Smart Textiles Market Size, Share, Growth & Industry Analysis, By Type (Passive Smart Textiles, Active Smart Textiles), By Application (Healthcare, Military and Defense, Sports & Fitness, Fashion & Entertainment, Others), and Regional Analysis 2024-2031

Smart Textiles Market Size

The global smart textiles market size was valued at USD 2,760.2 million in 2023 and is projected to grow from USD 3292.0 million in 2024 to USD 13,363.4 million by 2031, exhibiting a CAGR of 22.16% during the forecast period.

The increasing adoption of wearable health monitoring devices is driving significant growth in the smart textiles market. Smart fabrics embedded with sensors that monitor vital signs, including heart rate, temperature, and muscle activity, offer real-time data for individuals managing chronic conditions.

In the scope of work, the report includes products offered by companies such as Adidas AG, AiQ Smart Clothing Inc., Gentherm, Dupont, Google LLC, Texas Instruments Incorporated, Textronics, Interactive Wear AG, Nike, Inc., Jabil Inc., and others.

Moreover, these textiles have applications in remote patient monitoring and post-operative care, reducing the need for frequent hospital visits. With a growing focus on preventative healthcare and personalized medicine, smart textiles are becoming an essential tool for improving patient outcomes, fueling demand in the healthcare sector and contributing to the overall market expansion.

• In August 2024, researchers at the University of Waterloo unveiled a smart fabric with integrated health monitoring capabilities. This innovative fabric holds promise for a range of applications, including energy harvesting, health tracking, and movement monitoring.

Smart textiles, also known as e-textiles or intelligent fabrics, are advanced materials that integrate electronic components or functional fibers to offer enhanced capabilities beyond traditional textiles. These fabrics are designed to interact with their environment or the wearer, enabling functionalities such as health monitoring, temperature regulation, energy harvesting, and motion tracking.

By embedding sensors, actuators, and conductive materials, smart textiles can collect data, adapt to external conditions, and provide real-time feedback. They are widely utilized across industries such as healthcare, sports, defense, and fashion, offering innovative solutions that combine comfort, durability, and technology to meet the demands of modern applications.

Analyst’s Review

Government initiatives and strategic investments are significantly influencing the global adoption of smart textiles. Various governments are channeling substantial resources into research and development (R&D) projects focused on advancing smart textile technologies in critical domains such as healthcare, defense, and sustainability.

These efforts foster innovation by encouraging collaboration among researchers, manufacturers, and industry stakeholders, while also accelerating the transition of these technologies from laboratories to commercial markets. Such initiatives are instrumental in addressing technical challenges and reducing production costs, making smart textiles more accessible to a wider range of industries.

• The Indian government has approved the funding of approximately USD 60,000 each for four startups under the 'Grant for Research & Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT)' scheme. Additionally, it has allocated a grant of around USD 2.37 million to five educational institutions to introduce specialized courses in technical textiles. The approved startup projects are centered on key strategic areas, including composites, sustainable textiles, and smart textiles.

Moreover, targeted support for wearable technology and sustainable textile innovations is driving manufacturers to explore eco-friendly production methods and incorporate advanced functionalities into their offerings.

This has led to an expansion in product portfolios and the introduction of smart textiles that cater to diverse consumer and industrial needs.

Smart Textiles Market Growth Factors

The increasing adoption of smart textiles in the sports industry is significantly contributing to the market’s growth. Smart fabrics used in athletic wear provide real-time tracking of biometrics, such as heart rate, respiration, and muscle activity. These textiles help athletes monitor their performance, prevent injuries, and enhance recovery.

For instance, garments that track muscle strain or joint movement can offer personalized insights to optimize training regimens. The growing emphasis on performance improvement, fitness monitoring, and injury prevention is driving the demand for smart textiles in the sports and fitness sectors, thereby supporting the smart textiles market growth.

• NIKE is at the forefront of filing patents for smart fabrics. Additionally, Prevayl introduced SmartWear in 2022, a line of sportswear featuring clinical-grade ECG technology, designed for avid gym-goers, personal trainers, and professional athletes.

Moreover, the growing emphasis on sustainability is encouraging the development of eco-friendly smart textiles, which is a key factor in market growth. Consumers and manufacturers are increasingly prioritizing environmental responsibility, leading to the demand for textiles made from recycled, biodegradable, and renewable materials.

These smart fabrics are designed to reduce energy consumption and enhance overall efficiency. The increasing availability of sustainable smart textiles aligns with the broader trend toward green and ethical consumerism, attracting eco-conscious buyers.

Smart Textiles Industry Trends

Ongoing innovations in materials and sensor technologies are crucial drivers of the smart textiles market. The integration of flexible, lightweight sensors and conductive fabrics has made it possible to create textiles with enhanced functionalities, such as health monitoring, temperature regulation, and energy harvesting.

