Photonic Fabrics for Fashion and Interior

Abstract

The evanescent nature of design trends creates demand for fashion and interior textiles that can adapt to the user’s evolving needs. Interactive photonic textiles that can emit customizable patterns of illumination have great potential for application in the fields of fashion and interior textiles. Conventional textiles are passive and inadaptable, whereas photonic textiles that incorporate polymeric optical fibers (POFs), light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and sensors and controls enable users to interactively personalize their garments and environment by changing the colors, patterns, and emission frequency of the emitted light. Continuous research into the development of minute components and methods of incorporating them into lightweight fabrics has enabled the development of portable and accessible products that are relevant to current lifestyles. Such textiles offer an innovative and effective platform for communication between users, viewers, and their surroundings. The juxtaposition of solid components with pliable textiles presents a challenge within the design process. The development of smart textiles for fashion and interior use requires the seamless integration of technology as the textiles come into close contact with the body. This chapter explores the design process and prototyping techniques for photonic textiles, considering both aesthetic design and functional technology. Based on the author’s and her research team’s design practice, this chapter discusses three case studies that illustrate the interdisciplinary approaches and design challenges. The case studies are derived from the development of two fashion design and one interior textile prototypes. The chapter aims to address a gap in literature, which has predominantly focused on the technological perspective.