# Interactive Social Apparel MIT Invented Social Textiles to Make Social Media More Tangible By Alyson Wyers | Published 2015-02-16 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/social-textiles References: [fastcodesign](http://www.fastcodesign.com/3042387/mit-invents-a-social-network-you-can-wear) & [fluid.media.mit.edu](http://fluid.media.mit.edu/social-textiles) Social Textiles is a [social network](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/socialai) you can physically wear. The interactive apparel is the result of a collaboration between Fluid Interface Group and [MIT's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wearable-kit) Tangible Media Group. The project began when a small group of MIT students (Judith Amores, Katsuya Fujii, Viirj Kan and Chang Long Zhu Jin) wanted to address the problem of making social media more tangible. Social Textiles currently exists as a t-shirt printed with [thermochromatic ink](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/programmable-clothing) and a thin circuit membrane underneath. The garment syncs to your smartphone using Bluetooth technology, enabling it to notify you with a buzzing collar when someone in the vicinity (12 feet) shares your interests. Symbols on the shirt also light up and indicate when you and your new friend make physical contact. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.0/10 - Popularity: 46% | Activity: 66% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [AI](https://www.trendhunter.com/ai) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Social Textiles:** Developing wearable technology that integrates social media and physical interactions. - **Tangibility in Social Media:** Creating physical manifestations of social media interactions for a more immersive experience. - **Interactive Apparel:** Designing garments with embedded technology that facilitate social connections and information exchange. ### Who This Affects Most - **Fashion:** Exploring innovative ways to integrate technology into clothing to enhance social experiences. - **Wearable Technology:** Developing wearable devices that bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds. - **Social Media:** Leveraging physical interactions and tangible elements to transform the social media landscape. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Thermal Stress-Monitoring Apparel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mij-technology.md) - [Wearable Communication Vests](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/inxects-vest.md) - [Connection-Driven Apparel Lines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cool-to-connect-1.md) - [Human-Computer Interaction Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tech-at-meta.md) - [AR Fashion Creations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eternitee-ar-platform.md) - [Touch Message Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bond-touch-4.md) - [Reactive Robotic Textile Technologies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/motorskins-selk.md) - [Robot Skin Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reskin.md) - [Experimental Programmable Clothing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/programmable-clothing.md)