Smart Fabrics Market (Updated Version Available)

Key Market Overview:

Smart Fabrics Market size was valued at USD 3.50 Billion in 2022, registering a CAGR growth of 30.2% during the forecast period (2023-2030), and the market is projected to be valued at USD 9.45 Billion by 2030.

Smart textiles also known as electronic textiles, e-textiles, smart garments, and fabrics have a digital component integrated into them. These digital components include a battery, a led, an electronic chip, or a sensor. Furthermore, the technology is embedded into the fabric through various methods, such as conductive fibers or multilayer 3D printing. Smart fabrics are designed to enhance the functionality of the textile product and provide added value to the user whether for pleasure, performance, or safety. The applications of smart fabrics are diverse including health, safety, security, and lifestyle monitoring. For instance, smart fabrics are used to create wearable technology that monitors vital signs or detects environmental changes to enhance safety and security. They are widely used in fashion and entertainment to create unique and interactive experiences for the consumers.

Moreover, key manufacturers in the smart fabric market engaged in investing in research and development activities for launching innovative smart fabrics materials-based products, which impact on enhancing the market demand. For instance, in May 2019, DuPont announced the launch of a new line of smart textiles under its Intexar brand. Intexar brand features advanced sensor technology embedded directly into the fabric. The fabrics are used to monitor body temperature, heart rate, and other vital signs, making them ideal for use in sports and fitness apparel, as well as medical textiles. Based on region, Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the smart fabrics market owing to the presence of a large number of key manufacturers and increasing demand for wearable technologies.

Smart Fabrics Market Report Coverage:

Report Attributes	Report Details
Study Timeline	2017-2030
Market Size in 2030 (USD Billion)	9.45 Billion
CAGR (2023-2030)	30.2 %
Base Year	2022
By Fabric Type	Active Smart Fabrics, Passive Smart Fabrics, and Ultra-Smart Fabrics.
By Application	Fashion Apparel, Sports and Fitness, Medical, Military, Architecture, Safety, Transportation, and Others.
By Geography	Asia-Pacific [China, Southeast Asia, India, Japan, Korea, Western Asia] Europe [Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia, Spain, Netherlands, Turkey] North America [United States, Canada, Mexico] Middle East & Africa [GCC, North Africa, South Africa] South America [Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Chile, Peru]
Key Players	AIQ Smart Clothing Inc., Bebop Sensors Inc., Clothing+ Ltd., Interactive Wear AG, Outlast Technologies LLC, Schoeller Textil AG, Microsoft, Sensoria Inc., Nike, Inc., HEXOSKIN (CARRÉ TECHNOLOGIES INC.), and DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

Request Sample

Market Dynamics:

Driver:

• Smart fabrics are increasingly used in medical textiles for monitoring vital signs, wound healing, and drug delivery, among other applications. Hence, the growing demand for healthcare applications is increasing the growth of the smart fabrics market.

• Growing wearable technology such as smartwatches and fitness trackers led to increased demand for fabrics such as smart fabrics that can integrate with technology to provide additional functionality. Further, the increasing need for functional clothing that provides benefits such as protection from the elements, antimicrobial properties, and moisture-wicking capabilities is majorly contributing to the growth of the market.

Restraint:

Smart fabrics are more expensive than traditional textiles due to the added cost of electronic components and manufacturing processes for integrating those components into the fabric. Further, to produce smart fabrics, manufacturers need to use specialized materials, such as conductive fibers and electronic chips, which are more expensive than traditional textiles. Additionally, the manufacturing process requires specialized equipment and technology to ensure that the electronic components are integrated into the fabric properly which leads to higher production costs, which hamper the market growth.

Opportunities:

There is a growing awareness of the impact of textiles on the environment, which presents an opportunity to manufacturers to develop sustainable and eco-friendly textiles. Hence, by developing smart fabrics using sustainable materials and processes, manufacturers can cater to this demand and offer environmentally-friendly products. For instance, manufacturers can use materials such as recycled polyester, organic cotton, and bamboo. These materials have a lower environmental impact compared to traditional materials such as conventional cotton, which requires large amounts of water and pesticides to grow. Furthermore, manufacturers can also use eco-friendly production processes to develop smart fabrics, such as using water-saving technologies, natural dyes, and renewable energy sources.

Market Segmentation:



By Fabric Type

The fabric type segment is categorized into active smart fabrics, passive smart fabrics, and ultra-smart fabrics. In 2022, the active smart fabrics segment accounted for the highest market share due to its widespread use in various applications such as sports and fitness, healthcare, and military and defense. Active smart fabrics incorporate electronic components that can sense, react, and adapt to environmental conditions. Furthermore, thermoregulation and seat sensing, and heating are the major properties of active smart fabrics. All these above-mentioned factors are contributing to the dominance of the segment.
However, the ultra-smart fabrics segment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment in the smart fabrics market as it offers advanced functionalities such as energy harvesting, self-cleaning, and biometric sensing, among others. These fabrics are designed to be highly responsive and interactive, providing users with real-time data and insights.

By Application

The application segment is divided into fashion apparel, sports, and fitness, medical, military, architecture, safety, transportation, and others. The military segment accounted for the highest share of the smart fabrics market. This is due to the use of smart fabrics in military uniforms and equipment to enhance performance, protect against environmental hazards, and provide situational awareness. Furthermore, the increasing demand for lightweight and durable materials for military applications is also contributing to the growth of the segment.
However, sports and fitness are expected to be the fastest-growing segment in the market during the forecast period as smart fabrics are used in sportswear and fitness equipment to monitor biometric data, provide muscle support, and enhance performance. Increasing demand for wearable technology and fitness tracking is expected to drive the growth of the segment.

By Region

By region, the market is categorized into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America accounted for the highest market share in 2022. This is due to the presence of key companies operating in the smart fabrics industry, including DuPont de Nemours, Inc., Google LLC, and others. Further, technological advancements and early adoption of smart fabrics in various industries such as sports and fitness, medical, military, and fashion also contributed to the dominance of the region.



However, Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the smart fabrics market during the forecast period. This is because, the region also has a strong manufacturing base and increasing government support for the development of smart fabrics.

Smart Fabrics Market Competitive Landscape:

The market is highly competitive, with a large number of players operating at the global and regional levels. The players compete on various parameters such as price, quality, innovation, and customer service. They are constantly investing in research and development to improve their products and expand their market share. Mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships are also common strategies employed by companies to enhance their market position and expand their product portfolio. Key players in the market include-

• AIQ Smart Clothing Inc.
• Bebop Sensors Inc.
• Interactive Wear AG
• Outlast Technologies LLC
• Schoeller Textil AG
• Microsoft
• Sensoria Inc.
• Nike, Inc.
• HEXOSKIN (CARRÉ TECHNOLOGIES INC.)
• DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

Recent Developments:

• In July 2022, Microsoft developed a smart fabric that is capable of detecting objects and gestures. The technology, called Capacitivo, is a fabric-based sensing system that can be used to create interactive interfaces for various applications.

• In February 2022, Adidas launched a new line of smart sports bras collection named the new SS22 Bra Collection. The new sports bras feature several innovative technologies, including motion-capture sensors that can track the wearers movements and provide feedback on their form and technique.