Page 80 - TEXtalks. November- December 2023

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With AI, the dream

of a waste-reducing,

shape-shifting

wardrobe is inching

closer to reality

Futuristic developments in textile technology are properties, allowing them to change their
ushering in a new era of fashion with the fantastic characteristics, such as color, in response to certain
potential of AI in the realm of apparel and style. stimuli. They incorporate technologies like artificial
intelligence to respond to user commands or
High-performance material crafting “intelligent” fabrics are not ordinary; they Researchers in Hong Kong have engineered fabrics
Led by a team of researchers in Hong Kong who are
environmental conditions.
have the remarkable ability to alter their color
that can instantly alter their color. This innovation is
instantly, an innovation that could play a pivotal role in
produces wetsuits that addressing the pressing issue of fashion waste. made possible by integrating artificial intelligence,
which allows for color changes with simple gestures
or commands, offering unprecedented customization
Textile industry designers have been empowered with
versatile materials that respond to consumers'
in textiles.
change color desires with a mere gesture or command. Through The ability of a single garment to change color to
leveraging AI, the researchers have engineered
match different occasions, moods, or preferences
fabrics that switch colors, offering a level of
customization previously unimagined.
could reduce the need for multiple clothing pieces,
which means less production and waste of garments,
This breakthrough could effectively minimize the need which could have a significant positive impact on
The Apparel and Textile edition winners of the ISPO Textrends Awards for Autumn/Winter 2025/2026 were
announced during the ISPO sports fair in Munich. The overall best product was judged to be Aurora by for multiple garments by allowing a single piece of reducing the fashion industry’s environmental
Japan’s Yamamoto Corporation – a high-performance material with which it is possible to produce clothing to match any occasion, mood, or preference. footprint.
wetsuits that change color above and below water as a result of the company’s proprietary SCS coating It’s a transformative concept that doesn’t just echo
technology. the rapid pace of trend cycles and promotes a This textile technology is crucial for promoting
sustainable approach to fashion consumption. It hints sustainability because it offers a solution to
at a future where fashion is both adaptive and overconsumption and fast fashion by minimizing the
SCS is coated over closed-cell polychloroprene to provide multiple functions, including abrasion,
chlorine, salt water, UV resistance, quick-drying properties, and thermal insulation. Aurora is responsible, reducing the carbon footprint by production of excess clothing. It allows for a single
hydrophobic in air and hydrophilic in water. The micelle-structured molecules on its surface repel water reducing the volume of clothes produced and garment to have multiple appearances, thus
when in contact with air and reduce the surface resistance when in contact with water. subsequently discarded. potentially reducing the overall consumption of
textiles and contributing to a more sustainable
With research and its practical applications fashion industry.
The material is lined with Greenwave, a plant-based polyamide fabric, which, via SCS coating, makes
putting the wetsuits on and taking them off extremely easy. Greenwave is also quick drying, with low advancing, the dream of a waste-reducing,
thermal conductivity and improved heat retention. The weight of the wetsuits also does not increase in shape-shifting wardrobe is inching closer to reality. Although it doesn’t specify a timeline, it implies that
water, making them highly lightweight for enhanced performance. the technology is approaching a stage where it could
Intelligent fabrics are textiles with advanced soon be integrated into everyday fashion.
November/December 2023 November/December 2023