Smart Textiles Market

Global Smart Textiles Market:

The global smart textiles market size reached US$ 4.1 Billion in 2023. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach US$ 24.6 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 21.5% during 2024-2032. The growing popularity of the Internet of Things (IoT) devices, coupled with continuous advancements in material science, are fueling the market across the globe.

Smart Textiles Market Analysis:

• Major Market Drivers: The rising usage of smart textiles as an interface for IoT applications is one of the primary factors stimulating the market. Besides this, the increasing support from government bodies that can help small startups to scale and encourage collaborations between technology companies and textile manufacturers are also acting as significant growth-inducing factors.
• Key Market Trends: The inflating focus of key players on adopting eco-friendly processes and materials in smart textiles production is one of the emerging trends bolstering the global market. Besides this, various developments in sensor technology are further fueling the growth of the market.
• Geographical Trends: North America exhibits a clear dominance in the overall market. This can be attributed to extensive investments, particularly in the healthcare and defense sectors. Moreover, the introduction of fabrics that can provide lumbar support and regulate temperature is positively influencing the regional market.
• Competitive Landscape: According to the smart textiles market overview, some of the prominent players include Adidas AG, AiQ Smart Clothing Inc., Clothing+, Dupont De Nemours Inc., Gentherm Incorporated, Google LLC, Interactive Wear AG, Ohmatex A/S, Schoeller Textil AG, Sensoria Inc., Texas Instruments Incorporated, Textronics, and Vista Medical Ltd., among many others.
• Challenges and Opportunities: The growing integration of advanced materials and electronic components into textiles can extensively elevate the cost of production. This, in turn, can make smart textiles less accessible to a wider market, limiting their adoption primarily to high-end consumers or niche applications. However, the launch of wearable tech products, including smart clothing, is expected to catalyze the market in the coming years.
   

Smart Textiles Market Trends:

Rising Importance among Fitness Enthusiasts

Smart textiles are gaining widespread traction in the fitness industry, owing to their ability to improve workout experiences and offer actionable insights into performance and health. This integration aids users in adjusting their routines based on accurate physiological data, optimizing their workouts more effectively, setting personalized goals, etc. For example, Nextiles, one of the textile manufacturing firms, entered the sports and performance industry by introducing smart thread technology that records biomechanical and physiological data. The company developed the flexible cloth used in everyday sportswear by integrating conventional stitching methods with printed circuit boards. Nextiles' fabrics enable biometric and biomechanic sensing recorded on one platform, owing to the patented production technique. Furthermore, these textiles are specifically designed to provide comfort as compared to traditional workout clothes, while also adopting advanced functionalities. They eliminate the requirement for additional devices, including chest straps and wrist-worn fitness trackers, thereby offering a seamless and more comfortable workout experience. For example, in January 2023, Dr. Yuanyuan Guo, one of the assistant professors at the Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, led a team of researchers to launch a microelectronic fiber with microscopic parameters capable of analyzing metabolites and electrolytes in sweat, thereby driving the smart textiles market outlook. Besides this, the emerging health and wellness trends are also propelling the use of smart clothing in the sports and fitness industry, which is contributing to a more active lifestyle among individuals. Additionally, these clothes are designed to sync with smartphones and fitness apps. For instance, one of the companies called Wearable X introduced their one-of-a-kind smart yoga pants, known as Nadi X. These pants provide haptic feedback by enabling small vibrations on the body part that needs to be adjusted. Moreover, they are connected via an app that offers instructions on how to perfect each pose, thereby creating a personalized yoga experience.

Continuous Innovations in Material Science

Various researchers across the globe are conducting R&D activities by incorporating conductive polymers, nano materials, and other advanced materials into traditional fabrics to improve the functionality of smart textiles. This strengthens the market. For example, in April 2023, some of the researchers in the UK achieved a significant advancement by producing the world's inaugural smart fabric capable of transforming its color and shape in response to two distinct stimuli, namely heat and electricity. Moreover, these innovations in material science enable the introduction of textiles with highly specialized capabilities that can be customized for specific applications, ranging from consumer electronics to military. For instance, in February 2023, collaborative efforts between researchers at the University of Cambridge and the Aalto University in Finland resulted in the development of innovative textiles capable of changing their shape in response to temperature variations. Apart from this, these advancements offer characteristics such as high durability, electrical conductivity, and the ability to interact with the surrounding environment, which is augmenting the smart textiles market demand. For example, engineers at Stanford University developed a low-cost plastic clothing material that could cool the body more efficiently than synthetic or natural fabrics.

