Around three years ago as the Coronavirus pandemic relentlessly spread all over the world at an alarming speed, quite a few international fashion companies, brands and designers based in different countries offered their help manufacturing in their facilities or ateliers face masks and PPE. At the time, we all genuinely thought that something would have changed in the industry, from the fast fashion rhythms that characterise it to shows and presentations. Some things did change, actually, as, for an extended period of time, everything moved onto digital platforms, but, soon, the industry went back to its pre-pandemic habits.
But what if, rather than the umpteenth beauty line or capsule collection, some houses started using their money to fund and develop medical or scientific projects that could definitely improve people's lives (surely the most powerful groups have money to invest in other things rather than just in the next brand ambassador sitting in the front row)? Or what if some brands sponsored exhibitions (including small and compact ones) about smart textiles and wearables (10-12 years ago such events were trending...) to introduce products that could really improve people's lives?
Medicine, science and technology can offer immense inspirations and news on scientific magazines provide us with intriguing starting points for such products.
For example, the journal Science Advances recently published a study about a smart patch for chronic non-healing wounds. One of the major and rapidly growing clinical complications all over the world, chronic wound healing (think diabetic ulcers, burns and non-healing surgical wounds) is a highly complex biological process. The smart bandage of the study consists in a disposable patch with biosensors, electrodes, and drug-loaded hydrogels and a reusable wearable and stretchable, wireless, bioelectronic system. The latter monitors the wound taking into consideration parameters such as temperature and pH to check if the wound is infected and its levels of inflammation. The device allows for electrical stimulation to be applied, a technique previously found to encourage wounds to heal (that went undeveloped because it was hampered by bulky equipment). The data acquired are then sent to a user interface (computer or smartphone).
The smart patch was tested on diabetic mice, but further studies will have to be carried out, also considering the fact that chronic wounds show great variability in size and in the amount of fluid they produce.
While a smart bandage for chronic wounds may sound like a strictly medical or scientific discovery, product and fashion designers could work alongside medical experts and look into alternative fibers and materials that may help scientists developing more comfortable versions of such products, so there is always a design aspect even in the most technical devices.
Researchers who may have developed innovative ideas can enter them into the Index Award biennale. Launched by the Danish nonprofit organisation The Index Project, the award promotes the improvement of life worldwide, both in developed and developing countries through solutions that go from wearable devices to keep oneself physically and mentally healthy to the creation of safer spaces.
Among the entries this year there is a neural sleeve for people with multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy that allows a patient to walk more freely through electrical stimulation, and a wearable textile computer (this is something very important as embedded logic controllers made of textiles are actually an entire new field to explore, as they can lead to smart, fully textile-based robotic wearables) capable of pneumatic digital logic, onboard memory, and user interaction to assist people with disabilities.
Among the nominees for this year there is also a biofilm band-aid harnessing sweat and converting evaporation into energy to power wearable devices; a foundation formula that creates a film protecting the skin from acid attacks (nobody should ever experience such a thing, but a foundation resistant to such attacks may have other applications as well) and a recyclable translucent PLA brace for adolescents with scoliosis covered in visually enticing fabric-like patterns, that turns a medical device into a fashion statement giving confidence to those who have to wear such a device.
None of us expects to see branded bandages or wearables with prominent logos of famous fashion houses, but the medical and scientific field could offer fashion, and in particular young people entering the industry, the chance to apply their potential to different areas, developing solutions that could genuinely bring positive changes to the lives of people with a variety of ailments.
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