Page 86 - TEXtalks September/October 2021

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Advancements in

Apparel Technology

• Use of the Artificial intelligence and IoT is on the rise
• Virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) is changing the apparel sector
• Hexoskin smart garments could record vitals for 100+ days

Apparel Technology is scientific art involving fashion grounded coffee. A thermal-regulated, motion-adap-
techniques and designing for specific purposes. The tive all-day shirt brings ultimate comfort and efficien-
garment industry is a significant contributor to the cy with advanced tech and design.
economies of many countries. The garment sector
has been a crucial influencer for Pakistan. Countries The importance of technology adoption in garment
such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Pakistan have manufacturing has been highlighted as a critical
continued to focus on producing low-cost garments element for garment producers to increase their
primarily. This has proven to be a successful garment efficiency and value addition. No doubt, the automa-
exporting strategy indicated in terms of the value of tion in the garment section could improve productivity
exports. The profit margins are higher in exporting and quality. However, according to International
ready-made garments instead of raw materials. Labor Organization's (ILO) latest report, the Asian
According to the report of Statista, the global garment industry has been slow in adopting new The use of such technologies saves time, effort, Smart clothing is driving the apparel sector. For
garment sector value was worth 1.5 trillion U.S. technology and innovation, partly due to low wages fabrics and provides proper fit with body measure- example, the Hexoskin Smart Garments include
dollars in 2020 and is expected to reach about 2.25 causing fewer incentives to do so, but also due to ments. Otero Menswear is a men's fashion lifestyle textile sensors embedded into comfortable garments
trillion dollars by 2025. The net worth of the market technical impediments financing gaps. apparel brand that has conducted research and for precise and continuous cardiac, respiratory, and
highlights the importance of the apparel sector. The found that 93% of men have two different body types, activity monitoring.
Apparel Industry consists of companies that design Talking about some recent innovative works, each requiring a unique fit. Incorporating this with the
and sell clothing, footwear, and accessories. Product researchers have successfully created a shirt with ability to create a personalized avatar, Perfitly enables Hexoskin users can visualize, report, and analyze
categories include everything from basics, such as conductive fibers as wearable sensors, one of the a user to "try on" a shirt and see a 360-degree their data with the leading Hexoskin Connected
underwear, to luxury items, for example, cashmere latest developments. The developed shirt was rendering of their perfect fit before purchase, remov- Health Platform. The Hexoskin Smart Garments have
sweaters and alligator-skin handbags. designed by the Brown School of Engineering lab of ing the guesswork and risk of purchasing online. been used in over 100 scientific publications, more
Matteo Pasquali at Rice University. They use the than all the smart clothing competition combined.
With the advancements in technology, the textile conductive nanotube threads stitched into regular Internet of things (IoT) is one of the most exciting,
sector is getting maximum benefits. Similarly, the apparel to add heart rate monitoring and continuous emerging technological trends in the fashion market. 3D printing is also advancing the apparel sector.
apparel sector has also equipped itself with electrocardiogram (EKG) readings. According to the The IoT describes a network of objects, the 'things,' Instead of 3D printing full items of clothing, 3D
cutting-edge tools to minimize wastage, source researchers, the threads are as conductive as metal embedded with technology to allow data exchange printers in fashion are used to supplement parts of a
sustainable materials, and promote awareness wires but washable, comfortable, and far less likely to and connection over the internet. The Internet of whole design, like embellishments, accessories, and
among consumers to buy green. The advancements break when a body is in motion. A shirt enhanced Things (IoT) enables data sharing, inventory manage- buttons. The digitalization of the textile industry and
in the apparel sector have been driven by the big with them has proved better at gathering data than a ment, security, and increased efficiency and produc- further development of 3D/4D technology are leading
brands themselves like H&M, Adidas, Nike, Louis standard chest-strap monitor taking live measure- tivity. Many businesses consider IoT in improving to a significant change in the industry. Shortly,
Vuitton, Mango, etc. These brands are constantly ments during experiments. When matched with their customer experience by allowing customers to tailor-made products will become realistic for
developing new concepts to increase their brand's commercial medical electrode monitors, the carbon take the internet and data sharing with them
image and sales by offering new innovative products nanotube shirt gave slightly better EKGs. day-to-day literally. One of the exciting examples of consumers, flexible production facilities will replace
in the market. Significant advancements have been the internet of things being incorporated in apparel is production at the point of sale, and innovative
made to promote sustainability. For example, TRAN- One of the highly appreciated advancements in the LOOMIA. The San Francisco-based textile company applications for functional and smart textiles will be
ZEND brand has introduced Ultra Shirt. Ultra Shirt, apparel section is the virtual reality/augmented reality creates soft, flexible circuits embedded into textiles developed. The environment also benefits from the
available from 17 Aug 2021, is a T-shirt made of (VR/AR) and AI-powered virtual fitting room solutions. for heating, lighting, sensing, or data-tracking elimination of transport routes and textile waste
applications. generated during production.
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