Smart Clothing Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Textile Type (Active, Passive), By Product Type (Apparel, Footwear), By Distribution Channel (Offline, Online), By End-user, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Smart Clothing Market Size & Trends

The global smart clothing market size was estimated at USD 2.98 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.4% from 2023 to 2030. The market is experiencing significant growth, particularly in the sports and healthcare sectors, owing to the increasing awareness of health and fitness in day-to-day life. Smart clothing offers a range of features, including biometric monitoring, activity tracking, and performance enhancement, enabling individuals to monitor health metrics, optimize workout routines, and enhance overall well-being. A societal focus on a healthy lifestyle and a growing preference for real-time health monitoring are further propelling the adoption of smart clothing.

Smart clothing, also known as high-tech clothing, smart wear, electronic textiles, or smart fabrics, is designed to monitor the wearer's health by providing biometric information such as heart rate, body temperature, muscle tension, and pulse rate. Advancements in wearable sensors, textile technology, and data analytics have propelled the evolution of smart clothing. This change is marked by the seamless integration of microcontrollers, sensors, and connectivity technologies directly into garments, enabling real-time monitoring of body movements, vital signs, and other crucial biometric data. With ongoing technological advancements, smart clothing is gaining greater comfort, sophistication, and user-friendliness, increasing its adoption across various applications.

In the sports and fitness industry, smart clothing presents significant potential. Athletes and fitness enthusiasts can gain from the instantaneous monitoring of biometric data, including oxygen saturation, heart rate, muscle activity, and movement patterns. This data is valuable for refining training regimens, mitigating injury risks, and elevating overall performance. Additionally, smart clothing can offer feedback on posture, technique, and form, empowering users to make necessary adjustments and enhance their exercise routines. Integrating smart clothing with wearable devices and mobile apps contributes to the development of a comprehensive fitness ecosystem, delivering personalized insights and guidance for individuals seeking to optimize their health goals.

Textile Type Insights

The active smart segment led with the largest revenue share of over 42% in 2022. This can be attributed to active smart textile’s ability to sense and respond to stimuli, a feature beneficial in numerous applications across various end-user industries. For instance, using phase-change materials facilitates efficient heat storage and transfer. This textile type finds application in creating specialized outfits for sports, firefighting, and defense. Integrating such textiles enhances the comfort of textile products by allowing them to react to environmental conditions. Thus, the market for active smart textiles has experienced substantial growth in recent years, driven by the demand for innovative solutions that bring adaptability and functionality to textiles across diverse sectors.

The ultra smart segment is estimated to grow significantly from 2023 to 2030. Ultra-smart textiles are third-generation smart textiles distinguished by their ability to sense, respond, and adjust to environmental conditions. Functioning like a cognitive and reasoning brain, these garments comprise a unit with activation capabilities. For instance, when the wearer reaches a specific heart rate level, this garment emits beeps or audible warning indicators and vibrations. This dynamic responsiveness showcases the advanced capabilities of ultra-smart textiles, as they are designed to adapt their functions based on wearers’ specific needs. This level of sophistication in monitoring, real-time reaction to data, and adaptive functionality underscores the innovative nature of ultra-smart textiles, marking a significant advancement in the integration of intelligence and practicality in wearable technology.

Distribution Channel Insights

The offline segment held the largest revenue share of over 63% in 2022. Traditional retail channels, such as brick-and-mortar stores and physical outlets, play crucial role in consumer purchasing behavior. Many consumers still prefer the in-person shopping experience, where they can physically interact with and try on smart clothing items before making a purchase. Additionally, offline distribution channels often provide a more immediate and accessible way for consumers to explore and purchase products. It is critical in the smart clothing market, where consumers may question the technology, features, and compatibility of these innovative products.

The online segment is predicted to foresee significant growth in the forecast period. The increasing prevalence of e-commerce platforms and the growing trend of online shopping have significantly contributed to the dominance of this segment. The vast array of choices on online platforms, along with user reviews and ratings, enhances the decision-making process for consumers seeking smart clothing. Moreover, online channels often offer competitive pricing, discounts, and promotions, attracting a large and diverse customer base.