These advancements enable the production of garments capable of tracking biometric data and adapting to environmental changes. The continuous evolution of these technologies is expanding the range of applications, including healthcare, sports, and military sectors, thus fueling market growth by increasing the demand for more functional and intelligent fabric-based solutions.

Moreover, the integration of smart textiles with the Internet of Things (IoT) is significantly contributing to the growth of the market. IoT-enabled textiles allow seamless connectivity between wearable garments and digital platforms, enabling real-time data transmission and monitoring.

This capability enhances the functionality of smart textiles by providing users with valuable insights into their health, environment, or performance. For example, in healthcare, smart textiles can communicate with other IoT devices to monitor and manage patient data remotely.

As IoT technologies become more widespread, their integration into textile solutions is boosting market adoption and driving innovation across various industries.

Segmentation Analysis

The global market is segmented based on type, application, and geography.

By Type

Based on type, the market is segmented into passive smart textiles and active smart textiles. The passive smart textiles segment led the smart textiles market in 2023, reaching a valuation of USD 1,192.7 million due to their ability to provide basic functionalities without the need for power sources or complex systems.

These textiles typically incorporate features like moisture-wicking, temperature regulation, and shape memory, enhancing comfort and wearability. Their widespread use in everyday clothing, sportswear, and activewear contributes to their market dominance.

Passive smart textiles are cost-effective and easier to produce compared to their active or ultra-smart counterparts, making them accessible to a broader consumer base.

By Application

Based on application, the market is classified into healthcare, military and defense, sports & fitness, fashion & entertainment, and others. The healthcare segment secured the largest revenue share of 38.54% in 2023. Smart textiles in healthcare offer real-time tracking of vital signs, such as heart rate, body temperature, and muscle activity, which is crucial for both chronic disease management and post-surgical care.

These textiles allow for continuous health monitoring, providing patients and healthcare professionals with valuable insights without the need for traditional medical devices. As the healthcare industry increasingly embraces wearable technologies for preventative care, the demand for smart textiles is rising, driving growth in this segment.

Smart Textiles Market Regional Analysis

Based on region, the global market is classified into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America.

North America accounted for 36.58% share of the global smart textiles market in 2023, with a valuation of USD 1,009.7 million. North America is a hub for technological innovation, with significant advancements in smart textiles, particularly in materials and sensor technologies.

The region's robust R&D infrastructure has led to the development of fabrics integrated with sensors and actuators, capable of real-time data collection and health monitoring. These innovations, particularly in wearable technology, are driving the growth of the market by expanding the range of applications across healthcare, sports, and fashion industries.

• In December 2023, a groundbreaking smart textile innovation emerged from Washington State University (WSU), where researchers developed a single fiber strand that combines the flexibility of cotton with the electrical conductivity of polyaniline polymer. This advancement highlights the potential of these fibers for use in wearable e-textiles.

The market in Asia Pacific is poised for significant growth at a robust CAGR of 23.03% over the forecast period. Asia Pacific is a global manufacturing hub, with a strong textile production infrastructure in countries such as China, India, and Bangladesh.

This provides a significant advantage for the smart textiles market, as manufacturers can easily integrate smart components into existing production processes.

The region's established textile industry is well-positioned to scale up the production of smart fabrics, helping to lower costs and increase availability. This manufacturing strength is a key factor driving the widespread adoption of smart textiles across various sectors in the region.

Competitive Landscape

The global smart textiles market report will provide valuable insights with an emphasis on the fragmented nature of the market. Prominent players are focusing on several key business strategies such as partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, product innovations, and joint ventures to expand their product portfolio and increase their market shares across different regions.

Strategic initiatives, including investments in R&D activities, the establishment of new manufacturing facilities, and supply chain optimization, could create new opportunities for market growth.

List of Key Companies in Smart Textiles Market

• Adidas AG
• AiQ Smart Clothing Inc.
• GENTHERM
• Dupont
• Google LLC
• Texas Instruments Incorporated
• Textronics
• Interactive Wear AG
• Nike, Inc.
• Jabil Inc.

Key Industry Developments

• April 2024 (Product Launch): Nike launched Aerogami, an innovative performance apparel technology designed to enhance breathability for athletes. The system features a venting mechanism that automatically adjusts to the wearer’s needs, offering on-demand ventilation. Using moisture-sensitive vents, Aerogami opens and closes in response to sweat, providing customized airflow based on the wearer’s body conditions.

The global smart textiles market is segmented as:

By Type

• Passive Smart Textiles
• Active Smart Textiles

By Application

• Healthcare
• Military and Defense
• Sports & Fitness
• Fashion & Entertainment
• Others

By Region

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
  • Mexico
• Europe
  • France
  • UK
  • Spain
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Russia
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Middle East & Africa
  • GCC
  • North Africa
  • South Africa
  • Rest of Middle East & Africa
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Rest of Latin America