Due to the rising interest in sports and fitness, the sportswear sector has been growing exponentially in the past decade, encompassing both technology and couture. Moreover, the evolution of electronic technologies and computer sciences have allowed the integration of electronics into garments and wearable devices, a market that is still niche but projected to grow exponentially in the future decade. Since the technology for wearables, especially textile based, is relatively new the materials used are often from the world of traditional electronics. They are therefore expensive and difficult to dispose of safely at the end of life. This research investigates the possibilities for a more sustainable end of life for sportswear oriented smart garments through disassembly practices. The study starts with a comprehensive desk research investigating two clusters: the world of wearables with a focus on sportswear applications (including history, sustainability, materials, technologies and case studies) and disassembly practices, covering both general theory on DFD and specific research, case studies and recyclability laws that influence the possibility of disassembly of electronic components. The research includes scientific papers and publications that mostly cover the period between 2018 and 2024, which allows to take into consideration the latest technological developments. Following the research, an analysis of case studies and previous research leads to the investigation of the possibility to integrate electronic components into seams through strategic patterning by developing fabric samples and designing a smart garment that include these features. Finally, eight guidelines for design for the disassembly of smart sportswear are developed.
A causa del crescente interesse per lo sport e il fitness, il settore dell'abbigliamento sportivo è cresciuto esponenzialmente nell'ultimo decennio, includendo sia la tecnologia che la haute couture. Inoltre, l'evoluzione delle tecnologie elettroniche e delle scienze informatiche ha permesso l'integrazione di dispositivi elettronici negli indumenti e nei dispositivi indossabili, un mercato ancora di nicchia ma proiettato a crescere esponenzialmente nel decennio futuro. Poiché la tecnologia per i dispositivi indossabili, specialmente quelli tessili, è relativamente nuova, i materiali utilizzati sono spesso provenienti dal mondo dell'elettronica tradizionale. Sono quindi costosi e difficili da smaltire in modo sicuro alla fine della loro vita utile. Questa ricerca investiga le possibilità per una fine vita più sostenibile per i capi smart orientati all'abbigliamento sportivo attraverso pratiche di smontaggio. Lo studio inizia con una ricerca documentale completa che investiga due cluster: il mondo dei dispositivi indossabili con un focus sulle applicazioni dell'abbigliamento sportivo (includendo storia, sostenibilità, materiali, tecnologie e studi di caso) e le pratiche di smontaggio, coprendo sia la teoria generale sulla progettazione per lo smontaggio (DFD) che la ricerca specifica, studi di caso e leggi sulla riciclabilità che influenzano la possibilità di smontare i componenti elettronici. La ricerca include articoli scientifici e pubblicazioni che coprono principalmente il periodo tra il 2018 e il 2024, il che consente di prendere in considerazione gli ultimi sviluppi tecnologici. Seguendo la ricerca, un'analisi di studi di caso e ricerche precedenti porta all'indagine sulla possibilità di integrare componenti elettronici nelle cuciture attraverso un pattern strategico, sviluppando campioni di tessuto e progettando un capo smart che includa tali caratteristiche. Infine, vengono sviluppate otto linee guida per la progettazione per lo smontaggio dell'abbigliamento sportivo smart.
Guidelines for the disassembly of smart sportswear: a framework for a more sustainable end of life
Benedetti, Camilla
2022/2023
Abstract
Due to the rising interest in sports and fitness, the sportswear sector has been growing exponentially in the past decade, encompassing both technology and couture. Moreover, the evolution of electronic technologies and computer sciences have allowed the integration of electronics into garments and wearable devices, a market that is still niche but projected to grow exponentially in the future decade. Since the technology for wearables, especially textile based, is relatively new the materials used are often from the world of traditional electronics. They are therefore expensive and difficult to dispose of safely at the end of life. This research investigates the possibilities for a more sustainable end of life for sportswear oriented smart garments through disassembly practices. The study starts with a comprehensive desk research investigating two clusters: the world of wearables with a focus on sportswear applications (including history, sustainability, materials, technologies and case studies) and disassembly practices, covering both general theory on DFD and specific research, case studies and recyclability laws that influence the possibility of disassembly of electronic components. The research includes scientific papers and publications that mostly cover the period between 2018 and 2024, which allows to take into consideration the latest technological developments. Following the research, an analysis of case studies and previous research leads to the investigation of the possibility to integrate electronic components into seams through strategic patterning by developing fabric samples and designing a smart garment that include these features. Finally, eight guidelines for design for the disassembly of smart sportswear are developed.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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2024_04_ Benedetti-2.pdf
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/219695