Dr. Juan Hinestroza: At Cornell University, Dr. Hinestroza heads the Textiles Nanotechnology Laboratory. He’s known for his groundbreaking work in infusing traditional fibers with nanoparticles, granting fabrics unique properties, such as the ability to conduct electricity or destroy bacteria.
Yoel Fink: The CEO of Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) and professor at MIT, Fink is pushing boundaries in creating programmable fibers. His multidisciplinary approach has led to fabrics that can see, hear, sense, and even communicate.
Dr. Tricia Carmichael: A professor at the University of Windsor, Dr. Carmichael has made significant contributions to the field of stretchable electronics. Her work paves the way for fabrics that can contain electronic circuits without sacrificing flexibility.
Dr. Mark Liu: A renowned innovator in the intersection of fashion and technology, Dr. Liu explores the use of 3D weaving techniques and digital fabrication in textiles. His creations have showcased the potential of fabrics as interactive surfaces.
Dr. Annalisa Bonfiglio: As a professor at the University of Cagliari, Dr. Bonfiglio has focused on the development of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) that can be embedded into textiles. This research has significant implications for wearable health monitoring.
Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman: Founder of Interwoven Design Group, Pailes-Friedman’s work encompasses designing smart fabrics and wearable tech. Her designs often emphasize improving athletic performance or addressing specific health challenges.
Stéphanie Farouze: As the Director of Investments at Tactotek, Farouze evaluates and promotes innovations in injection molded structural electronics (IMSE™), a technology that allows for lightweight and flexible electronic structures, perfect for integration into smart textiles.
Dr. Sundaresan Jayaraman: Based at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Dr. Jayaraman’s research focuses on the Wearable Motherboard™, a smart garment designed to monitor vital signs, especially useful for soldiers and first responders.
Elena Polyakova: Co-Founder of Graphene 3D Lab, Polyakova is a trailblazer in developing graphene-based nanocomposites for functional, intelligent fabrics. Graphene’s unique properties offer a plethora of applications in smart textiles.
Madison Maxey: As the founder of LOOMIA, Maxey specializes in integrating flexible circuitry into textiles. Her innovations include fabrics that can light up, sense touch, and even change temperature.