Clothing that thinks: Are reactive textiles the future of fashion?

The apparel and footwear industries are undergoing a transformation.

The newest materials are not passive, but reactive.

These textiles and components sense changes in the environment or the wearer’s body, instantly adjusting their function for better comfort, performance, or safety.

These fabrics, known as smart or active textiles, bring dynamic technology directly to everyday clothing and athletic gear.

Clothes that turn liquid in heat, and solid when cold

The main job of this reactive clothing is managing heat - keeping the wearer's temperature steady.

This is done using Phase Change Materials (PCMs), tiny capsules often holding organic waxes, woven into the fabric, which control the temperature between your skin and the fabric.

When your body heat rises during activity, the material changes from a solid to a liquid, soaking up the extra heat.

This keeps your temperature stable, stopping overheating.

When your body cools down (like during a rest or in the cold), the material turns back to a solid, releasing the stored heat to warm you up.

This constant solid-to-liquid shift acts as a heat buffer, actively managing sweat and removing the feeling of getting too hot or too cold.

Shoes that push the wearer forward

Reactive materials in performance shoes give dynamic support by controlling impact.

This function is achieved through specialised foam in the midsole which acts like a spring to absorb ground force and push the wearer forward.

How they work

Traditional shoe foam absorbs impact, but newer reactive foams are designed to compress and snap back quickly.

This is called energy return.

When your foot hits the ground, the foam squashes down.

Instead of wasting that kinetic energy as heat, the reactive material stores a high amount and releases it when your foot pushes off.

This rebound effect:

• Reduces fatigue: Less energy is wasted, meaning muscles work less to maintain pace.

• Improves efficiency: It helps support faster, longer running and walking.

• Enhances cushioning: The material manages heavy ground forces better than traditional shoe materials.

Black indoors, blue in the sun

Chromo-reactive materials change colour when exposed to UV light (photochromic) or heat (thermochromic).

This allows instant, real-time customisation, letting a single garment shift its look based on ambient temperature or exposure to the sun.

Designers use this technology to create interactive clothing, serving as a medium for spontaneous personal expression and offering something new beyond traditional static colour.

Furthermore, Electro-conductive fibres are integrated into garments, turning clothing into wearable electronics.

These fibres, often silver or carbon, transmit signals to monitor vital signs such as heart rate, muscle activity, and breathing.

In fashion, this integration is increasingly seamless, allowing users to wear high-tech monitoring devices that look and feel like normal athletic gear.

Self-repairing fabrics

Self-healing materials also shape the future of sustainable fashion.

These polymers are currently under development to automatically close small tears or punctures when triggered by water or friction.

For the consumer, this promises significantly longer garment life and reduced textile waste, pushing the industry towards more durable, long-term investments rather than disposable items.