Smart Clothing?

Smart Clothing?

Smart clothing is exactly what one lab is working on producing now for future use.  The lab located in Canada is producing technology on clothing by working with different fibers.  The fibers, which are woven loosely, will allow lights and screens to be seen on clothing.

Tron sound familar?  But unlike in the movie the lab is making the clothing to be more than just a light up accessory.  It can be used in cars such as being able to swipe a finger across a sit to turn up or down your heat or swiping up or down your arm to change the volume of a MP3 player.  The lab has stated that you want you to not be aware of what you are wearing, they do not want the clohting to burden the wearer.  This technology will include batteries, multi touch screen, and microchip transistors.  This could possibly be the base line for clothing that could check vital signs or even be worn as a computer.  The lab was able to pull a fiber out of fabric that is able to conduct electricity and was able to make a prototype touchpad much like the IPad that did work.  This clothing is here and does need to be perfected but a bigger obstacle is the manufacturing.  Many manufacturers are hesistant when working with new materials especially one that require engery.  Many obstacles can arise within these process whether duirng the producing or after.  How can they manufacturers be sure that the product with this technology will last in the consumers hands for an extended period of time.

This technology has proven to be difficult but it has great potential for the future.  For instance, how to keep the technology charged and keep the performance at a high quality.  In addition, since most tehnology is made of chips these chips are not meant for soft fibers so finding the right path to do this is proving to be a challenge.  Another challenge is being able to create the soft textile fibers for the transistors which can prove to be a downfall, but being able to accomplish this feat would mean a huge advancement for apparel.  Consumers would have clothing that would act like gadgets but would fit into everyday wardrobe easily.  Unfornately they lab has the textile they seem to just be missing the electronics.  Who knew that technology could become so futuristic in just a few short years.

Waterless Washing Machine

Well... not exactly.

While watching a video by Natalia Allen about sustainable fashion she mentioned somethign very interesting to me: a washing machine that does not use water.  While doing independent research I was not able to find an existing washing machine that uses no water, but there was one that uses very little water, and only 2% of the energy that a conventional washing machine uses.  

 

This machine is named Xeros after the Greek work for dry.  It uses a just cup of water, 90% less than a conventional machine. It also requires a drop of detergent and reusable nylon polymer beads to clean clothing.  The beads are added to the wash and after the water and detergent dissolve the stains, the beads soak up the water and dirt.  The dirt is absorbed into the core of the nylon polymer beads and is trapped so it does not get the clothes dirty again.

The machine automatically separates the beads from the laundry to save the user the trouble of separating them out on their own, and the beads can be used for about 100 washes.  Since this process does not have a spin cycle or rinse cycle it uses much less energy, and because the beads absorb most of the water from the clothing, using a dryer is not necessary.  Overall Xeros estimates a 40% reduction in carbon emission over a conventional washing machine.

This innovation is invaluable to saving the world's clean water supply since only 2% of the water on earth is drinkable.  Conserving water during the care of a garment is critical because the care of the garment accounts for a large percentage of the total water that goes into a garment's lifecycle.  Hopefully the Xeros machine will be available for purchase soon.

Sources:

http://www.xeroscleaning.com/

By William Diak

3D Body Scanning with a Sustainable Twist

One of the most attractive aspects of 3D body scanning is the fact that you can do much more with than see a 360 degree view of yourself. The biggest let down of the technology is that the machines are large and take up to much space. With the development of the Xbox Kinnect body scanning is suddenly not just a advance for small businesses but also for large ones. The many ways that the technology can be incorporated in the consumers shopping experience is mind boggling. The first video explains how the technology works, though the terminology is much more suited to a technological advanced being the concept can be understood in layman's terms.

The next two videos shows how the technology can be incorporated into the retail environment. The biggest disadvantage of online retailing is that the return rate is so large and with the incorporation of the body scanners in the home this can lower the return rate because one can virtually try on the clothes and therefore make a more informed decision.

This is the future of retailing consumers are moving online and out of stores and with the advancements in technology increasing retail is in for an exciting ride. The return rate is unsustainable and by incorporating this technology retailers can not only deliver a more relaxed customer experience but also make the online sectors more sustainable.

By Simone Mueller

Sustainable fashion talks

"Surfer, designer, member of Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business list for 2010, graduate of Parsons -- where she received the highly coveted Designer of the Year Award - Natalia Allen is the founder of Design Futurist, a New York-based product design consultancy. Design Futurist partners with clients such as Calvin Klein, Dupont and Donna Karan to create innovative and sustainable fashion, accessories and textiles. Design Futurist is using modern technology to create eco-friendly and socially responsible products that are free of "gimmicks and greenwashing." 

Natalia's work has been featured in WWD and New York Magazine, and she has shared her ideas on sustainable design and consumption with audiences at events around the world, including Wearable Futures, Textiles: the Next Horizon and Davos. The World Economic Forum honored her as as a Young Global Leader, a distinction given to a remarkable group of entrepreneurs, academics and politicians under the age of 40 who strive to find innovative solutions for current and future global challenges.

While she likes the idea of being a thought leader, Natalia knows that as a designer, it's essential to materialize concepts, goals and visions into tangible products and services."

By Moriah Akrong