About

Cassandra Kwon is an Assistant Professor in the Textiles Complex at NC State University's Wilson College of Textiles. Her areas of expertise include Functional Textile Design, Product Development, Protective Textiles, and Testing and Materials Evaluation. Her research focuses on these fields, contributing to the development of innovative textile solutions and advancing knowledge in textile comfort, protective textiles, and material testing. She is involved in research activities related to textile design, product development, and protective textiles, working within the context of the Zeis Textiles Extension and the Wilson College of Textiles.

Research topics

• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Psychology
• Environmental health
• Geography
• Human–computer interaction
• Medicine

Selected publications

• WholeGarment® Knitting of Insecticide-Free, Comfortable Clothing with Anti-Mosquito Protection

  Textiles · 2026-02-13

  articleOpen access

  Deployed armed forces and the public engaged in outdoor activities are at high risk for mosquito bites and the diseases they transmit. Current mosquito bite-resistant garments prevent blood-feeding with slow-release insecticide formulations. Many people today want to avoid contact with pesticides, especially in their clothing. Insecticide treated clothing also is costly and requires regulatory agency approvals. Using mosquito bite-resistant mathematical textile models and a WholeGarment® knitting technique, a seamless garment was constructed with military-compliant, no-melt, no-drip flame retardant yarns using an AiryPique knit architecture. The garment was 99.5% bite proof in walk-in cage bioassays with 200 Aedes aegypti host-seeking mosquitoes where the human subjects did not move for 20 min. A standard flame test and a PyroManTM flammability study validated the garment’s fire protection, a requirement for military uniforms. The thermal physiological comfort tests (air permeability, wetting time/radius, thermal resistance, evaporative resistance, and sweating thermal manikin test) were similar to current army combat uniforms and appropriate for use in everyday clothing. Bite prevention occurred by physically blocking the insect mouth parts from obtaining a blood meal. The knitting technique is well-suited for mass production of bite-resistant clothing through automation, significantly reducing labor, time, and cost by optimizing “fit on demand” for different body types compared to traditional manufacturing methods. This innovation provides a non-insecticidal, safe, scalable, and efficient solution for protecting individuals against mosquito bites.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The suitability of personal protective clothing sizing standards for U.S. structural female firefighters

  Fire Safety Journal · 2026-03-29

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Validating a Remote 3D Body Scanning App for Anthropometric Data Collection

  2025-12-10

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Historiography of politics of public square : Examining Free Speech at the Hannam-dong Protests

  The Korea Journal of Donghak Studies · 2025-03-31

  article1st authorCorresponding

  본 연구의 목적은 대중집회를 기술과 시대정신, 인간 자원의 정치경제적, 사회문화적 총체로 주목하고, 광장정치의 정동을 살피고자 하는 것이다. 특히 집회의 자유발언을 살펴 2024년 윤석열 대통령 탄핵 국면에 열린 광장정치를 독해하는 데 기여하고, 나아가 민주화 이후 민주화항쟁인 촛불항쟁의 연장선에서 광장정치의 역사 쓰기에 일조하고자 한다. 본 연구는 윤석열 대통령의 체포 불응 국면에 대응했던 무박 3일의 한남동 집회의 자유발언을 분석했다. 한남동 집회는 2024년 광장정치의 분기점이 된 ‘남태령대첩’과 함께 소수자들의 연대가 돋보인 현장으로, 민주노총이 주최한 집회에 많은 시민들이 합류했다. 노동자와 농민을 비롯한 많은 소수자들은 정치사회적 주체로서의 시민의 권리를 주장하였다. 자유발언자들은 청(소)년 여성과 성소수자들을 비롯하여 젠더와 성정체성, 계급, 학력, 장애, 민족, 신념, 연령, 지역이 교차되는 자본주의 억압 구조에서 주변화된 기층 민중이라 할 만한 사람들로, 정체성 정치에서 출발하여 소수자 연대를 확장하고자 시도했다. 광장에는 감사와 사랑, 존경과 함께 자신의 일상이 공시적, 통시적으로 빚져있다는 깨달음의 정서인 부끄러움의 정서가 특징적이었다. 광장의 사람들은 연대의 기억을 살려나가기 위한 기억 투쟁을 시작했으며, 동지의 범위와 연대 가능성을 확장함으로써 민주화의 역사를 갱신하고 있다.

