Introduction to Smart Clothing and Wearable Technology, Design Process

1. Smart Clothing and Wearable
Technology
Smart Clothing and Wearable
Technology
By Prof.S.G.Babu

2. Contents
• Introduction to Smart Clothes and Wearable
Technology
• Design Requirement Analysis of Smart Clothes
• Garment Design Process
• Question and Answers

3. Smart Clothes - Fabric Classification
Fabrics
Traditional
Woven Knitted
Non
Woven
Interactive
Smart Electronic

4. Smart Clothes – E-textiles & Smart Textiles
• E-textiles: Electronic Textiles / Electronically Integrated
Textiles.
– A combination of Fibers and Fabrics with Electronics
• Smart Textiles (Fabrics): React to external stimuli (Heat,
Chemical, Magnetic or Mechanical), No electronic
components.
– Eg. Thermochromic Fabric that Changes color
according to change in temperature.

5. Smart Clothes – Fabric Technology
• Nano Fibers
• Nano Coatings
• Helps in Electrical conductivity, Heat absorption and
cooling, Abrasion and impact protection.
• Wearable Technology - Electronic textiles are mostly
used.

6. Smart Clothes and Wearable Technology
• Types of E-textiles:
– Embedded: Electronic components and Fabric
Component - woven together with Fabric. Eg.,
Google’s Levis – Jacquard.
– Laminated: Printing or Manufacturing Circuitry on
non textile materials (TPU), Bonded or sewn to
Textile Surface. Eg., Ralph Lauren Heated Jacket.

7. Smart Clothes
• Ralph Lauren Heated Jacket.
• Printed with Carbon and
Silver Conductive Ink
• Bonded to Back of the
Jacket
• 11hrs Heating
• 3 Stage Heating
Image Courtesy: butlertechnologies.com

8. Smart Clothes
• Flexible Printed Heaters
• Heating elements Screen Printed on
Flexible Materials.
• A full range of conductive, resistive,
and positive temperature
coefficient inks.
• Flexible substrates:
polyester (PET), polyimide (PI),
Kapton ® RS Conductive Film, and
thermoplastic polyurethanes
(TPU).
https://butlertechnologies.com/flexible-
printed-heaters/

9. Wearable Technology
• Wearable technology:
Gadgets or devices that
involve sensors or
feedback.
• Wearable technology -
connected to you or
your smart phone,
provides feedback
through sensors
Image Courtesy: mdpi.com
• Smart textile and
Electronic Textiles are a
sub set of Wearable
technology

10. Image Courtesy: trendhunter.com

11. Smart Clothes – Design Requirement Identification
• Merging of Technical Textiles + Garment Technology+
Human physiology + Cultural Requirements.
• Form:
– Aesthetic Concerns
– Culture of the End user
• Function:
– Human Body Generic Demand
– Specific demand of End use or Activity

12. Smart Clothes – Design Requirement Identification
Performance
Sport Wear
Performance
Sport Wear
Form/Style
Form/Style
Aesthetics
Aesthetics
Culture of
Sports
Culture of
Sports
Commercial
Commercial
Function
Function
Demands of
Body
Demands of
Body
Demands of
Sports
Demands of
Sports

13. Smart Clothes – Design Requirement Identification
Form/Style
Form/Style
Aesthetics
Aesthetics
Color
Color
Mood, Safety, Environmental
Impact and Commercial
Consideration
Mood, Safety, Environmental
Impact and Commercial
Consideration
Materials
Materials
Fiber and yarn Types, Fabric
Selection & Performance
Factors
Fiber and yarn Types, Fabric
Selection & Performance
Factors
Cut/Fit
Cut/Fit
Cutting, Garment
Construction Detail and
Trim
Cutting, Garment
Construction Detail and
Trim
Culture of
Sports
Culture of
Sports
Corporate
Culture
Corporate
Culture
Team/Club, Legal
concerns
Team/Club, Legal
concerns
Lifestyle
Subcultures
Lifestyle
Subcultures
Fan Culture, Peer group
pressure, Fashion
Fan Culture, Peer group
pressure, Fashion
Historical
Context
Historical
Context
Past Heroes, Code of
Tradition, History
Past Heroes, Code of
Tradition, History

