According to a recent research report by The Insight Partners, the Global Smart Textile Market is expected to reach US$ 13.63 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 26.1% during the forecast period 2019-2027. This growth is attributed to factors such as increasing demand for wearable technology and the increasing use of smart textiles in various industries such as healthcare, sports, and the military.
The integration of smart textiles and interactive fabrics has numerous applications in personal health management. These fabrics can be equipped with sensors and actuators that can collect and process data about the user’s health and environment, and then transmit that data to a connected device for analysis and storage. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we monitor and manage our health, and could be particularly useful in emergency situations or for individuals with chronic conditions.
One of the key advantages of smart textiles is their ability to integrate sensors directly into the fabric, allowing for continuous monitoring without the need for bulky or invasive devices. This can also provide greater comfort and convenience for the user, as the sensors can be integrated into clothing or other everyday items.
Another advantage of smart textiles is their ability to respond to stimuli from the environment or the user’s body. For example, they can change color or pattern in response to changes in temperature or humidity, or they can adjust their stretch or elasticity in response to the user’s movements. This can provide valuable information about the user’s environment or health status, and can also be used to create interactive and responsive clothing or other textile products.
Overall, the integration of smart textiles and interactive fabrics has the potential to greatly improve the quality of personal health management and could have a significant impact on the healthcare industry in the future.
Smart textiles are also being explored for use in the transport industry to improve the safety and comfort of travelers. Control panels can be used to activate heated seats, airbags, and other features, while vital data can be used to detect early signs of fatigue and warn the driver. BeBop sensors, for example, have developed a smart fabric sensor technology loaded with an Automotive Occupant Classification System. These sensors can collect pressure information and movement data from the entire seat in real time, providing a comprehensive view of the occupant’s physical contact with the seat. This data can be used to determine occupant size and weight, as well as to identify any changes in position or posture.
Overall, the transport industry represents a significant opportunity for smart textile players, as the use of these technologies can help to improve the safety and comfort of travelers while also providing valuable data for monitoring and improving the performance of vehicles. The use of smart textiles in the transport industry is predicted to grow significantly over the coming years, creating a large and lucrative market for companies that are able to develop and commercialize these technologies.
The smart textile market has been growing rapidly across the globe, with the market trends and revenue generation factors being influenced by five major regions – North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, MEA, and SAM. North America holds the largest market share, while Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the coming years.
The military sector is a significant contributor to the smart textile market, with countries such as India and China investing heavily in military expenditure. This has resulted in a positive impact on the smart textile market, particularly in the procurement of smart technology-based uniforms for soldiers. In addition, the apparel industry in countries such as China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Singapore is taking advantage of smart textiles, driving the growth of the market.
The increasing economic structure in many Asian countries has also boosted military expenditure, leading to a growing demand for smart textiles in the region. With the rising tension and conflicts between countries such as China and Pakistan, the Indian military’s strategic procurement of smart technology-based uniforms has further boosted the market.
Overall, the growing industries in Asia Pacific have the potential to drive the business of the smart textile market, providing significant opportunities for companies in the sector.
The smart textile market by industry vertical is segmented into healthcare, sports & fitness, fashion, military, and automotive. The sports & fitness segment holds the largest market share, while the military is expected to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period.
Smart textiles offer various benefits for soldiers, including protection from infrared and visual light, heat, and sweat. The military and defense sectors globally are focusing on providing well-equipped uniforms integrated with microelectronic materials to enhance soldiers’ performance during war operations.
The smart textile market in the military sector is expected to grow significantly due to the increasing demand for advanced technologies that can improve soldiers’ safety, comfort, and performance. The integration of smart textiles with military uniforms can provide soldiers with a range of benefits, including protection from harmful substances, improved communication systems, and enhanced physical performance.
Overall, the smart textile market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by the increasing demand for advanced technologies in various industries. The healthcare, sports & fitness, fashion, and automotive industries are also expected to benefit from the use of smart textiles, providing opportunities for companies in the sector.
The smart textile market is segmented into four functions: sensing, energy harvesting, luminescence & aesthetics, and thermo-electricity. The thermo-electricity function is expected to be the fastest-growing segment in the market due to the rising demand for new and innovative fashion globally.
Smart textiles that integrate thermoelectric devices offer the ability to convert temperature differences into electricity, providing energy harvesting functionality. This technology has the potential to power wearable devices, such as smartwatches, or to charge electronic devices, such as mobile phones, through the fabric itself.
The fashion industry is embracing the use of smart textiles, which offer a range of functionalities such as sensing, energy harvesting, luminescence & aesthetics, and thermo-electricity. Smart fabrics are being used to create innovative and functional clothing that can monitor vital signs, track fitness, and even power electronic devices.
Overall, the smart textile market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by the increasing demand for advanced technologies in various industries. The fastest-growing segments in the market are expected to be energy harvesting and thermo-electricity, as these technologies offer the potential to power wearable devices and enhance the functionality of clothing.
The smart textile market is highly competitive, with a large number of players operating globally. Some of the major players in the market include:
- Intelligent Clothing Ltd.
- Google, Inc.
- International Fashion Machines, Inc.
- Interactive Wear AG
- Textronics, Inc.
- Gentherm Incorporated
- Schoeller Textiles AG
- Vista Medical Ltd.
- Nike, Inc.
- Thermosoft International
These companies are engaged in the design, development, and production of smart textiles for a variety of applications, including healthcare, sports & fitness, fashion, military, and automotive. Some of these companies have also developed proprietary technologies for integrating microelectronic devices into textiles, which allows them to offer a range of functionalities such as sensing, energy harvesting, luminescence & aesthetics, and thermo-electricity.
Overall, the smart textile market is highly competitive, with a large number of players operating globally. The major players in the market are engaged in the development and production of advanced technologies that can be integrated into textiles, providing opportunities for companies in the sector.
