A Novel Design Method for an Intelligent Clothing Based on Garment Design and Knitting Technology

The design elements of intelligent clothing were studied in this research. Both garment design as well as knitting technology concepts were applied to wearable electronic garments with aesthetic, functional, and technical features. In addition, a new garment design method is proposed for a specific task based on combinations of garment design and knitting technology to provide the required confining pressure, and electrical and mechanical properties for the intelligent clothing and also to take into account the requirements for aesthetics. Garment design skills of sewing, attaching accessories, embroidery, cutting, etc. can enhance the functionalities of the knitting technology. Garment design and knitting technology complement each other and provide a greater degree of freedom in intelligent clothing design. Experiments revealed that problems faced in intelligent clothing design, such as confining pressure, flexible electronic circuitry, aesthetic, appearance, and so on, could be successfully solved by the use of different garment design skills and knitting technologies. A garment design application model was set up based on this new design method and can be applied in the future design of intelligent clothing.