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"Science fiction is the very literature of change. In fact, it is the only such literature we have."
- Frederik Pohl

Fabricules  
  Tiny bits of fabric that were self-cleaning; gloves made of this material always stayed clean.  

Nanotechnology or washday miracle? Actually, both. It is not done by repulsion; apparently, the fabricules do work in ejecting the dirt by some mechanical means. So, the question arises, would you need to recharge your gloves?

...with a quick brush, John and Gwendolyn were able to transfer most of the dirt onto their white gloves. From there it went straight into the air. Most gentlemen's and ladies' gloves nowadays were constructed of infinitesimal fabricules that knew how to eject dirt; you could thrust your gloved hand into mud, and it would be white a few seconds later.
Technovelgy from The Diamond Age, by Neal Stephenson.
Published by Bantam Books in 1995
Additional resources -

Okay, so how do you do the white glove test? You'd need something else to find toner, an interesting bit of technovelgy from the same novel.

Compare to the self-cleaning gym suit from Oryx and Crake (2003) by Margaret Atwood and bio-fabrics from Say Goodby to the Wind (1970) by J.G. Ballard.

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Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from The Diamond Age
  More Ideas and Technology by Neal Stephenson
  Tech news articles related to The Diamond Age
  Tech news articles related to works by Neal Stephenson

Fabricules-related news articles:
  - Self-Cleaning Fabric - Polymer Film Sprinkled With Silver Nanoparticles
  - Self-Cleaning Sportswear
  - Self-Cleaning Wool And Silk Fabrics
  - Gina Cloth-Covered Car From BMW
  - Self-Cleaning SilverSport Gym Gear Uses Nanosilver
  - Superomniphobic Fabrics Are Super Clean
  - Textiles Self-Cleaning In Sunlight
  - Surface Film Repels All Bacteria

Articles related to Clothing
Skip Movewear Arc'teryx AI Pants
Kolors Virtual-Try-On Predicted, And TRIED, By Harry Harrison
Qore IcePlates Are Personal Cooling Suits
Fabrican Dress Sprayed Directly Onto Model On Coperni Runway

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