Our vision

The vision of SUSTAIN is to enable e-textiles to become a ubiquitous and imperceptible platform that enables users to engage with wearable technology simply by wearing their clothes. This refers not just to the invisible integration of the electronic systems with the textile, but also in minimising user interaction by repeatedly removing and recharging traditional batteries and non-washable electronics. Sustainability is a key guiding principle to ensure developments enable circularity and fabrication methods will be low-cost, sustainable and compatible with large-scale textile manufacturing. This ambitious Program Grant brings together inter-disciplinary experts in sensors and electronics, radio frequency (RF), textiles, batteries and supercapacitors, designers, and environmental scientists. E-textiles research is not exclusively technical; aesthetics, inclusivity, and (circular) socio-economic considerations must be tackled through collaborative fundamental research. Only by working together as electronics/materials engineers, textile designers, and circular economy experts, can we deliver a robust, user-focused, and inclusive e-textiles platform for health, fitness, and workwear applications.

Our approach

SUSTAIN will combine highly innovative research, user-centered design and rigorous standardised testing methods to explore novel, practical, scalable and sustainable solutions to materialise e-textiles. At every stage, sustainable materials and scalable processes will be evaluated, processes and designs for disassembly will be explored, and life cycle analyses (LCAs) will be used to inform decision-making and quantify environmental impact. Involving design and industry stakeholders from an early stage in the process will maximise system performance whilst ensuring e-textiles are acceptable and inclusive, catering for diverse users including gender, body shape, and user requirements.

Find out more about the Program Structure.