Search Results (102)

The aim of this study was to compare the types, textile structures, labels, and fiber compositions of 64 red garments submitted as evidence in selected criminal cases between 2022 and 2024. The research enhanced the current knowledge of the characteristics of red clothing available to consumers and demonstrated the relevance of textile analysis in forensic science. Knitted fabrics were the most commonly used in the garments, followed by woven fabrics, nonwovens, and felts. Fiber identification focused on color and shade, generic classification, morphological structure, and chemical composition, revealing both similarities and distinctions among the samples. In a small percentage of cases, label information was found to be inaccurate. The study also examined the fiber content of threads, patches, logos, prints, and embroidery, underscoring the forensic potential of these often-overlooked elements. The identification of over 300 individual fibers enabled a critical evaluation of the analytical procedures and confirmed their effectiveness in forensic contexts. Full article

The aim of this study is to compare the environmental impact of composites reinforced with flax fiber technical embroidery and traditional woven fabric in order to provide conclusions supporting composite manufacturer management in making technology selection decisions. The research objectives are to identify the key stages in the life cycle of composites, from raw material acquisition to end-of-life; determine the environmental impact of each stage, with a particular focus on processes with the largest contribution to overall result; compare the environmental impact of embroidery-reinforced composites with traditional woven fabric-reinforced composites; propose strategies to minimize the negative environmental impact of composites, including modifying the component set and optimizing the production process. The method involves experimental research including the production of technical embroidery-based composites with varying stitch lengths and woven fabric-reinforced composites. The tensile strength of the composites was evaluated. Subsequently, life cycle assessment was conducted for each material according to the relevant ISO standards. The results presented in this paper provide a comprehensive assessment of the environmental performance of technical embroidery-reinforced composites and identify directions for future research in this field. Full article

Buddhist women in traditional China used embroidery—considered the most feminine art form—to produce images of deities, allowing them to visualize their religious aspirations while adhering to the decorum expected in Confucian society. This paper examines three Buddhist embroidery designs: one visualized in Avalokiteśvara (1619) and two from a catalog of embroidery designs titled A Collection of Scattered Red Clouds (mid-seventeenth century). By analyzing their similarity to the images found in popular illustrated publications of the seventeenth century, this study explores how Buddhist iconography circulated across different media. Through a comparative analysis of the embroidered works and woodblock prints featuring Buddhist deities such as Avalokitesvara and Bodhidharma, I demonstrate that seventeenth-century Chinese women embroiderers often utilized contemporary woodblock prints as models for their devotional embroidered works. The publications that supplied the models for the embroiderers vary from one for a pronounced ritual value—Dharani Sutra of White-robed One—to one that is fundamentally non-religious and educational—a painting manual titled Canon of Painting. This variety highlights the breadth of reading materials that reached the inner chambers of Chinese women, enabling them to engage with religious visual culture beyond their domestic confines and express their spiritual devotion through artistic means. Full article

The dyes used to produce two Palestinian garments from the British Museum’s collection attributed to the late 19th–early 20th century were investigated by high pressure liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector and tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS). Palestinian embroidery is a symbol of national identity and the topic of scholarly research. However, little attention has been given to the dyes and how these changed with the introduction of new synthetic formulations in the second half of the 19th century. The results revealed the use of natural indigoid blue and red madder (Rubia tinctorum), in combination with tannins. Yellow from buckthorn (probably Rhamnus saxatilis) and red from cochineal (probably Dactylopius coccus) were found mixed with synthetic dyes in green and dark red embroidery threads, respectively. Early synthetic dyes were identified in all the other colours. These include Rhodamine B (C.I. 45170), Orange II (C.I. 15510), Orange IV (C.I. 13080), Metanil Yellow (C.I. 13065), Chrysoidine R (C.I. 11320), Methyl Violet (C.I. 42535), Malachite Green (C.I. 42000), Fuchsin (C.I. 42510), Auramine O (C.I. 41000) and Methyl Blue (C.I. 42780). As the date of the first synthesis of these dyes is known, the production date of the garments was refined, suggesting that these were likely to be produced towards the end of the 1880s/beginning of the 1890s. The continuous use of historical local sources of natural dyes, alongside new synthetic dyes, is of particular interest, adding rightful nuances to the development of textile-making practices in this region. Full article

