TEXTILES.ORG
Loomia Technologies, Culver City, Calif., is partnering with Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) to develop highly tactile, heated handwear that could be applicable in commercial recreational markets and for military customers.
AFFOA reports that for this collaborative project, Loomia will provide technology to be used in a heated glove insert, while AFFOA will lead customer discovery, deliver system architecture designs and produce an interface control unit. In addition to the heated glove insert, Loomia will also develop a heated sleeve. Both items will provide thermal comfort to users in harsh climates, or other areas where this protection is deemed necessary.
Loomia’s patented e-textile technology is a soft, flexible circuit technology that can be embedded into a wide variety of fabrics and surfaces. The technology can provide lighting, heating and sensing functionalities, and has customizable components and a lightweight integration.
Loomia previously has worked with a range of companies, including Hyundai and Analog Devices, to create the foundational technology for soft goods products. “Our soft, flexible circuits can give the users high dexterity while in cold environments,” says Loomia’s founder, Madison Maxey. “Being able to use one’s hands in subzero temperatures can be the difference between life or death, so we’re excited to work with AFFOA on such an important application of electronic textiles.”
AFFOA is a non-profit, public-private partnership with the mission to rekindle the textiles industry and enable revolutionary new system capabilities for commercial and defense applications. To catalyze the development of advanced functional fibers, AFFOA has assembled a Fabric Innovation Network (FIN) with more than 140 members including startups, universities, manufacturers, commercial industry and defense partners.