MIT is Shattering Fashion with Ventilated Clothing that Actually Breathes

If you’ve ever bought “clothing that breathes”, it usually doesn’t take long to figure that it is a huge lie.

 Well, the folks over an MIT have had enough of all the lying.

A Sweat-less future

They’ve created a material of clothing whose pores actually open and close based on the level of body heat and sweat it detects...and the promo-video looks like something straight out of National Geographic.  

What’s so impressive about this material, is that the ventilating flaps lining the back of the shirt are live microbial cells that shrink and expand in response to changes in humidity.  

So, when you are in mile four of your five-mile run, you better believe those flaps will be wide open. And when you are cooling off at the juice bar across the street, they’ll close up.  

In a sense, they kind of remind me of windows in a car. But, MIT says they were influenced by bacteria in nature, which respond to humidity and temperature in similar ways.

This material and garment has huge implications for athletes achieving the highest level of performance, which is why they aren’t stopping at clothing.

They also believe that the material can be useful in shoes – helping guys with sweaty feet finally get the air they need. No one likes it when their “dogs are barking”, but we all hate it more when that person has to take their shoes off to “air those puppies out”.

A breathable shoe would be an amazing advancement in the struggle of foot odor.  

Interestingly, MIT has been hard at work in their fashion labs creating the technology in the future of fashion.

That’s my favorite (and only) shirt

Imagine if a single article of clothing was all we EVER needed.  

Well, MIT’s Self Assembly Lab is currently working on a material that will redefine the wardrobe, eliminating the need for a walk-in closet and even a washer and dryer. They call it “active auxetics”, which are a metamaterial whose pores grow and shrink based on the weather elements.

This metamaterial prototype (seen in this video) will shrink when it’s cold and expand when it’s warm, allowing the same garment to be functional no matter the climate or condition.

Active auxetics enables designers to create clothing that doesn’t get dirty, sweaty, or worn-down. The power that lies in this material could revolutionize what it means to consume clothing. If there is no need to have three pairs of the same jeans, people won’t buy them.

 MIT is an unlikely player in the fashion arena, but their ability to create new materials that are responsive to the human body and the outdoor elements is inspiring.

I’m guessing once they figure out how to produce these garments at scale, the next step will be bringing in an element of Artificial Intelligence.

Add a Dash of Artificial Intelligence

Think about it, if you are only going to own so many pairs of these expensive metamaterials, you’ll want them to be perfectly crafted for your body and daily routine. 

For that reason, I imagine them using an AI algorithm to learn the ins and outs of someone’s activity levels, pinpoint the areas they mostly sweat during activity, and reinforce other areas that get a lot of wear.

By using AI to create the ultimate, personalized garment, people will be able to live healthier lives. 

It’s amazing the rate at which AI is entering healthcare. From diagnosing disorders through facial recognition to creating a Google Maps of Human Health. Combining clothing, health, and AI is just another step.

As AI enters the health space, it’s important that you understand the effects it’ll have on your health treatment. That’s why I’m holding a webinar, AI is eating healthcare, to inform you about the future of AI-driven health.

If you are interested in gaining a glimpse into the future of healthcare, you can sign-up here: crowdcast.io/e/ai-is-eating-healthcare