Toxic materials are a threat in workplaces and the environment, as well as households. In them, gaseous substances are included, especially ones without any colour or fragrance, due to their non-detectability with the human senses. In this article, an attempt was made to find a solution for its detection in various conditions with the use of intelligent textiles. The approach was to perform modification on fifteen materials by screen printing using carbon nanotubes paste with expanded graphite and embroidery with stainless steel thread and then investigate their reaction with risky gases such as acetone, methanol and toluene. Four combinations of samples were tested: before tests, after the washing test and after the alkaline and acidic sweat contact test. Three materials can be highlighted. Para-aramid knitwear which reacted well to all tested gases. The biggest value of sensory percentage response was 144%. Screen-printed linen knitwear showed properly detecting skills after washing test for toluene. The biggest value of sensory percentage response was noted at 186%. The third most promising material was low surface mass cotton knitwear with embroidery which had a visible response at every stage of testing for acetone. The biggest value of sensory percentage response was 94% and the smallest one was 27%. For these three materials, repeated contact with harmful gases was tested. Simulations showed also repeated responses expressed in changes in surface resistance under changed conditions. After analysis, there is a possibility to create textile sensors for the detection of hazardous substances. Full article

The production of consumer electronics using electrically conductive materials is a dynamically developing sector of the economy. E-textiles (electronic textiles) are also used in radio frequency identification technology, mainly in the production of tag antennas. For economic reasons, it is important that the finished product is universal, although frequencies in radio systems have different values in different regions of the world. Therefore, the antenna bandwidth must be sufficiently wide so that the read range of the tag is maximally large for all frequencies of the specified band. The bandwidth of an antenna depends on its type and geometric dimensions, but this parameter can also be influenced by the way a given type of antenna is made. The authors prepared samples of embroidered RFID tag antennas for the UHF band using various types of embroidery. Then, its impedance and the read range of the tag were examined in order to determine the exact influence of the type of embroidery on the parameter of interest (antenna bandwidth). The results obtained during the research indicate the influence of different embroidery styles is present; however, that influence is not significant. Full article

This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the design, materials, fabrication techniques, and applications of flexible wearable antennas, with a primary focus on their roles in Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) and healthcare technologies. Wearable antennas are increasingly vital for applications that require seamless integration with the human body while maintaining optimal performance under deformation and environmental stress. Return loss, gain, bandwidth, efficiency, and the SAR are some of the most important parameters that define the performance of an antenna. Their interactions with human tissues are also studied in greater detail. Such studies are essential to ensure that wearable and body-centric communication systems perform optimally, remain safe, and are in compliance with regulatory standards. Advanced materials, including textiles, polymers, and conductive composites, are analyzed for their electromagnetic properties and mechanical resilience. This study also explores innovative fabrication techniques, such as inkjet printing, screen printing, and embroidery, which enable scalable and cost-effective production. Additionally, solutions for SAR optimization, including the use of metamaterials, electromagnetic band gap (EBG) structures, and frequency-selective surfaces (FSSs), are discussed. This review highlights the transformative potential of wearable antennas in healthcare, the IoT, and next-generation communication systems, emphasizing their adaptability for real-time monitoring and advanced wireless technologies, such as 5G and 6G. The integration of energy harvesting, biocompatible materials, and sustainable manufacturing processes is identified as a future direction, paving the way for wearable antennas to become integral to the evolution of smart healthcare and connected systems. Full article

