But companies such as SOFTswitch have developed electro-conductive fabrics that behave in similar ways to conventional textiles.Could electronic garments one day change colour or pattern? A hint of what could be achieved is offered by Luminex, a joint venture between Stabio Textile and Caen. Clunky earlier attempts Involved attaching electronic components to the fabrics after the normal weaving process. Harvested in China and spun in Europe, the fabric is a better absorber and ventilator than silk, and retains heat better than wool.Elsewhere, fashion houses – among them Ermenegildo Zegna, Paul Smith and DKNY – are combining fashion with electronics. Alongside PLA fibres, firms are investigating plants such as bamboo, seaweed, nettles and banana stalks as raw materials for textiles. Could wearing synthetic fabrics made from polluting and non-renewable fossil fuels become as uncool as slipping on a coat made from animal fur?Ĭonsumers should expect a much wider choice of ‘green’ fabrics. Unlike nanotechnology, which promises to ‘transform what clothes can do, Ingeo’s impact on fashion will derive instead from its emphasis on using natural sustainable resources. In performance terms, the attraction for the 30-plus clothes makers signed up to use Ingeo lies in its superiority over polyester (which it was designed to replace).As Philippa Watkins, a textiles specialist, notes, Ingeo is not a visual trend. This is currently maize (corn), though in theory any fermentable plant material, even potato peelings, can be used. Developed by Cargill Dow, it is the first man-made fibre derived from a 100% annually renewable resource. Hayfever sufferers might find relief by pulling on a T-shirt, and so on.The loudest buzz now surrounds polylactic acid (PLA) fibres – and, in particular, one brand-named Ingeo. Sportswear could be impregnated with anti-perspirant. Designers could incorporate signature scents into their collections. Though not the first of this type, SPT’s durability (evidently the microcapsule containing the chemicals can survive up to 30 washes) suggests an interesting future. ![]() Created in 2003 by Quest International, a flavour and fragrance company, and Woolmark, a wool textile organisation, SPT is a new technique of embedding chemicals into fabric. Meanwhile, Schoeller Textil in Germany, whose clients include famous designers Donna Karan and Polo Ralph Lauren, uses nanotechnology to create fabrics that can store or release heat.Sensory Perception Technologies (Spn embodies an entirely different application of nanotechnology. The notion of this technology posing a threat to the future of the clothing industry clearly does not worry popular fashion outlets such as Gap, Levi Strauss and Lands’ End, all of which employ Nano-Tex’s products. Nano-Tex, a subsidiary of American textiles maker Burlington, markets a portfolio of nanotechnologies that can make fabrics more durable, comfortable, wrinkle-free and stain-resistant. Not surprisingly, some industry analysts think high-tech materials may soon influence fashion more profoundly than any individual designer.A big impact is already being made at the molecular level. ![]() And at Nexia Biotechnologies, a Canadian firm, scientists have caused a stir by manufacturing spider silk from the milk of genetically engineered goats. Corpe Nove, an Italian fashion company, has made a prototype shirt that shortens its sleeves when room temperature rises and can be ironed with a hairdryer. IELTS Reading passage – Dressed to DazzleĪs high-tech materials invade high-street fashion, prepare for clothes that are cooler than silk and warmer than wool, keep insects at arm’s length, and emit many pinpricks of coloured light.The convergence of fashion and high technology is leading to new kinds of fibres, fabrics and coatings that are imbuing clothing with equally wondrous powers. ![]() Stay informed and prepared for success – Explore our comprehensive Reading Test Info page to get valuable insights, exam format details, and expert tips for mastering the IELTS Reading section. ![]() The Blog post contains the following IELTS Reading Questions:
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