related goals. It is not easy to enforce and can often be labor intensive—which is why change must happen. A group at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory, along with the University of Michigan, aims to offer a new way to label fabrics for proper recycling. Reflective fibers are woven into the fabric, so when they are scanned, recyclers can tell what type of fabric they are handling. Almost, like a barcode of sorts. This could not only help with identifying fabrics for another use but can help expedite the entire recycling process. The same researchers working on this project are also looking to use these structural-color fibers in fabrics to detect toxins in components like dyes.

5. Wearable Motion Capture Sock

One of our favorite advancements in the year 2023 was a wearable motion capture sock we created with the Athlete Engineering Research Group at Mississippi State University. We were tasked with expanding on the team’s current wearable motion capture system by providing sensors to obtain advanced movement and pressure data. This data can then be used to improve performance and prevent injury in sports, military, industrial, and rehabilitation settings. The sock prototype can locate ankle joint angles, center of pressure, as well as heel-strike/toe-off points without a need for cameras. This is a major step forward in athletic wearables, and we look forward to seeing where this project goes as we continue to refine the prototype to go to market.

Up for more reading? Check these blogs out:

Design Favorites – December 2023

Conductive Cotton: The Future of E-Textiles?

How To Make an Impact in Design

Programmable Weaving for E-Textiles

What Are Functional Fabrics?