How Do I Enter the Smart Fabric Industry?
For engineers, designers and textile specialists, it can be a little confusing to know exactly how to enter the smart fabric industry. While it’s always great to snag a full-time job in the space, the second best place to begin is to get involved with some of the standards agencies that have formed around the industry. Not sure which standards/ industry groups are the best fit for you? We’ve made a comprehensive list here:
1.) American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC)
AATCC RA 111, Electronically Integrated Textiles
Working groups under RA 111 are focused on test methods for washability and stretching e-textiles. The washability group is looking at ways to measure low-resistance items and understand their level of degradation after laundering by executing a multimeter-based resistance measurement before and after laundering. As of March 2019, this group has published EP013, a method of evaluating electrical resistance of electronically integrated textiles.
2.) ASTM International
ASTM D13.50 Smart Textiles
Learn more about ASTM D13.50 here
Working groups under this committee are focused on terminology, market and characterization of e-textiles. ASTM and AATCC have split work somewhat between language and test methods related to e-textile products. While AATCC is more focus on the test methods related to textiles (laundering, etc), ASTM is more focus on test methods related to specific applications, such as robustness of electrodes after laundering.
3.) IPC—Association Connecting Electronics Industries
IPC is doing some of the most diverse work in the e-textile / smart fabric standardization space. While two of their largest committees are listed below, they have a robust group of additional committees focused on use cases (such as sports and automotive) and on specific parts of the e-textile system (such as connectors).
IPC D-70 E-Textiles Committee
Working groups under this committee are developing a test requirements specification for woven and knitted e-textiles and a guideline for best practices for connections for e-textiles-based products. Working groups are also forming to develop qualification standards for e-textiles-based smart textiles products for sports, medical and personal protective equipment (PPE) applications. The D-74 E-Textiles Test Methods Development and Validation Subcommittee supports the efforts of the standards working groups by validating existing test methods and developing new IPC test methods to support requirements in those standards.
IPC D-70 also published a white paper on e-textile washability characterization. This white paper suggests processes for testing washed units for reliability and long-term resistance change.
IPC D-60 Printed Electronics Committee
Working groups under this committee develop and manage standards for printed electronics processes on myriad materials. These standards can be used or referenced by working groups under D-70 to develop requirements specific to printed electronics on textiles applications. Standards developed in this area would follow the four generic types of printed electronics-based e-textiles approved by the D-70 Committee.
4.) Industrial Organization for Standardization (ISO)
ISO TC 38 Textiles / WG 32 Smart Textiles
ISO is an international standardization group (compared ot ASTM and AATCC, which are both national). The scopes of these groups include standardization of the following:
Fibers, yarns, threads, cords, rope, cloth and other fabricated textile materials; and the methods of test, terminology and definitions relating thereto;
Textile industry raw materials, auxiliaries and chemical products required for processing and testing;
Specifications for textile products.
5.) IEC TC124 Wearable Electronics Devices and Technologies
IEC stands for the International Electrotechnical Commission. Their website provides information on TEC124, which covers wearable electronic devices and technologies. While LOOMIA tries to participate in most standards groups, we are not personally familiar with IEC TC124.
6.) IFAI Advanced Textiles Program (IFAI ATP)
Learn more about IDAI and the smart fabrics conference here.
IFAI ATP has a working group focused on many advanced textiles, including e-textiles. For the past few years, IFAI has also hosted the smart fabrics conference, where it’s possible to meet members of the ATP group. This conference focuses exclusively on advancements in the smart fabric / e-textile industry.
7.) Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Learn more about the FTC here.
The FTC oversees textile tagging regulations. While the FTC does not have an e-textiles group present, they are an important regulatory body to look to regarding tagging of e-textile products.