The Global Market for Smart Fabrics is Projected to Reach US$3.8 Billion by 2022

Advancements in Stretchable & Wearable Electronics and Increasing Demand for Fitness Focused Smart Clothes to Spur Growth in the Smart Fabrics Market, According to a New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

GIA launches comprehensive analysis of industry segments, trends, growth drivers, market share, size and demand forecasts on the global Smart Fabrics market. The global market for Smart Fabrics is projected to reach US$3.8 billion by 2022, driven by breakthrough advancements in the field of flexible, printed and stretchable electronics, development of electronic fibers, yarns and conductive inks for textile printing and growing consumer demand for smart performance apparel for sports and fitness.       

The integration of science and advanced technology into fabrics has led to the emergence of a new range of clothing and textiles, termed smart fabrics. Also referred to as smart clothing, intelligent clothing smart textiles and e-textiles, smart fabrics are embedded with digital and electronic components such as actuators, sensors, microcontrollers, and data processes that can read and respond, thus allowing the fabric to sense and react to environmental conditions and external stimuli coming from thermal, mechanical, chemical, magnetic or electrical sources. Unlike traditional fabrics, smart fabrics impart added functional value, such as the ability to communicate, transform, conduct energy, emit light, cool, heat, and change shape. Though a fairly new concept, smart textiles is nevertheless garnering increased interest given the technology’s role in enhancing wearer’s experience by providing innovative features and functions that can boost the garment’s overall performance. The recent years have witnessed strong growth in the market coming from the successful development and commercialization of interactive apparel features and properties such as ballistic resistance, electrical conductivity and climate control. All of these properties are encouraging the use of smart textiles in end-use markets such as military, consumer, industrial, electronics, home health monitoring, entertainment and fashion. Focus on smart fabrics also mirrors the textile industry’s move towards offering exclusive products targeting dedicated activities such as running, skiing, extreme sports and golf.

The market will be driven by the trend towards miniaturization of electronics and the rapidly evolving wearable electronics industry, escalating demand for smart gadgets like wristbands and smartwatches, and growth of low-cost smart wireless sensor networks. The increasing ease by which electronic components can be integrated into fabrics and growing awareness about the utility of these fabrics and their expanding applications especially in areas such as thermos-electricity, energy harvesting, and sensing will also foster growth in the market. Radical developments in material science and fiber technologies including nanofibers, conductive pressure-sensing fabrics and other hybrid fabrics are expected to spur the market’s growth in the coming years. Sustained investments in R&D to develop novel smart fabrics will provide new directions for future growth.

As stated by the new market research report on Smart Fabrics, the United States represents the largest market worldwide. Asia-Pacific ranks as the fastest growing market with a CAGR of 15.2% over the analysis period, led by factors such as growing base of affluent middle class population, digitalizing lifestyles and consumer affinity towards innovative electronic technologies, increasing levels of per capita spending on innovative and disruptive technologies by businesses, industries and consumers, and growing R&D spending as a percentage of GDP and the ensuing availability of funds for researching advanced materials, and functional fibers and fabrics.  

Major players covered in the report include AiQ Smart Clothing Inc., Clothing Plus Ltd., E. I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company, EXO2, Intelligent Clothing Ltd., Interactive Wear AG, International Fashion Machines Inc., Marktek Inc., Milliken & Company, Noble Biomaterials Inc., Outlast Technologies LLC, Schoeller Textiles AG, Sensoria Inc., Smartex s.r.l, Textronics Inc., and Toray Industries Inc., among others.

The research report titled “Smart Fabrics: A Global Strategic Business Report” announced by Global Industry Analysts Inc., provides a comprehensive review of market trends, issues, drivers, mergers, acquisitions and other strategic industry activities of global companies. The report provides market estimates and projections for all major geographic markets such as the US, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of World. The global market for Smart Fabrics is additionally analyzed by the following End-Use Applications - Fitness & Sports, Transportation, Defense/Government, Infrastructure, Healthcare and Others.

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