Info For:

Genevieve Dion

Professor and Director of Center for Functional Fabrics and Pennsylvania Fabric Discovery Center
Expertise wearable technology fashion technology smart garments

Dion is an award-winning fashion designer with an extensive background in bespoke design and industrial design. Her collections have been sold at Bergdorf Goodman and Barneys in New York City and Holt Renfrew in Canada. Her work on permanently pleated silk is in the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert museum in London and the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco. Dion presented at TEDxPhiladelphia and was named one of Fast Company's "100 Most Creative People in Business 2014."

She is the director of the Center for Functional Fabrics and Pennsylvania Fabric Discovery Center and was founder of the Shima Seiki Haute Technology Lab in Drexel's Expressive and Creative Interaction Technologies (ExCITe) Center. Dion is at the center of collaborative research with partners from across the University. Her current work includes multidisciplinary research on knitted electronic components, smart fabrics, versatile mass production and wearable technology.

Contact

215.895.1010 genevieve.dion@drexel.edu

Media Inquiries

Britt Faulstick

britt.faulstick@drexel.edu 215.895.2617

In The News

Fabric With Mxene Can Block Electromagnetic Waves
Jan 25, 2021
Research by Yury Gogotsi, PhD, Distinguished University and Bach professor in the College of Engineering, and Genevieve Dion, a professor in Westphal College and director of the Center for Functional Fabrics, about MXene-coated fabric that can block electromagnetic interference, was featured in a Jan. 25 Advanced Textiles Source post.
MXene Coating Could Protect Wearables From EMI
Dec 14, 2020
Research showing that MXene-coated fabrics can block electromagnetic interference, led by Yury Gogotsi, PhD, Distinguished University and Bach professor in the College of Engineering, and Genevieve Dion, a professor in Westphal College of Media Arts & Design and director of the Center for Functional Fabrics, was featured in a Dec. 14 post on The Engineer (UK).
‘Outlaw’ Pa. Businesses Make Coronavirus Masks Without State Approval
Apr 8, 2020
Genevieve Dion, a professor in Westphal Colllege of Media Arts & Design and director of Drexel’s Center for Functional Fabrics, was mentioned in an April 8 WHYY.org story about textile manufacturers throughout the state transitioning their operations to make face masks and personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic.
Drexel University Working to Fill Critical Need for COVID-19 Masks and Respirators
Mar 25, 2020
Genevieve Dion, a professor in Westphal College of Media Arts & Design and director of Drexel’s Center for Functional Fabrics, and Charles Cairns, MD, dean of the College of Medicine, were quoted in a March 25 Philadelphia Inquirer story about how local manufacturers are pitching in to produce masks for health care workers.
Are Smartshirts Next?
Jan 29, 2020
Conductive MXene yarn research by Yury Gogotsi, PhD, Distinguished University and Bach professor in the College of Engineering; Geneveive Dion, a professor in Westphal College of Media Arts & Design and director of Drexel’s Center for Functional Fabrics; and Simge Uzun, a doctoral candidate in the College of Engineering, was featured in a Jan. 29 Yale Scientific magazine story about the future of wearable technology.
Tech Takeover: Drexel University
Dec 18, 2019
Genevieve Dion, a professor in Westphal College and director of the Center for Functional Fabrics; and Chelsea Amanatides, senior testing technician in the Center, and Rich Vallett, a doctoral candidate in the College of Engineering, were featured in a Dec. 18 PBS "Tech Takeover" story about their research in the Center to develop applications for advanced fabrics. The piece aired locally on WLVT-TV (PBS-39).
A Knittable and Washable Conducting Yarn for Functional Textiles
Nov 22, 2019
Yury Gogotsi, PhD, Distinguished University and Bach professor in the College of Engineering, was quoted in a Nov. 22 Advanced Science News story about his research with Genevieve Dion, a professor in Westphal College and director of the Center for Functional Fabrics, to develop MXene-coated conductive yarn.
Drexel Announces Development of New Conductive Yarns
Nov 11, 2019
Genevieve Dion, a professor in Westphal College and director of the Center for Functional Fabrics, was quoted in a Nov. 11 Advanced Textile Source story about the opening of a new space for the Center that will also be the host of the Pennsylvania Fabric Discovery Center.
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Related Articles

Following the Thread: Drexel’s TopoKnit System Lays the Groundwork for Universal Design of Functional Fabrics
Feb 25, 2022
A team of researchers at Drexel University is translating the loops and twists that makeup a knitted textile into a digital architecture of knitting — a key step in the process of incorporating new technologies into textiles
MXene yarn nanoscale That New Yarn?! — Wearable, Washable Textile Devices Are Possible With MXene-Coated Yarns
Oct 10, 2019
Drexel University researchers have figured out how to add more conductivity into functional fabric devices, by coating yarns with a two-dimensional carbon-based material called MXene, to make conductive threads. The group has developed a dip-coating method, similar to the dyeing process, that can produce a conductive yarn strong enough for use in industrial knitting machines and durable enough to make it through wash cycles without degrading.
capacitive touch sensor Drexel to Host Pennsylvania's Center For Advanced Fabric Manufacturing Innovation
Nov 14, 2017
The Department of Defense’s effort to bring America to the forefront of textile technology manufacturing and innovation is gaining a strategic foothold in the region. Drexel University, in collaboration with DoD-supported Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA), is establishing a statewide center that will help companies, entrepreneurs and innovators take their advanced-textile concepts from prototype to product and prepare America’s workforce for the quality jobs this growing sector is generating. Called the “Pennsylvania Fabric Discovery Center,” this statewide resource is the first hub located outside of AFFOA’s home state of Massachusetts. It will be part of a national network intended to lower the barrier to commercialization for functional fabrics, resulting in advanced textiles that do things like see, hear, sense, communicate, generate and store energy.
textile Holding Energy By The Threads: Drexel Researchers Spin Cotton Into Capacitive Yarn
Mar 5, 2015
A Drexel doctorate student is leading the charge on researching conductive yarns that have the flexibility of a cotton T-shirt but the energy storage that would make the Energizer Bunny proud.
Genevieve Dion Genevieve Dion Named 'Scientist of the Year' at 2014 Philadelphia Geek Awards
Aug 18, 2014
Drexel University’s Genevieve Dion, an associate professor in the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, was named “Scientist of the Year” at the 2014 Philadelphia Geek Awards in recognition of her groundbreaking work in developing wearable technology.
Philly Geek Awards Drexel Faculty, Students Among Nominees For 2014 Philadelphia Geek Awards
Jul 7, 2014
The annual Philadelphia Geek Awards have once again recognized the work of Drexel University’s faculty and students as some of the best examples of the city’s vibrant geek community over the past year.
belly band model Drexel Researchers Develop Smart Fabric Belly Band
May 19, 2014
Tummy snugging maternity wear could soon be giving expecting parents peace of mind in addition to stylishly securing waistlines. Researchers at Drexel University are combining fashion design with wireless technology to produce a belly band that will be able to monitor uterine contractions and fetal heart rate in real time.
How-To Meets High-Tech In Drexel Engineers' Award-Winning Graphic
Feb 6, 2014
The team of Drexel University engineers who came up with a way to knit an energy storage device have now been recognized by the National Science Foundation for their skill in showing how they did it.

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