Next Generation of Active Underwear : Implementing Smart Textiles and Technologies

Sammanfattning: This report is a product from a master thesis project conducted at the Royal Institute of Technology during the spring of 2015. The project was performed at Innventia AB as a part of Exjobbsskolan which purpose is to create synergy between several master thesis projects. Information and insights from the different projects were exchanged within Exjobbsskolan which has been a support throughout the process. The project has also been executed in close collaboration with the client Björn Borg AB.The Björn Borg brand was established in the Swedish fashion market during the first half of the 1980s. Today Björn Borg has a strong position particularly in its largest product group underwear. A couple of years ago they started a new segment called Active Underwear which is underwear aimed for sports application. The demand for these is predicted to be high and the aim of the project was therefore to develop new innovative and sustainable concepts as well as a mapping of relevant textiles and technologies implementable in underwear.The textile and technology mapping resulted in a list of the current and upcoming possibilities within the smart textile and technology segment. The mapping also covered how to implement the technologies and recommendations in terms of which garment the certain technique is suitable in.The analysis of the market and the behavior of the customers showed that an added value is needed in order to make them change into specific underwear prior exercise. It also showed that comfort is the most important property of an underwear garment and that minimizing humidity level is essential in sports apparel.A tactile study of the fabrics used by Björn Borg and alternatives that are more environmentally friendly was conducted. This provided the insight that synthetic fibers are perceived as more sporty and cooler.The project resulted in male and female underwear including a sports bra made of a phase change material that enhances the thermo regulation and thereby the comfort. The underwear are also capable of monitoring heart rate using textile electrodes sewn into the ribbon. Additional concept packages for future inspiration containing several technologies were also created.