Smart textiles can be defined as fabrics that are mass-produced to contain technologies that provide enhanced functionality to the wearer. It tends to retort to certain spurs and influences such as magnetic, chemical, and another stimulus. The global demand for smart textile produces has amplified like never before owing to their escalating base of applications in the end-use sectors. The majority of the demand accrues from segments such as defense & military and healthcare. It is expected that both the developed and developing nations will experience a steep incline in demand with inventive trends in the next few years. This can be imputed to the factors such as improved standard of living, the surge in income level, growing awareness of safety standards, development in medical technology, and increased expenditure on healthcare.
Smart textiles can be considered the next big thing in the military industry. With the rising need for enhanced military performance, there’s been a steep surge in the demand for improved textiles. The smart disposition of contracted electronic systems makes smart textiles a vital part of military operations. Additionally, the frontrunners in the industry are aiming toward formulating lightweight materials to perk up the required mobility in the war pitch. This, in turn, is projected to lead to more demand for smart textiles. Furthermore, high-end technological developments in wearable weaves are expected to heighten the craze for these textiles for the military market.
The Illinois-based electronics industry association instigates the E-Textiles 2021 Virtual World Tour in Taiwan on the month of September. Specialists and industrial honchos from the TTRI (Taiwan Textile Research Institute) will offer collaborative presentations of the prominent researches and studies they are conducting on the wearables market. One of the world’s most renowned textile research foundations, TTRI emphasizes on the improvement of key textile ingredients, functional clothing & attire, and eco-friendly and energy-efficient textile equipment.
Up till now, the most unbeaten electronic textile product type is heated apparel, which spawns around three-quarters of all of the yearly sales profits from e-textile merchandise. With early stocks in products, heated motorcycle apparatus and heated apparel have now been lauded in an array of different markets such as sports gear, workwear and PPE, general cold-weather kit, and even merchandise related to health & wellness.
Although the primary technology has been viable and established for more than twenty years, more topical innovations such as upgraded rechargeable series, novel manufacturing practices for warming elements, and enhanced washability through better consolidation and connectors proceed to stir the market forward. Even as it is not the most glitzy or the most hyped technology, it definitely has a strong ground as being the most puffed-up applied science.
According to Allied Market Research, the global smart textile market is anticipated to register a significant CAGR from 2014 to 2022. In the last few years, there has been a huge adoption of smart textiles in the healthcare and entertainment sectors too, owing to rise in demand for superior products. Also, the surge in demand for greater quality fabrics in the sport & fitness segment has made this variety a preferred choice among several industry domains.
With the incorporation of electronic modules in smart textiles, they are now being extensively utilized in a number of health management applications. They take in constituents such as feelers, beams, actuators, control factors, and so on. When it comes to wearable technology, it mainly concerns textiles, electronic maneuvers, and clothing. These textiles aid in managing muscle vibrations, controlling body temperatures, and safeguarding individuals from environmental exposures such as radiation. As electronic modules can be scaled down, it is possible to assimilate electronic components and textiles quite seamlessly. These are the factors that are driving the global smart textile market.
Here, it’s worth stating that the outbreak of COVID-19 gave way to a disrupted supply chain, dearth of raw materials, and lack of skilled labor force, which impacted the smart textile market in more than one way. Nevertheless, manufacturers are now formulating new-fangled strategies to regain from the current situation. Also, the initiation of mass inoculation programs in the majority of countries is anticipated to amend the global situation and the market is projected to get back on track soon.
Author’s Bio- Koyel Ghosh is a blogger with a strong passion and enjoys writing on miscellaneous domains, as she believes it lets her explore a wide variety of niches. She has an innate interest for creativity and enjoys experimenting with different writing styles. A writer who never stops imagining, she has been serving the corporate industry for the last four years. The author can be reached: koyel.ghosh@alliedmarketresearch.net
