Saloni Purandare, Ph.D., Program Chair and Instructor, Textile Technology Program, Gaston College

This presentation will introduce the audience to categories of textiles engineered for predetermined applications, that go beyond body covering or aesthetics. The presentation will cover the crucial role of material innovation and selection within these categories by providing a state of art on functional textiles. The presentation will point out the current issues with functional textiles while highlighting emerging areas in material innovation and their potential applicability in functional textiles. The overarching goal of this presentation will be to generate dialogue around current issues in functional textiles and ways in which material innovation can address those issues, thereby inspiring advancement of functional textiles.