Smart fabrics and emotional design: the interaction of technology and human perception in fashion

Анотація

The relevance of the study is determined by the rapid introduction of “smart” fabrics into fashion design, which requires scientific understanding of their impact not only on the functionality of clothing, but also on the emotional and psychological experience of a person. The purpose of the article is to identify the mechanisms of influence of innovative materials with dynamic properties on the emotional reactions of users and to substantiate the conceptual guidelines for their integration into fashion design, taking into account human psychological sensitivity. The research methodology is based on an interdisciplinary approach and combines theoretical analysis of scientific sources, systematization of types of innovative fabrics, comparative analysis of sensory characteristics of materials, and conceptual generalization of the principles of emotional design. The study found that the evolution of “smart” fabrics in fashion consists in changing the role of the material from a passive form carrier to an active communicative element of interaction with the user. The main types of innovative materials (self-heating, color-changing, responsive fabrics) were systematized and their dominant sensory channels of influence were identified. It has been found that the dynamic properties of fabrics form different emotional reactions, in particular comfort, a sense of security, control, and novelty, the intensity of which depends on the predictability and dosage of changes. It has been proven that excessive or opaque material dynamics can cause emotional tension, while understandable logic of reactions contributes to trust in clothing. Conceptual guidelines for the integration of technological innovations into fashion design have been substantiated. The practical significance of the results lies in the possibility of their use by designers and developers of “smart” clothing to create emotionally supportive, safe, and human-centered design solutions, as well as in forming a methodological basis for further empirical research on user experience in the field of innovative fashion.

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