Sporting apparel and garments have seen a huge amount of innovation over recent years. This is being led by research into new materials, manufacturing processes, seamless bonding techniques and other innovations that are opening the door for new items of consumer and professional sporting apparel. RMIT has a range of research and innovation capability in sporting apparel and garments development. Join the RMIT textiles team to gain an insight into some of the recent industry collaborations and projects as well as get a tour of the textiles research and testing lab driving innovation from right here in Melbourne.

The RMIT Sport Textiles Innovation Workshop showcases the advancements in functional textiles for sports and safety. Nanodiamond-enhanced fabrics improve cooling and comfort during exercise by efficiently transferring body heat and preserving breathability, while innovative textile-based wearable sensors seamlessly monitor physiological signals, supporting athletic performance and rehabilitation. Addressing thermal physiological comfort for sportwear, garment design and textile material selections can offer superior performance in terms of breathability and thermal comfort in different application environments. Finally, fire protection for motorsport participants is advanced through RMIT’s “Burnie” flame manikin, which tests and predicts the severity of burns sustained through protective clothing, aiding in comprehensive risk assessment and safety improvements.

This workshop includes the following presentations:

1:30-1:40: Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country (Presented by Prof Lijing Wang)

1:40-2:00: Nanodiamond-Enhanced Textiles for Cooling and Comfort During Exercise (Presented by A/Prof Shadi Houshyar)

2:00-2:20: Textile-Based Wearable Sensors for Sports Performance and Physiological Monitoring (Presented by Dr Nauman Choudhry)

2:20-2:40: Thermal Physiological Conform of Sports Clothing (Presented by Prof Lijing Wang)

2:40-3:00:  Burnie and Fire Protection Risk Assessment (Presented by Prof Steve Michielsen)

This event will conclude with afternoon tea, networking, and lab tour.