Women sports wearer’s comfort and health are greatly impacted by the breast movements and resultant sports bra compression to prevent excessive movement. However, as sports bras are only made in universal sizes, they do not offer the right kind of support that is required for a certain activity. To prevent this issue, textile-based strain sensors may be utilized to track compression throughout various activities to create activity-specific designed sports bras. Textile-based strain sensors are prepared in this study using various conductive yarns, including steel, Ag-coated polyamide, and polypropylene/steel-blended threads. Various embroidery designs, including straight, zigzag, and square-wave embroidery patterns, etc., were created on knitted fabric and characterized for strain sensing efficiencies. The experiments concluded that strain sensors prepared from polypropylene/steel thread using a 2-thread square-wave design were best performed in terms of linear conductivity, sensitivity of mechanical impact, and wide working range. This best-performed sample was also tested by integrating it into the sportswear for proposed compression measurements in different body movements. Full article

The development of the field of textronics covers many directions, but the neediest are safety, medicine, and environmental protection. The solutions developed can combine the needs of many people from different social groups and ages. This leads to sustainable socio-economic, scientific and integrated approaches to sustainable development. The authors, seeing the growing need to monitor air pollution in order to increase safety, decided to develop textronic chemical sensors based on carbon-based inks and metal thread embroidery, sensitive to harmful gases and vapors based on textiles. This was to limit the production of subsequent sensors made in plastic housings containing difficult-to-recycle materials and replace them with sensors incorporated into everyday materials such as clothing, which will inform us about emerging threats not only in the place where a large plastic sensor is placed, but in every place at home, at work and outside where we will be. The authors assume that the sensors can be incorporated into clothing, e.g. work clothes, and can also be fastened from one piece of clothing to another. This increases their economic aspect and usability on a larger scale. Three materials of different composition were tested: cotton, polyester and viscose. These materials were selected based on their properties, namely the easier determination of their ability to achieve full circularity of the final product.Functional and mechanical tests of resistance to factors occurring during everyday use were carried out for the use of systems in clothing materials and to produce roller blinds and curtains. To examine the durability of the systems, electrical conductivity was checked before and after the tests. The results showed changes in resistance values after individual tests and during contact with harmful gases. Particularly noticeable are the differences between samples with embroidery and samples with inkjet paste applied. It was shown that the selected materials are suitable for the intended application, and selected modifications together with conductive materials show proper functioning in detecting harmful gases. This project demonstrates the possibility of creating chemical sensors based on printing techniques using carbon printing pastes and embroidery with a metal thread with silver on a textile substrate. Possible applications considering health and environmental aspects are presented. Full article

This study investigates a Byzantine embroidery fragment found in the Cathedral of St Elisabeth in Košice, Slovakia, which is believed to come from a 15th-century epitrachelion. Through interdisciplinary research, including art historical analysis, archival studies, and material research, the embroidery was identified as a rare example of Byzantine liturgical textile art in Slovakia. The iconography includes Archangel Gabriel and four Eastern Church Fathers. Comparative studies suggest possible origins in Greek or Romanian monastic workshops. Despite the information provided by radiocarbon dating and stylistic comparisons, the embroidery’s precise provenance and historical context invite further research. Full article

This paper presents an enhanced measurement technique for evaluating embroidered transmission lines (TLs), based on a TL characterization method. The evaluation metric is the “pure” losses of the embroidered TL excluding mismatch losses. Enhanced mechanical stability and removability of embroidered samples under a test is supported by a specially designed measurement setup. Losses are used to find the effective conductivity of each embroidery pattern. Various embroidered samples are fabricated, measured, and evaluated. The repeatability of measurements and fabrication are analyzed and assessed, resulting in average deviations of 0.5 dB and 0.7 dB, respectively. A comparative evaluation of two different yarns of low and high conductivity is presented. Single and double stitching patterns for each yarn are manufactured with stitch densities of 1–7 lines/mm. For interconnection with SMA connectors, a conductive fabric contact (CFC) was selected as the finish of the TL, as a more practical interface instead of direct yarn contact (YC). The analysis of the measurements proved useful findings, such as an increase in the stitch density or the amount of yarn used does not always improve the performance; the use of double stitching greatly improves low-performance stitch densities; the effective conductivity of embroidery patterns changes with frequency; the YC interface yields more losses for medium stitch densities, but for higher stich densities, it presents an improved performance compared with the CFC interconnection. Full article

