Episode 90
Inventing the Technology Is Easy — Proving It Works Is the Hard Part
Why Wearable Textile Innovation Struggles With Testing Costs, Proof Requirements, and Scaling Production.
About This Episode
Wearable technology in textiles is advancing quickly, but proving the science and scaling production remains difficult.
In this episode, Matther Kolmes from Supreme Corporation explains how his company evolved from producing cut-resistant safety clothing into developing advanced textile technologies, including conductive yarn sensors and fabrics designed to improve circulation and healing.
The conversation explores the challenges of validating new textile technologies, working with research institutions like NASA Langley, and the difficulty of scaling wearable tech products from prototypes into mass production.
Key Discussion Takeaways & Themes
- ✓From Lab Prototype to Full Production: Overcoming the notorious valley of death between inventing conductive smart yarns and manufacturing millions of yards.
- ✓Defense & Berry Amendment Smart Textiles: Meeting rigorous military durability standards for soldier monitoring and wearable tactical sensors.
- ✓Protecting Proprietary IP: Safeguarding textile manufacturing patents and custom machinery modifications in competitive global markets.
- ✓Joint Development Agreements: Structuring research partnerships with universities and enterprise defense primes without giving away factory control.
Featured Guest
Matthew Kolmes
CEO · Supreme Corporation
Recorded Mar 04 2026
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