Intertwining Material Science and Textile Thinking : Aspects of Contrast and Collaboration

The current research of  eTextiles  tends to focus on integrating  new functionalities  into textile structures in a technology-driven manner. Meanwhile, we approach the development of eTextiles  through  utilizing interdisciplinary practice-based materials research for creating  new types of  textile-integrated  actuators.  Our study  aims to shed light on how interdisciplinarity  and especially the  interphase between scientific thinking and practice-based research  can  create added value both  through  contrasts and mutual alignments.  Based on interviews of researchers  working in that intersection, we have identified some key factors concerning specifically the  eTextile  environment: differences in ways of thinking, intertwining concepts, common practices, and the need for a certain degree of individual autonomy. Overall,  we advance  the understanding of  the inner  workings of interdisciplinary projects and how to better facilitate them, as well as provide some  concrete  ideas  of how  this type of research should be supported.