# 61: I Want Programmable Pants

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2014-07-30
- Length: 1h 11m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-07-30-61-i-want-programmable-pants
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/embedded-ep61mp3

## Summary

Jen Costillo and Kyle Chan, an adjunct professor at California College of the Arts with prior experience at Levi's, discuss the intersection of fashion and embedded systems. They highlight the challenges of integrating electronics into textiles, citing examples like Cute Circuit's photonic garments and Athos's fitness wearables, while emphasizing the need for durable, washable e-textiles and flexible displays. The conversation covers the cultural and technical clashes between fashion design and engineering, as well as specific products like the Hövding airbag scarf and Reebok Checklight.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-07-30-61-i-want-programmable-pants#t=6) Introduction and Wearable Summer Series
- [2:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-07-30-61-i-want-programmable-pants#t=133) Smart Clothing and Photonic Displays
- [7:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-07-30-61-i-want-programmable-pants#t=427) E-Textiles and Conductive Materials
- [15:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-07-30-61-i-want-programmable-pants#t=946) Fashion vs. Engineering Processes
- [25:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-07-30-61-i-want-programmable-pants#t=1516) Fashion Industry Workflow and SKUs
- [33:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-07-30-61-i-want-programmable-pants#t=2000) Athos and Fitness Wearables
- [38:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-07-30-61-i-want-programmable-pants#t=2296) Cute Circuit and High-End Couture
- [48:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-07-30-61-i-want-programmable-pants#t=2894) Thermochromic Dyes and Sensors
- [1:00:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-07-30-61-i-want-programmable-pants#t=3649) Game Wearables and Brain-Computer Interfaces
- [1:07:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-07-30-61-i-want-programmable-pants#t=4045) Safety Wearables and Conclusion

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Cute Circuit (company)
- Athos (product)
- Hövding (product)
- Reebok Checklight (product)
- Necomimi (product)
- Sparkfun (company)
- Levi's (company)
- Samsung (company)
- Adafruit (company)
- LilyPad (product)
- Neurosky (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [An Interview with Jeff Rowberg - Mini Module Master](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-07-24-an-interview-with-jeff-rowberg-mini-module-master) (The Amp Hour)
- [10. Sustainable Fashion, Apple Car Insights, Sharper Bionic Eyes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-03-23-10-sustainable-fashion-apple-car-insights-sharper-bionic-eyes) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Wearables Might Have Limited Fashion Options - Lachrymogenic Lane Language](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-05-14-wearables-might-have-limited-fashion-options-lachrymogenic-lane-language) (The Amp Hour)
- [243. Cycling’s “Supersuit” Moment is Here](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-03-31-243-cyclings-supersuit-moment-is-here) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [033 - All Over the Place](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2020-04-27-033-all-over-the-place) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-07-30-61-i-want-programmable-pants. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.