Traditional costumes and crafts are a basic form and element of local culture and a vital pathway for perpetuating traditional art and design culture. They are an artistic form of historical and cultural significance. This paper focuses on three traditional costumes from Malta, Ireland, and Finland. The għonnella, worn by Maltese women of different social classes, consisted of a voluminous cape-like covering reinforced with whalebone and cardboard and was worn over the head and shoulders, reaching ankle length. Irish costumes were adorned with beautiful Irish lace, crochet, and embroidery. Celtic embroidery was added to clothing to develop a distinctive Irish dress style during the great cultural revival of the early 20th century. The Karelian costume from Finland was constructed using wool and linen. Ladies in Karelia wore handcrafted, highly embroidered gowns, and traditions were passed down from older ladies, including mothers and grandmothers. These costumes were collected in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries when Finnish Karelia was known as ‘The Old Finland’. This paper delves into the origins of these costumes and how social and cultural events, with their intriguing influence, shaped their styles, features, colors, and fabrics. Full article

A design framework for developing full-textile reconfigurable dipole antennas is proposed for wearable applications. To this end, a precise embroidery process using conductive threads is applied to properly manage the antenna structure. Further, mechanical reconfiguration to enhance antenna operation by using solely clothing components is outlined. As a proof-of-concept, we present a full-textile embroidered dipole antenna with mechanical frequency reconfiguration. Specifically, reconfiguration is achieved by folding the dipole arms through a triangular formation. Conductive Velcro strips are employed to guide the necessary dipole arrangement. As shown, the proposed design methodology enables frequency tunability that ranges from 780 to 1330 MHz for UHF and L bands, with satisfactory radiation performance. The measured and simulated results are in good agreement, in terms of achieving similar frequency reconfiguration concept, as predicted by the electromagnetic simulation models. Full article

The starting point of this proposal is a collection of decorated cuias, preserved in Portugal and produced by Indigenous women in Grão-Pará in the 18th century. The objects in question are an exemplary case of the global art history of the Amazonian communities. In order to investigate them, it is necessary to consider the procurement and ritual use of cuias (fruits of the cuieira tree-Crescentia cuyete), the sophisticated techniques used to produce a durable, glossy, black varnish from cumatê (or cumaté, cumati), a natural dark red pigment extracted from the skins of the cumatezeiro or axuazeiro tree (Myrcia atramentifera), as well as the incorporation of fauna and flora motifs from Asian or Asian-inspired textiles and embroidery, which circulated worldwide. Their history brings together the nature of the forest, the myths of creation, and the knowledge and practices of Indigenous and riverine women, mainly from the lower Amazon. Studying these objects produced by Indigenous female painters in a colonial context of appropriation, in addition to contributing to their knowledge, can stimulate dialogues on the knowledge of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest with other locations in America, sharing their ancestry and resistance. Full article

A textile bandwidth-enhanced half-mode substrate-integrated cavity (HMSIC) antenna based on embroidered shorting vias is designed. Based on the simulated results of the basic HMSIC antenna, two embroidered hollow posts with square cross-sections are added as shorting vias at the intersections of the zero-E traces of the ${\mathrm{T}\mathrm{M}}_{210}^{\mathrm{H}\mathrm{M}}$ and ${\mathrm{T}\mathrm{M}}_{020}^{\mathrm{H}\mathrm{M}}$ modes to shift the ${\mathrm{T}\mathrm{M}}_{010}^{\mathrm{H}\mathrm{M}}$-mode band to merge with the bands of the higher-order modes for bandwidth enhancement. A prototype is practically fabricated based on computerized embroidery techniques. Measurement results show that the prototype is of an expanded −10 dB impedance band of 4.87~6.17 GHz (23.5% fractional bandwidth), which fully covers the 5 GHz wireless local area network (WLAN) band. The simulated radiation efficiency and maximum gain of the proposed antenna are above 97% and 7.6 dBi, respectively. Furthermore, simulations and measurements prove its robust frequency response characteristic in the proximity of the human tissues or in bending conditions, and the simulations of the specific absorption rate (SAR) prove its electromagnetic safety on the human body. Full article