What if fashion could fight both textile and electronic wearables waste?
- APF Community
- Sep 1
- 4 min read
By Lynesha Pillai
Status quo
Landfills in South Africa are under pressure from two major waste streams: unsellable clothing (textiles) and electronic waste. Both the fashion and wearable-tech sectors continue high-volume production, leading to mounting pollution that affects land, water bodies, aquatic life, and nearby communities.
According to SAWIC about 100,000 tonnes of textiles are discarded annually, and the remainder is largely non-biodegradable. Meanwhile, e-waste generation is far higher at around 360,000 tonnes per year, or approximately 6.2 kg per person annually. Both waste types have formal recycling hovering around 10–12%, and the rest ending up in landfills or informal dumpsites.
So what now?
Can we shift an industry built on outdated systems and unchecked consumerism?Imagine if the evolution of fashion was stylish, sustainable and functional, like wearable tech designed to support wellbeing.
Why should this matter?
The way we consume clothing and technology is no longer sustainable nor is it necessary. We’ve reached a point where innovation can no longer be separated from responsibility. Smart fabrics offer us a way to bridge that gap: garments that not only look good and feel familiar but also support health, reduce waste, and remove the need for multiple, short-lived health devices all while fitting seamlessly into everyday life.
Instead of buying more, we can choose fewer, smarter, and more meaningful products. This isn’t just about fashion, it’s a shift toward a culture that values longevity, purpose, and care for people and the planet. That’s real progress.
What could that look like?
Let’s explore this concept: Ohio State University (OHS) researchers have designed electronic circuitry within textiles used in athletic and functional wear such that it’s one and the same. Wearable electronics by lead researchers at OHS look like fabric but allow for the digital transmission of data to monitor parameters of athletic health.
Fine silver metal threads with microsensors and antennae in a soft fabric sheath, soft enough for weaving, operate as a circuit board. These fibers are woven into the fabric of athletic wear. This combination gathers data and has proven to be a very effective way to incorporate dermal assessment and sensory information via micro-electronic receptors. Skin covers the human body and is considered the largest organ; it could be the best way to evaluate a person’s health condition.
How would this benefit you?
Smart fabric picks up live data as you move (or don’t). Here are some of the possibilities and opportunities.
Familiar comfort, enhanced function: A product that feels like everyday clothing but supports your health and wellbeing.
Seamless design integration: Smart fabrics creatively hide electronics in ways that look natural and stylish and nothing clunky or obvious.
Real-time performance feedback: An efficient way for active individuals to monitor fitness levels and improve their training.
Live health monitoring: Provides medical professionals with early alerts on serious health conditions like heart issues, seizures, and nerve disorders.
Reduced tech waste: Eliminates the need for separate wearable devices. As wearable tech demand grows, valued at $19.92 billion in the U.S. in 2023 and expected to rise 12.8% by 2030, smart fabrics help cut down on e-waste.
Long-term value over fast fashion: Durable smart fabrics reduce frequent replacements while offering extended functionality and combining sustainability with performance.
Built-in circularity: Brands can offer reuse and recycling programs for smart garments, encouraging customers to return used items for store credit and . creating a closed-loop, sustainable business model.
Could there be a substantial use case for this type of innovation?
This type of innovation may be progressive, but its potential reaches even further when considered within the expanding landscape of the Internet of Things (IoT). Smart fabrics could play a role in enhancing connectivity by boosting signal reception for smartphones or other handheld devices. With embedded electronics and conductive materials, there is also potential for these garments to create localized access networks (LANs), allowing devices to communicate more efficiently within a wearable system. This transforms clothing from passive items into dynamic, functional platforms supporting everything from better mobile access to new layers of data collection and interaction .
In summary
Smart fabrics can offer a genuinely transformative impact, when developed with sustainability at the core and paired with proper end-of-life waste management systems. Unlike typical wearables or fast fashion items which we can discard easily, these garments are designed to be long-lasting and multifunctional. Their ability to collect and transmit real-time data supports a shift toward more responsive, preventative healthcare and personalized wellness. For athletes, this means improved performance tracking and training insights. For people managing chronic or sensitive health conditions, it offers the potential for early intervention, continuous monitoring, and more informed medical decision-making, all embedded within something as familiar as a T-shirt or pair of leggings.
Beyond their individual use cases, the broader implications of smart fabrics lie in how they merge fashion, function, and environmental responsibility. As consumer expectations evolve, products that offer both value and accountability will become increasingly important. Smart textiles meet that demand by offering a single product that replaces multiple others, reducing electronic and textile waste at the source. Paired with circular business models like garment return and recycling programs, brands can extend product lifecycles while strengthening customer engagement. In this way, smart fabrics aren’t just a product innovation; they’re a systems-level opportunity to rethink how we design, wear, and dispose of the things we use every day.
References
Grand view research, U.S. Wearable Technology Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Head & Eyewear, Wristwear), By Application (Consumer Electronics, Healthcare), And Segment Forecasts, 2024 – 2030, Report ID: GVR-4-68040-211-6
Ohio State University, Computers in your clothes? A milestone for wearable electronics, 13 April 2016, https://news.osu.edu/news/2016/04/13/computers-in-your-clothes-a-milestone-for-wearable-electronics/
The South African Waste Information Centre(SAWIC), The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Waste Information System, SAWIC
© Lynesha Pillai, 2025
A pioneer in the sustainable textile industry, Lynesha combines water engineering principles with innovative cotton farming to redefine fabric production. Her work integrates advanced technologies and environmental stewardship. She envisions a future where agritech leads the way in sustainability and economic growth.
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