Electronics Amateurs Are Designing The Future Of Fashion

As anyone with an interest in the fashion industry knows

, its a fairly fickle business. Trends change incredibly quickly and whats hot one minute is desperately unimpressive the next. So when a new trend starts and manages to stay in the minds of fashion designers its something to take notice of, and the trend thats currently exhibiting an enviable lifespan is e-textiles. Its rare to see the fashion industry so excited about new technology, but when you appreciate the potential that e-textiles and intelligent clothing possess it becomes easy to understand their enthusiasm.

E-textiles (the E stands for electronic) are fabrics that enable the integration of electronic technology and functionality into pieces of clothing, and in just a few short years E-textiles are going to be as commonplace on the high street as skinny jeans are now.

While many fashion designers are currently using e-textile technology to do little more than create pretty patterns, the practical applications of the technology are truly exciting. Imagine for example cycling clothing that indicated when you were turning, or a waterproof jacket with torches in the sleeves. Appreciate the fact that e-textiles could make it possible to charge your phone just by slipping it into your pocket and you can see just how popular the technology has the potential to become.

The boom in e-textiles has been made possible by a device called the lily pad arduino, a microcontroller board specifically designed for use in clothing. The lily pad is so small (under two inches in diameter) that it can easily be incorporated into any item of clothing, yet its size belies its tremendous abilities. Lily pads can be programmed for a huge number of functions, from flashing lights in sequence to sensing environments, and they require very little power to perform their functions. Best of all for anyone interested in e-textile technology, lily pad arduinos are available very cheaply.

Indeed, one of the most exciting aspects of e-textile technology is that its low costs have enabled it to be embraced by the amateur electronics community. Always quick to spot the potentiality of a great idea, innovative hobbyists and enthusiasts have taken advantage of the low cost of lily pad arduino boards and begun using them to create some truly amazing pieces of clothing. Ok, so a jacket that speaks and sings may not seem that groundbreaking, but consider what that same technological principle could do for someone with a disability and you can see why the innovations of these enthusiastic amateurs are the driving the e-textile industry forward.

And thats the true beauty of e-textile technology - its so easy to get involved yourself. All the equipment you need to create your own e-textile garments are readily available (http://proto-pic.co.uk/categories/LilyPad-%26-E%252dTextiles/ is a good place to start your search) and you require very little technological knowhow in order to create your own piece. In the old days youd have needed a budget of thousands to create something that can now be done for a few pounds, and thats what is so exciting about this technology - now anyone with a good idea can make it a reality.

by:Ewan Fisher

POST COMMENT

Excavation Works Around Construction Sites, Safety Requirements And Execution Boat Parts And Electronics For Better Life And Security Of Your Vessel Video Monitoring Services That Can Ensure Your Home And Workspace Safety Why Is Health And Safety Important In The Workplace? Computer Safety Rules Benefits Of Enlisting A Health And Safety Consultancy Service Protect Your Delicate Electronic Equipment Open Up Your Electronic Inventions By Using A Shield Winter Safety Tools Travel Insurance: Complete Safety And Security Safety Secure: Home Security Systems Safety Concerns: Digital Cctv Camera And Digital Video Recording Electronics Manufacturing