  PublisherDOI

• A comparative anthropometric analysis of U.S. female firefighters versus the general female population

  Journal of Safety Research · 2025-02-26 · 4 citations

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Assessing Full-Body Measurement Accuracy of a Remote Body Scanner to Enhance PPE Fit for U.S. Female Firefighters

  Lecture notes in computer science · 2025-01-01 · 2 citations

  book-chapterSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• A review of woven textile circuit boards: fundamentals, development strategies, and joining techniques

  Smart Materials and Structures · 2025-12-09

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Abstract Most commercially available electronic textile (e-textile) products and research prototypes rely on conventional printed circuit boards (PCBs) for integrating electronic functionality. However, these rigid PCBs offer limited flexibility, are prone to mechanical failure when subjected to stretching or repeated deformation and add significant bulk to the textile form. Woven textile circuit boards (WTCBs) offer a promising alternative by incorporating electronic components directly into the fabric structure. While prior studies have investigated circuit integration in textiles, a comprehensive review of WTCBs is still lacking. This review aims to address that gap. It begins with an overview of woven e-textile fundamentals, including loom types and mechanisms, weave structures, and the role of weaving parameters in determining textile performance. It then examines the methods reported for developing WTCBs and reviews the interconnect materials and joining techniques used in their fabrication. The review concludes with key insights and highlights areas where further investigation is needed. Major findings include the identification of four main approaches for creating WTCBs: woven conductive tracks with external electronics, integration of flexible circuit boards into woven structures, self-contained woven circuit boards, and post-weaving surface integration. Recent studies demonstrate growing interest in both conventional and novel joining techniques; however, further investigation is still needed to enhance their durability and reliability under real-world environmental and mechanical conditions. These findings lay the foundation for designing functional, scalable WTCBs that deliver electronic capability while maintaining the comfort, flexibility, and durability expected from traditional textiles.

  PublisherDOI

• A Comparative Anthropometric Analysis of Female Firefighters versus the General U.S. Female Population

  2025-01-13 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The purpose of this research was to determine if female firefighters in the U.S. are anthropometrically different from the general female population to best inform the design of women's personal protective clothing for the fire service. A comparative analysis contrasting two distinct samples of anthropometric datasets were compared. The first and largest U.S. female firefighter database (n=187), produced by the researchers' previous study, was compared to the USA Size North America survey collected by Humanetics and included U.S. women ages 18-55 (n=4632). Three-dimensional body scanning was utilized to collect both databases. Primary measures of height and bust circumference were identified. On average, female firefighters were found to be 6.7cm taller than the general population. Findings suggest the female firefighter sample in this study had a more uniform, upper body shape and a larger lower body, leg circumference (by 2 cm) compared to the general population.

  PublisherDOI

• Anthropometric Evaluation of NFPA 1977 Sizing System for U.S. Female Wildland Firefighters: A Contingency Table Analysis

  Fire · 2025-07-08

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Ensuring proper sizing and fit for U.S. female firefighters’ personal protective clothing and equipment (PPE) is a crucial challenge for researchers and manufacturers. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) establishes design and performance standards in the U.S., with NFPA 1977 specifying sizing guidelines for wildland firefighting gear. However, the absence of an anthropometric database representing female firefighters limits the effectiveness of these standards. This research evaluates the effectiveness of NFPA 1977 sizing system by investigating whether correlated body measurements maintain internal consistency and provide data-driven recommendations for improvement. Anthropometric data from 187 U.S. female firefighters were analyzed to assess the 2016 and 2022 NFPA 1977 upper and lower torso sizing systems. Correlation analysis was performed between body measurements and corresponding sizes. Contingency tables presented proportion of participants accommodated. Results indicated significant correlations between chest and wrist measurements and sizes in the upper torso, though these were the only available measurements. In the lower torso, hip size strongly correlated with thigh and knee sizes. However, the system inadequately accommodates female firefighters with larger waist and hip measurements. Furthermore, rise sizes demonstrated inconsistent, weak relationships with hip circumference. Overall, the NFPA 1977 sizing requires revision to better serve U.S. female firefighters.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Impact of weaving parameters on the performance of yarn-based interconnects in woven e-textiles: A comprehensive review

  Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics · 2025-09-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  While electronic textiles (e-textiles) hold significant potential for improving everyday life, scalability remains a key challenge, particularly in optimizing circuit routing for effective signal transfer and reliable connections without compromising textile properties. Interconnects are essential for transmitting electrical power, data, and signals within these structures. Weaving, the most commonly used fabric production method, offers distinct advantages for integrating yarn-based interconnects. Despite various studies on weaving techniques for integrating electronic circuits into textiles, a notable gap exists concerning the impact of weaving parameters on interconnect performance. This review addresses this gap by analyzing how weaving parameters, classified into yarn properties, weave construction, machine parameters, fabric properties, and environmental conditions, affect the functionality of yarn-based interconnects. It was revealed that these parameters significantly influence the electrical conductivity, resistivity, reliability, durability, washability, comfort, and mechanical properties of the interconnects. The findings provide a framework for developing flexible, durable, and esthetically appealing woven e-textiles by enhancing the understanding of how weaving parameters influence interconnect performance.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Edward Grant

  North Carolina State University

  4 shared

• Meghan Hegarty‐Craver

  RTI International

  4 shared

• Lawrence D. Reid

  University of Maryland, Baltimore

  4 shared

• William Oxenham

  3 shared

• Meredith McQuerry

  3 shared

• S.H. Cho

  2 shared

• G.M. Park

  Korea Institute of Industrial Technology

  2 shared

• Uikyung Jung

  University of Central Oklahoma

  2 shared