14. Smart Clothes – Design Requirement Identification
Functions
Functions
Demands
of Body
Demands
of Body
Protection,
Ergonomics of
Movement
Protection,
Ergonomics of
Movement
Contact/ Non Contact
Sports, Predominant
Postures, Patterns
Contact/ Non Contact
Sports, Predominant
Postures, Patterns
Psychological
Considerations
Psychological
Considerations
Appearance/ Style and
Reliability
Appearance/ Style and
Reliability
Thermo physiological
Regulations
Thermo physiological
Regulations
Heat Dissipation, Retention,
Ambient Condition
Heat Dissipation, Retention,
Ambient Condition
Demands
of Sports
Demands
of Sports
Duration of Activity
Duration of Activity Short, Medium, Long
Short, Medium, Long
Safety/Survival
Safety/Survival Rules of Governing
Bodies, Protection
Rules of Governing
Bodies, Protection
Likely Sporting
Condition
Likely Sporting
Condition
Location, Season,
Climate, Transportation
Location, Season,
Climate, Transportation

15. Image Courtesy: trendhunter.com

16. Smart Clothes – Garment Design Process
• Steps in Design Process
I. Design Brief
II. 2D Design Development
III. Textile Development
IV. Initial 3D Design Development
V. Final Prototype Development
VI. Point of Sale
Note:
Technology
Layer
not
an
add
on.
Plan
throughout
the
Design
process.

17. Design Process – I. Design Brief
• Setting and effective Design Brief – Choice of Product
• Function: Activity/Range of Activities, Individual Product
or Collections.
• Identification of End User Needs: Target group survey,
Consultation, Observation, Development of Scenarios.
• Commercial Realities: Competitive Market Research,
Price Expectation, Marketing Strategy, etc.,

18. Design Process – II. 2D Design Development
• Initial Concepts/Ideas:
Preliminary style concept
+ more specific sketch+
suggested materials.
• Technical/Working
Drawing: Suitable 2D
format. Add description
wherever necessary.
Image Courtesy: springerlink.com

19. Design Process – III. Textile Development
• Textile Sourcing: Textile and Related Trade events,
Agents and Industrial Liaison
• Fiber and Textile Selection: Textile Construction
and Finishing
Image Courtesy: springerlink.com

20. Design Process – IV. Initial 3D Development
• Measurement and Sizing: Traditional/New method of
Capturing body size and Shape.
• Pattern Development: Flat Pattern Making, Reverse
Engineering or CAD.
• Designing in the Round: Pattern Cutting for movement,
Pattern Blocks with articulations, Initial 3D toile.
• Modern Construction and Joining Technology: Seamless
Knitting, Bonding, Laser Welding, Ultrasonic Welding, etc..

21. Design Process – IV. Initial 3D Development
• Integration of Wearable Technology.
• Smart Textile Technology: Passive, Active, Very Active
and Intelligent attributes.
Function, Position, Integration/Encapsulation/
Compatibility, Interface etc.,
• Inter connections and communications
• Power
• Design of Technology Interface

22. Design Process – V. Final Prototype Development
• Final 3D Prototyping: Technical and aesthetic design
evaluation, Refitting, Testing.
Amendments in collaboration with ‘customer’ and
technical team
• Sealing Sample: Sealing sample replication, Size grade
control, Release for production
• Product Specification Sheets: Drawing, Materials, Trims,
Pattern pieces, Making up sequence/Methods
• Manufacture

23. Design Process – VI. Point of Sale
• Design of Promotion Materials.

24. Design Process – Critical Path – Fiber to Fabric

25. Design Process – Critical Path – Pattern Making

26. Design Process – Critical Path – Manufacturing

28. Check Your Understanding
• _________ textiles has electronic components in it
• Conductive yarns are __________ type of Fabric
Technology of Smart Clothes.
• TPU means
• A) Tri Phosphate Uranium b) Thermoplastic Urethane
c) Tetra Phosphate Uranium d) Thermopolymer mold