University project will develop “advanced garments”
27/09/2012
A new research network entitled Second Skin has been established to bring together experts from design, textiles, computing and health sciences to develop new technologically-enhanced textiles designed to help individuals with a number of health challenges.
The new network has been funded with the aid of a grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and will fund events in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Belfast over the next two years.
Two leading figures from Robert Gordon University’s Institute for Innovation, Design & Sustainability (IDEAS), Julian Malins, professor of design, and Josie Steed, head of fashion and textiles, are working on the project with academics from Heriot-Watt (Edinburgh) and Ulster Universities. The project aims to develop “advanced garments” that address both the physical and emotional needs of individuals with chronic health conditions affecting their mobility, confidence and self-esteem.
Professor Julian Malins said on making the announcement: “The combination of modern materials and advances in microelectronics offers opportunities for the design of a new generation of smart clothing.”
Examples he gave included clothing capable of monitoring an individual’s vital signs while helping to administer medicines and give early warning of potential problems, for example reacting to temperature changes or variations in blood sugar levels.
“We believe that by bringing together a range of research experts from different fields, manufacturers and potential users, we can develop new concepts which can make a very significant difference to a person’s wellbeing and quality of life,” he said.
For her part, Josie Steed, said: “These are exciting times for textile research. Recent developments in material science and technology are making new opportunities in fashion design possible. Embedding minute electronics and sensors within textiles, once only a fantasy, is now a technological reality and enables designers to rethink how future clothing can make you look good and also make you feel good about yourself.”
The project follows the successful completion of a short scoping study, ‘Future Textile Visions’, funded by the Scottish Government and co-ordinated by the Scottish Academy of Fashion (SAF), which successfully explored the potential for innovation in textile manufacturing in Scotland based on health applications.
The Second Skin network will host three key events involving academics, industry experts and focus groups, designed to share knowledge and generate new concepts over the coming year.
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