The Role of Conducting Yarns in Shaping Next-Generation Wearable Sensors: A Review

Integrating conducting yarns into textile technology enables fabrics to sense, communicate, and adapt to both physiological signals and environmental stimuli. The growing demand for wearable technology has driven intense research and development in the field of conducting yarns, which combine flexibility, durability, and conductivity to meet the complex requirements of wearable sensors while maintaining the wearer's comfort and safety. Unlike traditional sensors, conducting yarn-based sensors are easy to integrate with fabrics through techniques such as weaving, knitting, or embroidery. The evolution of conducting-thread-based sensors has converged materials science, electronics, and textile engineering to fit smart functionality into everyday fabrics. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of conducting yarn-based sensors, exploring their material composition, fabrication techniques, sensing mechanisms, and application areas, including healthcare, environmental monitoring, sports, and interactive wearables. The future of conducting yarn-based wearable sensors lies in developing multifunctional, sustainable, and self-powered textiles that push the boundaries of how we interact with clothing and devices, enhancing the role of smart textiles in point-of-care, healthcare, environmental monitoring, industrial safety, and interactive wearables.