The best performing companies of the future will be those able to combine intelligent materials with sustainable ones through nanotechnologies and new processes with low environmental impact.
Sectors such as transport, technical fabrics, fashion and furniture are among the most demanding and constantly looking for new materials for the rapid evolution of the product in terms of quality, style, respect for the environment and technical performance.
Product innovation is in line with future trends that include the continuous integration of features to ensure comfort and perceived quality and with the growing need to support the process of digitization of businesses.
In this context, the TEX-STYLE project sets itself the ambitious goal of producing intelligent and multifunctional fabrics and coverings made of sustainable materials which combine aesthetic effects, innovative and integrated electronics in order to offer designers new possibilities of creative design and style Made in Italy.
The project aims to develop new generation fabrics integrated in innovative products creative design and Made in Italy, usable for the creation of fabrics for different uses, including:
- Smart fabrics for car interiors (seats, door panels, armrest);
- Smart technical fabrics for new clothing items and technical accessories for the world of health, sport and work;
- Smart fabrics for fashion and accessories in natural materials with optical fibres for lighting;
- Coatings for sustainable furniture with integration of sensors for human product interaction, lighting, wireless charging and communication to improve comfort and perceived quality.
These new coating materials made from natural, bio- and recycled materials combine sustainability and competitiveness for the production of high added value products with improved aesthetic and functional effects (low gloss, soft touch, natural effect) and integrated electronics (sensors, actuators, lighting and connectivity).
In a multidisciplinary perspective, the project involves actors from the different sectors of Made in Italy covering all stages of the value chain: design, materials, production of smart fabrics, end users and supported by the participation of research institutions in the fashion and furniture sector.
The support of COSMOB, as project partner, focused in particular on the definition of the performance specifications of innovative fabrics to be used for furniture products.
Furthermore, thanks to the involvement of Fablab, both the applicability of development technologies and the most suitable solutions that can be used in furnishing products and interactive environments have been evaluated.
For more information:
Giovanni Tosi
R&D Department Manager – Research Center
giovanni.tosi@cosmob.it
