E-textile Fasteners & Closures

Dive into the exciting world of e-textile fasteners and learn how to add interactivity into garments and accessories! Electronic textiles, or e-textiles, are fabrics that have digital and electronic components integrated directly into or onto the material. In this workshop, students will learn the basics of how to create a soft switch to add interactivity into everyday garments and accessories. E-textile materials, such as conductive thread and fabric, offer designers and artists a craft-based entry point into the world of interactive circuits. Participants in this workshop will create “switches” through buttons, zippers, clasps, etc. that activate LEDs. No prior experience with electronics or circuits is required. All materials will be supplied, but participants are welcome to bring any accessories or garments with closures/fasteners to augment. There will be a $25 materials fee, due on the day of the workshop. This workshop will be facilitated by Olivia Prior. Olivia (she/her) is an artist, designer, and educator based in Toronto. Her practice is interdisciplinary and always evolving, but is often drawn back to exploring habitual embodied actions through objects and clothing. Throughout the academic year, Olivia instructs courses for wearable technology, new media studio practices, and physical computing at Toronto Metropolitan University and OCADU.