BioLogic, A Shape-Changing Fabric That Vents When You Sweat

Teams from MIT Media Lab and the Royal College of Art have used bacteria to design a “bio-skin” fabric that peels back in reaction to sweat and humidity

Clothes created from the BioLogic fabric have vents that open in response to sweat

Innovator: Hiroshi Ishii
Age: 60
Title: Professor and associate director of MIT Media Lab, an interdisciplinary research group

The BioLogic fabric relies on bacteria reportedly discovered 1,000 years ago by a Japanese samurai. The Bacillus Subtilis microorganism has since been used to ferment foods in Japan, including natto – a soybean-based dish.

As the wearer sweats the material covering the vents peels back

Teams from the MIT Media Lab’s Tangible Media Group and Royal College of Art have used the bacteria’s ability to expand and contract in reaction to moisture, and developed a method for incorporating it into material that can be used for garments.

                               These apertures provide ventilation for the wearer while exercising

 

“We’re starting to build up an automatic printing system in which fresh cells can be assembled on a thin fabric,” said MIT Media Lab’s Jifei Ou. “The different expansion and contraction level of the new materials creates a variety of bending behaviours in space and time.”

A film released by the lab demonstrates how clothes constructed from the fabric could contain diamond-shaped openings covered in two flaps. These flaps peel back once the wearer starts to warm up, providing additional ventilation and helping them to cool down.

                                 Vents will fold back into place once humidity levels are lowered

 

“In addition to a single bending structure different printing patterns and material combinations enable us to create more complex transformations,” said interaction designer Helene Steiner.

                                      Close up of the bio-hybrid film that reacts to sweaty skin

 

By embedding heating circuits, the material could be controlled by electric signals. Further uses for the cells include a steam-activated teabag label, bio-hybrid flowers that can open and close their petals, and colour-changing fabric.

                             A BioLogic tea leaf can activated by heat and steam as tea is steeped

 

“Fashion is changing and this project is part of it,” said fashion designer Oksana Anilionyte. “I believe it’s time where we think the way we create fashion and the reason behind it.”