5th International Conference on
Functional
Textiles &
Clothing
IIT Delhi, New Delhi, India
Invitation
The International Conference on Functional Textiles and Clothing (FTC 2027) invites researchers, academicians,
designers, industry leaders, and policymakers from across the world to convene at IIT Delhi, New Delhi, for a
focused dialogue on the future of textiles and apparel.
Since 2018, FTC has grown into a globally recognized platform at the intersection of textile materials, technology, design, and human-centric innovation, bringing together participants from 400+ institutions across nearly 50 countries. What began as an emerging field has now entered the mainstream, transforming how clothing is designed, produced, and experienced.
Today, functional clothing is at the convergence of advanced materials, sustainability, digitalization, healthcare innovation, climate resilience, and the experience economy. Garments are evolving from passive coverings into active systems - monitoring health, enhancing performance, ensuring safety, and responding intelligently to users and environments. The scope of functional textiles has expanded dramatically. Advances in high-performance & functional fibers, conductive materials, bio-based fibres, nanotechnology, fabric & clothing manufacturing technologies, and responsive surfaces are now being integrated with AI, IoT, digital twins, and extended reality, enabling clothing that is adaptive, predictive, and deeply personalized.
At the same time, the field is witnessing a paradigm shift in garment design and production. Technologies such as 3D body scanning, generative design, mass customization, and digital prototyping are transforming how garments are conceived, tested, and delivered. Functional clothing today must not only perform but also address comfort, inclusivity, cultural context, and user experience, making design as critical as engineering.
FTC 2027 builds on this momentum, offering a platform to showcase cutting-edge research, foster collaborations, and engage with the next wave of innovation in functional textiles and clothing. The conference continues to receive support from key national initiatives such as the National Technical Textiles Mission (Ministry of Textiles, Government of India), reflecting its strategic importance in advancing this sector.
Jointly organised by IIT Delhi and the World University of Design (WUD), the conference brings together the strengths of engineering and design to shape the future of this rapidly evolving field.
We warmly invite you to be part of this journey - to present, participate, collaborate, and shape the future of functional textiles and clothing at FTC 2027, New Delhi
Since 2018, FTC has grown into a globally recognized platform at the intersection of textile materials, technology, design, and human-centric innovation, bringing together participants from 400+ institutions across nearly 50 countries. What began as an emerging field has now entered the mainstream, transforming how clothing is designed, produced, and experienced.
Today, functional clothing is at the convergence of advanced materials, sustainability, digitalization, healthcare innovation, climate resilience, and the experience economy. Garments are evolving from passive coverings into active systems - monitoring health, enhancing performance, ensuring safety, and responding intelligently to users and environments. The scope of functional textiles has expanded dramatically. Advances in high-performance & functional fibers, conductive materials, bio-based fibres, nanotechnology, fabric & clothing manufacturing technologies, and responsive surfaces are now being integrated with AI, IoT, digital twins, and extended reality, enabling clothing that is adaptive, predictive, and deeply personalized.
At the same time, the field is witnessing a paradigm shift in garment design and production. Technologies such as 3D body scanning, generative design, mass customization, and digital prototyping are transforming how garments are conceived, tested, and delivered. Functional clothing today must not only perform but also address comfort, inclusivity, cultural context, and user experience, making design as critical as engineering.
FTC 2027 builds on this momentum, offering a platform to showcase cutting-edge research, foster collaborations, and engage with the next wave of innovation in functional textiles and clothing. The conference continues to receive support from key national initiatives such as the National Technical Textiles Mission (Ministry of Textiles, Government of India), reflecting its strategic importance in advancing this sector.
Jointly organised by IIT Delhi and the World University of Design (WUD), the conference brings together the strengths of engineering and design to shape the future of this rapidly evolving field.
We warmly invite you to be part of this journey - to present, participate, collaborate, and shape the future of functional textiles and clothing at FTC 2027, New Delhi
Conference Highlights
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Design & Innovation Contests
FTC 2027 places a strong emphasis on student-led innovation, design thinking, and product development. Two flagship contests are organised to encourage young creators to translate their ideas into tangible, impactful solutions.
The Functional Clothing Contest
The Functional Clothing Contest is FTC’s signature platform celebrating innovation, creativity, functionality, and interdisciplinary exploration within the field of fashion and wearable systems. It showcases how clothing can move beyond aesthetics to deliver meaningful functionality in real-world contexts... Poster Contest The Poster Contest invites students to present innovative concepts, materials, processes, or products developed by them in the domain of functional textiles and clothing. Submissions may span any of the FTC thematic areas. Poster entries will be evaluated by jury members considering:
Top three entries will be awarded cash prizes and certificates. |
Full Paper Template
(For those whose abstract has been accepted for full paper)
(For those whose abstract has been accepted for full paper)
Important Dates
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Selected papers from FTC 2027 conference will be published by Springer as a Proceedings book
volume.
Previous proceedings can be seen below
Book Publication by
Springer-2025
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Book Publication by
Springer-2023
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Book Publication by
Springer-2020
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Book Publication by
Springer-2018 
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FTC Global Excellence Awards 2027
The FTC Global Excellence Awards honour outstanding contributions to the field of Functional
Textiles and Clothing. These awards recognise individuals and organisations whose
leadership, vision, and achievements have significantly advanced textile and apparel
education, research, industry, design, and innovation.
