E-textiles

E-textiles are textile objects that integrate electronic components such as sensors, lights, or actuators into their design. They combine traditional textile techniques (sewing, embroidery, weaving) with electronic circuitry, often using conductive yarn or thread to create circuits. In accessibility research, e-textiles bridge textile crafting and accessible making—researchers explore how to make e-textile fabrication itself accessible to makers with disabilities, while also developing e-textile-based assistive technologies. E-textiles offer advantages for accessibility work due to their softness, flexibility, and the transferability of existing textile craft skills.