Past Innovations
One of the latest in shirt technology is temperature adjusting materials. In many cases, this works by controlling the body heat of the wearer. Researchers across the US developed clothing that changes how much radiation escapes from the shirt and how easily air can circulate around the body. Although heat controlling technology in clothing is not new, it is only in recent years that it has made its way into wearable clothing when it was once reserved for those in space. This sort of technology not only improves comfort levels for the wearer but can potentially have knock on positive effects on the environment. Air conditioning (AC) accounts for an outstanding 13% of energy used in the US. If our shirts become temperature regulated then it is possible we will be in lower need of constant AC — reducing our carbon footprint so we all benefit!
Non-iron shirts are more than convenient. Enjoy an extra 10 minutes in bed as you pull your work shirt out of the dryer and put it on straight away — wrinkle free and no need to haul out the ironing board. The technology behind the non-iron shirt includes a process that strengthens the fabric, preventing the molecules from moving as much and increasing its resistance to creasing.
It’s important to be able to move freely in our suits. Especially when you’re sitting in the same place for a prolonged period of time, such as at the desk, on your way to work or at a fancy dinner. This is where the latest mechanical stretch technology comes in to play. This sort of technology works with the materials of the suit to improve its flexibility. Some suit jackets and shirts achieve this stretch through incorporating a small percentage of elastane in the fabric and this is enough to enhance the comfort of the garment.
Future Innovations
Wearable payment gadgets are something that researchers and
corporations are spending a lot of time exploring. Of course, we already have
the ability to pay contactless with a smart watch or phone but that’s just not
enough! MasterCard paired with fashion designer Adam Selman to explore the idea
of inserting a microchip into clothing, perhaps in the sleeve of a jacket or
into a bag — allowing you to pay for items with even less effort. This concept
could have some effect on our tailoring trends as cuff links and pockets could
become payment devices!
Forget buying multiple of the same suit in different
colours, colour-changing fabrics are here to shake up the fashion industry. The
research behind it is ever advancing and there are a few ongoing projects
developing the idea. One of the projects, explored by scientists at the
University of Michigan, is looking at incorporating tiny crystals that react
differently depending on the wavelength of light. This affects the crystal’s
formation and how they look in terms of colour to others. Other research,
carried out in Montreal, is investigating how electricity from human movement
can power electric fabric and change its colour. It appears that the research
is a long way off from our high streets, but it is paving the way for
colour-changing materials in the future.
The price of a high-quality, tailored suit can be quite high
and many take pride in keeping it in good condition. It is then unsettling when
a sleeve is caught on a door handle or on something sharp and the material is
damaged. The latest technology in textiles is addressing this issue through the
development of self-healing fabric. It works by coating regular fabric in a
special solution that, when ripped, is able to melt back together at low
temperatures. Other research has founded that E. coli bacteria has
self-replicating properties and this is being explored in order to discover if
it can be used to knit broken fabric back together.
From past to future innovations, it’s clear to see that our
wardrobes aren’t what they used to be. Many developments are being made in
order to make our lives easier and further enhance our suits to meet our highly
digital and busy lifestyles.