Since its inception in 2018, the International Conference on Functional Textiles and Clothing (FTC) has grown into a premier global platform that brings together students, researchers, academicians, industry leaders, and policymakers to drive progress in this dynamic and rapidly evolving field. The introduction of the FTC Global Excellence Awards in 2024 further strengthens this mission by celebrating excellence and recognising those who are shaping the future of functional textiles and clothing.
The awards acknowledge both distinguished lifetime achievements and outstanding emerging contributions across academia, research, industry, and design. By honouring excellence, innovation, and impact, the FTC Global Excellence Awards seek to inspire the next generation of leaders and foster continued advancement of the field worldwide
Since its inception in 2018, the International Conference on Functional Textiles and Clothing (FTC) has grown into a premier global platform that brings together students, researchers, academicians, industry leaders, and policymakers to drive progress in this dynamic and rapidly evolving field. The introduction of the FTC Global Excellence Awards in 2024 further strengthens this mission by celebrating excellence and recognising those who are shaping the future of functional textiles and clothing.
The awards acknowledge both distinguished lifetime achievements and outstanding emerging contributions across academia, research, industry, and design. By honouring excellence, innovation, and impact, the FTC Global Excellence Awards seek to inspire the next generation of leaders and foster continued advancement of the field worldwide
Call for Nominations:
The FTC Global Excellence Awards invite nominations from individuals and organisations that are advancing the frontiers of Functional Textiles and Clothing through research, innovation, design, education, and industrial practice. We welcome nominations for those whose work has created significant impact within the field and contributed to its continued growth and transformation. Self-nominations are encouraged.1. Lifetime Achievement
Eligibility: Individuals from academia, research organisations, and industryThe Lifetime Achievement Award recognises individuals who have made exceptional and sustained contributions to the field of Functional Textiles and Clothing over the course of their careers. Nominees should have demonstrated at least 25 years of impactful work in research, innovation, education, or industrial practice. Their contributions should have significantly influenced the advancement of the field through pioneering research, transformative technologies, industry leadership, or the successful translation of knowledge into real-world applications.
2. Leadership in Research
Eligibility: Individuals from academia and research organisationsThis award honours outstanding leadership and excellence in research related to Functional Textiles and Clothing. Nominees should be established researchers with a minimum of 15 years of experience and a proven record of leading impactful research programmes. Evidence of excellence may include high-impact scholarly contributions, innovative research methodologies, successful acquisition of competitive funding, development of novel materials or technologies, and meaningful contributions to the growth and mentorship of the next generation of researchers.
3. Industrial Impact
Eligibility: Individuals or organisations from industryThe Industrial Impact Award recognises outstanding achievements in the development, commercialisation, and implementation of functional textile technologies and products. Nominees should have demonstrated significant influence on industry practices, consumer experiences, or societal outcomes through innovation and entrepreneurship. Contributions may include breakthroughs in product development, manufacturing technologies, sustainability initiatives, ethical business practices, or successful industry–academia partnerships that have accelerated the adoption of new technologies.
4. Design Impact Award
Eligibility: Individuals from industry, design, and creative practiceThe Design Impact Award celebrates excellence in the design and development of innovative functional textile and apparel solutions. Nominees should have demonstrated exceptional creativity in integrating functionality, user needs, aesthetics, and sustainability into their work. Their contributions may include the creation of pioneering products, design methodologies, wearable technologies, or innovative approaches that have advanced the role of design within the functional textiles and clothing sector and show strong potential for lasting impact. Submit your nominations now! Self nominations are also welcome.
Submit your nominations now! Self nominations are also welcome.
Nomination Deadline: 15th December, 2026
Submit your nominations and help recognise those who are defining the future of Functional
Textiles and
Clothing.
Nomination Link: Updating
Soon...
FTC TRAILBLAZERS
Encouraged by the popularity of this event in FTC 2025, we are delighted to present FTC 2027 Trailblazers - a
special fireside chat series featuring distinguished alumni and industry leaders who are shaping the future of
textiles and apparel.
This curated conversation brings together visionary entrepreneurs and professionals who have built or transformed organisations into leaders in their respective domains, spanning functional textiles, technical fabrics, performance apparel, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing.
Through an engaging and informal dialogue, the session offers participants a rare opportunity to gain first-hand insights into entrepreneurial journeys, innovation pathways, industry challenges, and emerging opportunities in the rapidly evolving world of functional textiles and clothing.
Speakers and schedule will be announced soon. Stay tuned.
This curated conversation brings together visionary entrepreneurs and professionals who have built or transformed organisations into leaders in their respective domains, spanning functional textiles, technical fabrics, performance apparel, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing.
Through an engaging and informal dialogue, the session offers participants a rare opportunity to gain first-hand insights into entrepreneurial journeys, innovation pathways, industry challenges, and emerging opportunities in the rapidly evolving world of functional textiles and clothing.
Speakers and schedule will be announced soon. Stay tuned.