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ExplainSupersuits for all?
Did you know that clothes can have cool powers?
Nowadays, clothes with special powers aren’t just for superheroes. They can protect us, keep us warm or cool, and even help us do things like exercise, build a snowman, or take a hot cake out of the oven.
What clothes can do depends on what they're made of!
Made of what?
Clothes start as fibers from plants like cotton, or from insects like silkworms. Some, like rayon, are made with chemicals.
Fibers are like tiny strings. They’re turned into thread or yarn, which can be woven, knitted, or sewn to make fabric.
Fabrics are dyed or decorated with patterns, then cut and sewn to make clothes. Today, this is mostly done in factories.
Fabrics of the past, Tech of tomorrow
People have been making threads and fabrics for thousands of years. Many of the tools and ideas we use today come from things people made and thought of long ago.
Radio hat
This straw hat with built-in radio was an early mix of technology and clothing. In the 1920s, people didn’t have cell phones or headphones, and radios were too big to carry around! Instead, they wore this cool hat so they and everyone around them could listen to the latest news and music.
The year 2000
Today's firefighter suits have a lot of great features to protect them from heat, smoke, and flames. One hundred years ago, an artist made this drawing of what he thought firefighting would look like today. A stroke of genius or madness – what do you think?
Milk wool?
Tough times can call for creative solutions. In the 1930s, just before World War II, many materials were used for the military, and cloth became scarce. So Italy invented a new fiber called Lanital, or “milk wool.” Can you guess what it was made of? Milk! But when Lanital got wet, it smelled like spoiled milk and cheese.
My own supersuit
Clothes can do amazing things, just think of what space suits do for astronauts! But everyday clothes aren't just about function.
The way we dress can make us feel good about ourselves and show others what we like. Whether we dress up for fun or for school, it's a creative way to express who we are.
What’s your favorite costume to dress up in?
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You can improve over time
Comparing yourself to how you were before shows how much you’ve learned. Are you better at reading now than you were a year ago? Thinking about how much you’ve improved over time can make you feel proud. Looking at your own progress is better than comparing yourself to others, as we are all different. Eddie Brummelman, researcher
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Clothing mountain
Have you ever heard of "fast fashion"? It means that clothes are made really quickly and cheaply, but they often don't last long and are soon thrown away. This can create a lot of waste.
Smart textiles in nature
Scientists and artists often look to nature for cool ideas. Spider silk is super strong and natural, so it’s helping people find better, eco-friendly fabrics. Even spiders are inspiring new, green ways to make textiles!
Mycelium are huge underground networks of tiny fibers made by mushrooms. Scientists have found that mycelium can be turned into a kind of leather that’s easy to make without creating harmful waste. Great news for nature (and cows).
EngageDifficulty
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Smart textiles
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Bibliography
Bogansky, A., & Peck, A. (2013). Interwoven globe : the worldwide textile trade, 1500-1800. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Biofabricate, & Fashion for Good Museum. (2020, December). Understanding “bio” material innovations: a primer for the fashion industry. Biofabricate & Fashion for Good Museum. https://reports.fashionforgood.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Understanding-Bio-Material-Innovations-Report.pdf
Zewe , A. (2022, July 7). Smart textiles sense how their users are moving. MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://news.mit.edu/2022/smart-textiles-sense-movement-0707
Atif, H., Peck, L., Connolly, M., Endres, K., Musser, L., Shalaby, M., Lehman, M., & Olympia, R. P. (2022, July 27). The impact of role models, mentors, and heroes on academic and Social Outcomes in adolescents. Cureus. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9421350/
Postrel, V. I. (2020). The fabric of civilization : how textiles made the world (First edition). Basic Books.
NASA. (2024, July 19). Spacesuits. https://www.nasa.gov/extravehicular-activity-and-human-surface-mobility/spacesuits/
Learning objectives
Based on Curriculum 21, German-speaking Switzerland, 2024.
the students ...
TTG.2.B.1 for 7+
2 a) can integrate the functions of everyday and special clothing into play, experiment with clothes and repurpose old textiles.
2 b) can explore clothing functions, playfully transform them, and dress up with items (e.g. jewelry and protective gear).
TTG.2.B.1. for 9+:
2 c) can recognize, interpret and understand the functions of clothing to inspire ideas for their own projects.
NMG.1.1. for 9+
2 c) can explore their own skills and abilities and describe themselves.
2 e) can brainstorm and discuss ideas for their future (e.g., school choice, career aspirations, hobbies, lifestyle).
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