Color-changing textiles
Fabcell is a chameleonlike fabric that changes color when conducting an electric charge. Developed by Dr. Akira Wakita’s Information Design Laboratory at Keio University in Japan, Fabcell is a flexible, nonemissive fabric made of fibers dyed with liquid-crystal ink and conductive yarns. These materials are connected to electronic components and woven into a square textile. When a low voltage is applied, the temperature of the fabric increases, changing the color of the fabric. When arranged in matrices, Fabcells can display subtle images within the curvature of flexible textiles. Clothing can also be enhanced with temporary self expression.
Contact: Keio University Information Design Laboratory, Fujisawa, Japan.
For more information, see Transmaterial 2: A Catalog of Materials That Redefine our Physical Environment