Extensive Applications in Fashion

Smart fabrics in the manufacturing of clothes enable individuals to interact with their surroundings and communicate via the usage of conductive yarn or embedded sensors. In addition to this, designers are launching new and aesthetically pleasing outfits integrated with advanced technologies. Moreover, various brands, including Lululemon and Uniqlo, adopt smart fabrics to set their collections, which represents one of the smart textiles market recent opportunities. Besides this, some of the prominent players in the fashion industry, such as Levis and Tommy Hilfiger, along with other companies, including Loomia, Hexoskin, Sensora, CuteCircuit, etc., are offering their clothing with smart fabrics to set their collections ahead of the others. For example, CuteCircuit utilizes smart fabrics for its haute couture collections. Furthermore, Spinali Design, one of the startups in France, produces high-end beachwear with integrated ultraviolet light sensors that inform wearers regarding the time to apply sunscreen and distance trackers. Over the years, Google worked with Levi Straus to introduce a smart jean jacket under Project Jacquard. Additionally, key players are focusing on adopting eco-friendly materials, thereby acting as another significant growth-inducing factor. For instance, in May 2023, Schoeller Textil AG announced the launch of its new sustainable collection, Re-Source, as part of its comprehensive brand strategy. The collection was introduced by using recycled materials from both bio-based and spandex fabrics, while providing modern design and high functionality. Besides this, numerous advancements in wearable technology are expected to stimulate the market in the coming years. For example, Microsoft implemented and developed Brookdale, a prototyping system for wearable technology. It encouraged fashion designers to incorporate and program new technologies into their creations, thus bridging the gap between technology and fashion.

Smart Textiles Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with smart textiles market forecasts at the global, regional, and country levels for 2024-2032. Our report has categorized the market based on the type, functionality and end-use sector.

Breakup by Type:

• Passive Smart Textile
• Active Smart Textile
   

Active holds the largest market share

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the type. This includes passive and active smart textiles. According to the report, active smart textile accounted for the largest market share.

The market in this segmentation is primarily propelled by the rising applications of active smart textiles across various industries, such as automotive, healthcare, aerospace, etc. These textiles offer enhanced comfort, performance, and monitoring capabilities. Moreover, they adapt and change their functionality in response to the external environment. For example, Loomia Technologies Inc. introduced the Loomia Electronic Layer (LEL) that can be integrated directly into the garment, providing a subtle yet comfortable climate for wearers. Besides this, government grants and increased funding for research in the IoT and material science further accelerate the growth of this segmentation, which is driving the smart textiles market revenue.

Breakup by Functionality:

• Sensing
• Energy Harvesting
• Luminescence and Aesthetics
• Thermoelectricity
• Others
   

Energy harvesting accounts for the majority of the market share

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the functionality. This includes sensing, energy harvesting, luminescence and aesthetics, thermoelectricity, and others. According to the report, energy harvesting accounted for the largest market share.

Energy harvesting functionality in smart textiles is gaining considerable traction, owing to the inflating focus on sustainability and the efficient usage of resources. These textiles have the capability to store and capture energy from several sources like thermal, solar, and mechanical energy. For instance, in April 2023, a team at Cambridge University developed a fabric that would incorporate LEDs, energy harvesting, storage capabilities, and sensors into clothing. Additionally, it finds applications in off-grid and remote areas where conventional energy sources are scarce. Industries, including healthcare, adopt energy-harvesting textiles for powering medical sensors without the requirement for frequent battery replacements, which is elevating the smart textiles market recent price. Apart from this, the emerging trend towards using the Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which need constant power, is further propelling the demand for energy-harvesting smart textiles. As sectors and consumers continue to prioritize sustainable options, the market for smart textiles with energy-harvesting functionalities is projected to witness significant growth over the forecasted period.

Breakup by End-Use Sector:

• Military and Protection
• Healthcare
• Sports and Fitness
• Fashion and Entertainment
• Transportation
• Architecture
• Others
   

Military and protection hold the largest market segmentation

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the end-use sector. This includes military and protection, healthcare, sports and fitness, fashion and entertainment, transportation, architecture, and others. According to the report, military and protection accounted for the largest market share.

