TEXTILES OF THE FUTURE:

DREAM:

When I was researching and thinking about different innovations for textiles I realized I always looked for fabrics that had prints of dried flowers or stitched on dried leaves and flowers. The idea of how dead dried out leaves and flowers can be reused as an art on clothes, décor and etc. fascinates me.

While researching I came across such innovations that I have always been fascinated by. One is where they collect leaves and other flora from the forest floor to print on fabrics and the other is where a German girl from Central St. Martin’s innovated fabrics made out of wood. 1. http://www.turkeyredjournal.com/archives/V16_I1/perse.html 2. http://freshome.com/2012/05/16/wooden-textiles-beautiful-innovation-by-designer-elisa-strozyk/

The benefits of these ideas would be that one it’s eco-friendly, the production of these textile innovations cause no harm to the environment surrounding us other than the use of wood but the wood used could be taken from logs that have already died. And secondly these innovations use no chemicals that could affect the wearer or the user.

THREE NEW INNOVATIVE TEXTILE IDEAS:

1. MICRO-ENCAPSULATED: This technique is being used to make climate-control materials, incorporate fragrances into clothing and home textiles. It’s also used to add cosmetic, therapeutic and medical properties to fabrics.

Micro-encapsulation is the process of enclosing a substance in the form of small particles or droplets within a permeable or dissoluble miniature "capsule" so that the substance can be easily released.

In the textile sector, the microcapsules are generally applied as the final fabric finishing process by padding, coating, spraying or immersion - processes that do not alter the fabric's handle or colour.

The new “AromaPrint Treatment” offers endless opportunities to develop fabrics that stimulate the sense of smell in specific circumstances e.g. to create the mood for intimacy and romance in the bedroom or the scent of a freshly cut lawn in a summer room.

TRF (Tobacco-Resistant Fabric) features a micro-encapsulation process that is claimed to absorb tobacco smoke for up to two years. We also got “MagicPrint” which is a process for shower curtains on which printed logos only become visible when wet.

Micro-encapsulation techniques have also taken a step further with the incorporation into fabrics of cosmetic ingredients such as moisturisers, skin-tightening creams and toners, and essential oils. The next development will include textiles integrating medication, vitamins, insect repellents, bactericides and acaricides. Like fragrances, these active ingredients will be released gradually onto the skin.

A related application of micro-encapsulation is the production of climate control materials that are being used in the manufacture of gloves, hats, apparel, footwear and bedding.

http://www.just-style.com/analysis/the-sweet-smell-of-success_id92670.aspx

2. SELF-CLEANING CLOTHES: This technique is achieved by bacteria being impregnated into every single fibre of a fabric. This is achieved by