 |
| Liquid-resistant fabric, modeled after lotus-leaf water repellant effect |
Nanotechnology
has crossed over into the world of fashion, especially with development of
modern style. Going beyond the creation of self-cleaning fabrics that mimic
effects such as the ‘lotus leaf effect’ we learned in course material for this week,
nanotechnology has proven to be a fashionable option for designers that incorporates and moves
beyond practicality. “Fashion is thought of as a frivolous thing, but unless
the world stops wearing clothes, this will remain one of the largest industries
in the world, as it has been throughout, really, all of history,” says Charlotte Jirousek, a professor of fiber science and apparel design at Cornell University.1
Designers
are able to manipulate the color palette of their fabric using nanotechnology
by adding monolayers of nanoparticles onto cotton. This interacts with the way
that light bounces off the material, thus allowing for the direct control of
what color the fabric is reflecting. For instance, designers can add Ag
nano-particles to their clothing that will give off a shiny, gold-like tint without
having the dye the cloth.2
 |
| Clothing modified with Ag nano- particles to give off golden shine |
Olivia Ong,
a former design student at Cornell, created a fashion line that she
called “Glitterati”, which was intended to serve the dual purpose of
functionality and style. Not only were the clothes aesthetically pleasing,
Ong had also worked with fiber scientists to modify the material. The garments
were engineered to protect the wearer from getting the flu without ever needing
to be washed, and another piece was designed to eliminate harmful gases and
protect skin from the effects of smog and air pollution.3 Clothing
like this is groundbreaking, and I would definitely wear it if it were
available for general purchase!
 |
| Olivia Ong poses pieces from her nano-technological clothing line, 'Glitterati' |
Nanotechnology
will, in the future, allow for clothes that trap odors and release them in the
wash, make your skin feel cool, and even moisturizing your feet.4 This
advance in fashion and technology is, in my opinion, a positive. But as with
any innovation, some have their doubts—critics say that nanotechnology may
eliminate traditional manufacturing jobs, cause the price of goods to increase,
and have unforeseen effects in health and the creation of new weaponry.5
I think that the future of nanotechnology is upon us, however, and it would be
better to embrace the innovation rather than attempt to hinder the inevitable.
Works Cited:
[1] Nutt, D.W. "Cornell Weaves
Nanotech into Fashions." Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Ithaca Journal,
9 Oct. 2013. Web. 20 May 2015.
[2] Hinestroza, Juan P. "Can
Nanotechnology Be Fashionable?" Materials Today. Elsevier Ltd. Web. 23 May
2015.
[3] Ju, Anne. "Student Designer
and Fiber Scientists Create a Dress That Prevents Colds and a Jacket That
Destroys Noxious Gases." Cornell Chronicle. Cornell University, 1 May
2007. Web. 23 May 2015.
[4] “Nanotech in Fashion: The Trend in
New Fabrics." NPR. NPR, 7 Sept. 2004. Web. 22 May 2015.
[5] "Advantages and Disadvantages of
Nanotechnology." Introduction to Nanotechnology RSS. 5 Apr. 2010. Web. 21
May 2015.
Hi Victoria,
ReplyDeleteAll the applications of nanotechnology in clothing and fashion that you mentioned were very interesting. I would love to see these products become available to the general consumer. There will always be critics that oppose any kind of disruptive technology. Traditional manufacturing jobs may be eliminated, but nanotechnology will generate a large amount of other jobs. The price of goods will increase due to the increase in value and function of the product.There may be unforeseen health effects, which is why products using nanotechnology must be thoroughly tested just like any product should. Nanotechnology is also being used in medicine. Unfortunately, any technology that can be applied to war eventually will be. However that does not mean that we should not pursue nanotechnology. Nanotechnology will empower humanity and provide us with a better understanding of the universe.
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ReplyDeleteHi Victoria! Great post! I love how you went in depth with how specifically the fashion industry and nanotechnology relate. It was interesting that you pointed out how nanotechnology not only changes the color of clothes, but can also provide health benefits. Olivia Ong and her new line of clothes was cool to read about. While you illustrated a lot of examples on how the fashion industry and nanotechnology relate, nanotechnology also affects many other fields and is used for a lot of other things. Overall, it was a great post. Thanks!
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