The increasing need for improved safety, performance, and communication among defense personnel fuels the growth in this segmentation. Besides this, smart textiles offer a wide array of functionalities tailored for military applications, such as body temperature regulation, advanced camouflage, integrated communication systems, etc. For example, UMass Lowell develops carbon-based transistors, high frequency printed conformal antennas, photonic devices, wearable antennas, etc., for military applications. Furthermore, textiles with built-in GPS and communication systems can enhance situational awareness and team coordination. According to the smart textiles market statistics, in May 2022, researchers in the U.S. introduced wearable gas sensors integrated with uniforms. These sensors find military applications to monitor the health and safety of soldiers in case of hazardous incidents. Apart from this, government authorities are emphasizing domestic production and self-sufficiency in critical defense technologies, thereby augmenting the use of smart textile solutions. For instance, in September 2022, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) announced that they signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Troop Comforts Limited (TCL) to introduce smart protective clothing for security forces in India.

Breakup by Region:

• North America
  • United States
  • Canada
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Indonesia
  • Others
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • United Kingdom
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Russia
  • Others
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Others
• Middle East and Africa
   

North America exhibits a clear dominance, accounting for the largest smart textiles market share

The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include North America (the United States and Canada); Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, and others); Europe (Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, and others); Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and others); and the Middle East and Africa. According to the report, North America accounted for the largest market share.

The regional market is augmented, owing to the extensive investments in R&D activities to launch adaptive thermal clothing that could help control the microclimate around each individual. For example, Kestrel Materials commercializes thermally adaptive garment technology based on textile bimorph structure. Moreover, technological innovations and strong institutional support by government bodies in the form of grants and subsidies are also acting as significant growth-inducing factors in North America. For instance, the military in Canada used full-fabric keyboards in its IAV Stryker units. They are designed to be more comfortable for transport. Similarly, Acellent Technologies Inc., one of the companies in the U.S., in collaboration with the U.S. Army, developed a smart armor system to monitor body armor structures. Apart from this, several other factors, including regulatory frameworks, the inflating popularity of IoT devices, extensive applications in healthcare, etc., are projected to stimulate the smart textiles market in North America over the foreseeable future.

Competitive Landscape:

Smart textiles market companies are integrating sensors, conductive materials, and microelectronics into fabrics. Along with this, they are concentrating on creating wearable tech products such as smart clothing, fitness trackers, and health monitoring garments. These innovations often involve monitoring vital signs, tracking physical activity, and providing real-time data to users. In addition, smart textiles are being developed for healthcare purposes, including remote patient monitoring, wound care, and smart compression garments. These textiles have the potential to enhance patient comfort and improve medical outcomes. Additionally, smart textiles are used in automotive interiors to enhance comfort and safety. Companies are developing fabrics that can regulate temperature, provide lumbar support, and even detect driver fatigue. Furthermore, brands are working on sustainable smart textiles by incorporating eco-friendly materials and manufacturing processes. This aligns with the growing demand for environmentally responsible products.

The market research report has provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Detailed profiles of all major companies have also been provided. Some of the key players in the market include:

• Adidas AG
• AiQ Smart Clothing Inc.
• Clothing+
• Dupont De Nemours Inc.
• Gentherm Incorporated
• Google LLC
• Interactive Wear AG
• Ohmatex A/S
• Schoeller Textil AG
• Sensoria Inc.
• Texas Instruments Incorporated
• Textronics
• Vista Medical Ltd.
   

(Please note that this is only a partial list of the key players, and the complete list is provided in the report.)

Smart Textiles Market Recent Developments:

• April 2024: Crystal International Group Limited launched its revolutionary “Smart-Fit” denim jeans. It partnered with industry pioneers, including LYCRA and Advance Denim, to develop a collection of nine pairs of jeans that seamlessly blend comfort and body-enhancing features.
• April 2024: Xiaomi has introduced its latest smart home appliance, called the Mijia Smart Invisible Clothes Dryer. It provides features, including a built-in 36W light with adjustable color temperature and brightness. It even provides a night light mode for a gentle glow, which you can control via the Mijia app.
• March 2024: The Central Institute of Research on Cotton Technology (ICAR) in Mumbai organized a 3-day training on ‘Smart Textiles and its Evaluation’ under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan scheme of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. This was conducted for scheduled caste community candidates so that they could upgrade their skills and expertise in smart textiles.

Smart Textiles Market Report Scope:

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s industry report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the smart textiles market from 2018-2032.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the smart textiles market.
• The study maps the leading, as well as the fastest-growing, regional markets. It further enables stakeholders to identify the key country-level markets within each region.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the smart textiles industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.