Research

Researchers at Cornell have developed a new type of unobtrusive smart clothing that may not require you to manually log your workout, because an artificial intelligence pipeline detects movements, identifies the exercise and counts reps. It could also be useful for physical therapists monitoring the progress of patients at home.

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have found that a specific combination of consumer segments, product characteristics, and service types make for a sustainable clothing rental service and that certain garment types could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 21% ~ 75% depending on consumer behaviour and service implementation.
 

A collaborative research has developed a pioneering method of 3D printing elastomers that enable complex, colour-changing responsive materials, paving the way for novel applications like smart textiles and advanced robotics.

Renting clothes can reduce the fashion industry's enormous environmental impact, but so far, the business models have not worked very well, says a study arguing that the best chance of success is for a rental company to provide clothing within a niche market, such as specific sportswear, and to work closely with the suppliers and clothing manufacturers.

Researchers have developed an environmentally compatible detergent made of tiny wood fibres and corn protein that removes stains on clothes and dishes just as well as commercial products.

Amidst ongoing fears that the European Union could severely curb or ban SHC exports, a report from Mozambique warns that if this ecosystem is jeopardised, the repercussions on the millions already living in poverty will be quite damaging.

With only a fraction of all textiles being recycled today there is an urgent need to change that and a doctoral thesis at the Swedish School of Textiles contributed unique knowledge about mechanical recycling: which processes and materials give the best results.

A new study pokes holes in the prevalent circular fashion narratives urging academics, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to critically reassess these and explore alternative approaches that prioritise systemic change over profitability. Future sustainability efforts must be grounded in robust empirical research rather than unexamined advocacy.

Researchers for the first time have successfully and unobtrusively integrated into the core of a smart textile braid magnetic sensitivity which can be used for human-computer interactions, in a mechanically resilient and conformal way, making them suitable for everyday use.

Unlike wearables and what could be a gamechanger for everyday lives, researchers at the Fibers@MIT lab have fabricated an autonomous programmable fibre computer in the form of an elastic fibre, which could monitor health conditions and physical activity, alerting the wearer to potential health risks in real-time.