In some circumstances were need to be highly visible - when on the road at night . Security forces and the military often want to remain invisible, either by blending into the surroundings using camouflage or reducing their visible and infra-red emissions. In addition Smart Clothing needs to communicate with its wearer and those around and so illuminated for reflective displays are increasingly being integrated.

Passive Functions

Provide Retroreflective properties in textile materials

A technology has been created to convert proprietary materials into miniature reflectors that, when imbedded into fabric by the millions, reflect oncoming light, such as automobile headlights, in a way that illuminates the full silhouette of a person, bicycle or any other object.
The reflectors are smaller than a grain of sand and finer than a human hair. They can be imbedded into the weave of almost any fabric. The end result is a fabric that remains soft to the touch and retains its function and fashion. During the day, the treated fabrics are indistinguishable from untreated fabrics.