Imagine having a hoodie or sweater that regulated its temperature according to the surrounding environment, so that instead of adjusting your thermostat, your clothes would adjust themselves.
While that may sound like a far-fetched idea, startup Skyscrape has managed to manufacture a futuristic jacket that’s made out of an innovative garment able to do exactly that.
The magic lies inside the fabric, where a new type of yarn — combined with conventional yarn — is able to transform itself in response to a change in temperature. As the new yarn expands, it makes the structure of the fabric bend — moving from a flat shape to a wavy shape like the inside of corrugated cardboard. The little pockets of air that form result in more insulation.
If a traditional jacket might be comfortable to wear within a 10- to 15-degree temperature range, the new jacket has a range of 20 to 30 degrees. And while the startup is launching first with outerwear that can be worn inside and outside, the same material also has the potential for indoor-only garments.
Before spinning off into a business model, the novel technology was initially conceived as a way to save energy. Wearing the fabric has the same effect as adding an extra sweater without the inconvenience of changing clothes, so people can turn down the thermostat.
The company is now in discussions with existing outdoor brands regarding collaborations using the technology, with production expected to begin in the coming months.
