This exuberant collection celebrates the way in which astonishing new textile technology is bringing together fashion, design, engineering, and science. Synthetics are now much more than cheap substitutes for natural fibers: they feel good, perform well, and look out of this world--literally. Smart textiles are no longer a science-fiction fantasy; here are self-cleaning carpets and anti-insomniac microfibers. Engineered textiles combine fabric with glass, ceramics, metal, or carbon to produce lightweight hybrids with incredible properties. Sophisticated finishes, such as silicone coatings and holographic laminates, transform color, texture, and even form. The book is illustrated throughout with the work of leading designers in the USA, Europe, and Japan: Issey Miyake, Donna Karan, Helmut Lang, Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garons, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Alexander McQueen, and many more. A comprehensive reference section includes biographies of artists, makers, and developers; explanations of technical terms; a directory of suppliers; a full bibliography; and information on where to see contemporary textiles.