How Smart is Smart Clothing?

Odor-free. Sweat-free. Bacteria-free. Motion-detecting. Heartbeat-monitoring. Semi-conducting. Bacteria-detecting. Color-changing. Medicine-releasing.

Today's "smart clothes" go way beyond sweat-wicking polyester or breathable cotton underclothes.  These specialty fibers are infused with all sorts of chemicals and technology, allowing them to react to changes in the body, monitor health and even power i-Pods. But are these performance fibers a good thing?  Consider these products:

• A men's suit that beads up sweat and prevents odor (chemicals are infused into the fabric during production)
• Anti-bacterial shoes that prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria (using triclosan (aka Microban) which is toxic to both humans and aquatic life)
• Motion-detecting pants that detect activity and speed (wires and sensors are embedded into the fabric sending out wireless signals to your computer)
• Bio-sensing underwear that monitors heartbeat and blood pressure (carbon electrode arrays are screen-printed onto the waistband)
• Semiconducting shirts that can power your i-Pod or cell phone (microscopic nanoparticles used to conduct electicity through cotton)

What worries me is that these products and technologies have not been thoroughly tested for safety on humans. Nor do we know the impact on the environment. Will the great new technology of today be the BPA of tomorrow? 

How do you feel about smart clothes?  Creative use of technology or potentially dangerous human science experiment?  Low-impact or environmentally risky?

For more info on smart clothing, see the resources I used for this post:

You Sweat and the Shirt Changes, Wall Street Journal, August 13, 2010

10 Smart Clothes You'll Be Wearing Soon, ReadWriteWeb, April 14, 2010

Fibers You Can't See, Delta Farm Press, April 13, 2010

{This is my post for the Green Moms Carnival on the topic of the eco-impact of clothing.  Hosted by Diane at Big Green Purse starting on Monday, September 27th, 2010.}

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Condoblues]

My husband has a few tech shirts he got in 10K race packs that are supposed to wick sweat away from your body as you run but I just look at them and think ew polyester!

[Diane MacEachern]

"Smart" clothes are so insidious, aren't they? For parents, they seem fantastic - who wouldn't want stain-proof or stain-resistant pants for a kid who constantly spills stuff? We need sustainability standards that look at the entire life cycle of products like these so we can weigh the trade-offs and make more informed choices about the fabrics we're putting on our bodies. Thanks for a great overview of the issues we need to consider if WE want to be smart.

[Retrohousewife5]

I want my clothes to be simple and made from natural fibers. Guess I'm old fashion haha.

['Becca]

I agree that products like this need a lot more testing and more thought about the downstream effects before they are put on the market.

Also, I think that much of the "need" for these products could be eliminated by healthier lifestyles. As my partner and I and some of our friends and relatives have changed our diets and reduced our use of chemicals (for hygiene, laundry, etc.) over the past decade or so, I've noticed that we tend to smell better and are less prone to sunburn. We don't need antibacterial shoes because our foot sweat doesn't smell like it used to! It's pretty amazing.

The "need" to power one's personal electronics could be eliminated by just not having the electronics. Instead of thinking about how to power them without coal-burning power plants, just don't make the things (out of rare metals and petroleum) in the first place! I don't have a cell phone or iPod, and I get by just fine.

[Micaela]

Becca - interesting point you make about how changing your diet decreased your need for antibacterial products. I've never heard that before but it makes sense!

[wholesale avirex]

Here in our country, our clothings are made of high quality fiber and some of it has an anti bacterial and sweat free.

-mikee