Smart Textiles

There is a lot of information floating around regarding smart textiles. However, with so many other similar terms floating around—navigating this industry and how the technology works can be well, difficult. We are going to define exactly what a smart textile is, tell you a bit about the history of this technology, the meaning of active versus passive smart textiles, and the various application areas. Read on to (hopefully) clear up any confusion you may have!

Defining smart textiles

Smart textiles, also known as electronic textiles (e-textiles) or smart fabrics, are textiles that contain electronic components and enhance the features of wearables, automobiles, and other products. They are either made into a textile-based product, or created with the intention of being integrated into a textile.

There are some other terms to be made aware of. And while they can be used interchangeably in some cases, we avoid doing so to prevent any further misinformation or confusion. Here are some other words you may see floating around in place of smart textiles:

• Technical textile

• Intelligent textile

• Functional material

• Functional textile

• Functional fabric

• Nano-fabric

• Electronic fabric

• Smart fibre

• Soft circuit

Smart textiles, such as our Lomia Electronic Layer (LEL), can provide a wide variety of functionality to soft goods including heating, lighting, and sensing technology. It is important to note that some smart textile technologies, like the LEL, can be integrated into other types of surfaces such as wood and polycarbonate.