End-user Insights

The military & defense segment held the largest revenue share of over 26% in 2022. The adoption of smart clothing in military applications contributes to the development of advanced combat gear, including intelligent uniforms, helmets, and protective wear. These technologies offer functionalities such as real-time monitoring of vital signs, GPS tracking, and communication capabilities, significantly improving the effectiveness and safety of military operations. Furthermore, investments in research and development within the defense sector drive the integration of cutting-edge technologies into smart clothing, making it an essential component of modern military equipment.

The sports & fitness segment is predicted to foresee significant growth from 2023 to 2030. Sensors have already found application in clothing lines and undergarments, including sports bras with heart rate monitoring capabilities and heated underwear. The sports and fitness industry is experiencing a surge in demand for smart innerwear, driven by the widespread adoption of sports bras equipped with sensors capable of recording metrics such as running distance, breathing rate, and heart rate. The integration of sensor technology into innerwear meets the evolving needs of athletes and fitness enthusiasts and positions this market segment for considerable expansion over the forecast period.  

Product Type Insights

The apparel segment led the market in 2022, accounting for a revenue share of over 57%. Rising preference for smart shirts, jackets, and vests is generating favorable prospects for this segment’s growth. Smart apparel offers essential biometric data, including heart rate, breathing rate, and muscle activity, enabling professional optimization of performance and workout plans. This real-time data is seamlessly transmitted to partner apps, providing valuable insights into diverse sport-related metrics such as calories burned, intensity and recovery, fatigue levels, and sleep quality. The growing adoption of upper wear across various end-user applications is anticipated to create significant opportunities for smart clothing providers throughout the forecast period.

The footwear segment is estimated to grow significantly from 2023 to 2030. The increasing integration of technology into footwear has transformed traditional shoes into intelligent, data-capturing devices. Smart footwear includes sensors and connectivity features that monitor various aspects, such as step count gait analysis, and even offer features like GPS tracking. Moreover, the popularity of smart footwear is driven by the rising awareness of health and fitness, as these shoes provide users with valuable insights into their physical activities and help optimize workout routines. The incorporation of smart technologies in footwear enhances overall user experience, making them not only functional but also fashionable.

Regional Insights

North America dominated with the largest revenue share of over 39% in 2022, attributed to the region's advancements in smart clothing technologies and presence of key players like Sensoria Inc.; Ralph Lauren Media LLC; and Under Armour, Inc. The remarkable growth is further fueled by the increasing demand for smart clothing, especially from the military sector. The military is adopting and adapting smart clothing technologies to create battle-ready uniforms, providing a distinct advantage in the field. These uniforms, equipped with in-built sensors, measure crucial metrics such as muscle data, temperature, and heart and respiration rates and can even identify wounds to assess a soldier's health.

For instance, in September 2023, the U.S. government unveiled a USD 22 million investment initiative named SMART ePANTS, dedicated to advancing smart surveillance clothing technology. The program aims to develop wearable garments capable of recording audio and video, tracking geolocation, and monitoring physiological data. These high-tech garments are intended for intelligence agencies and military personnel in high-risk environments, enhancing situational awareness and data collection capabilities.

Asia Pacific is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR from 2023 to 2030. Many leading technology and textile manufacturing companies in countries like China, Japan, and South Korea are involved in producing smart clothing. It includes integrating advanced sensors, fabrics, and electronic components into garments. Moreover, the region has a large and tech-savvy consumer base. The growing urban population and increasing awareness of health and fitness, has driven the demand for smart clothing. Additionally, the region is known for its rapid adoption of new technologies, creating a conducive environment for market growth.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Prominent firms have used product launches and developments, followed by expansions, mergers and acquisitions, contracts, agreements, partnerships, and collaborations, as their primary business strategy to increase their market share. The companies have used various techniques to enhance market penetration and boost their position in the competitive industry.

For instance, in April 2023, researchers at the University of Waterloo achieved a breakthrough by developing a pioneering 'smart fabric.' This fabric is crafted from polymer nano-composite fibers containing embedded stainless-steel wires. The fabric exhibits a unique response to both heat and electricity. When subjected to heat, the embedded wires contract, leading to a change in fabric shape. Additionally, the fabric can be controlled using electricity to alter its form.

Smart Clothing Market Report Scope

Global Smart Clothing Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global smart clothing market report based on textile type, product type, distribution channel, end-user, and region:

• Textile Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2030)

  • Active Smart

  • Passive Smart

  • Ultra Smart

• Product Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2030)

  • Apparel

  • Footwear

  • Wearable Patches

  • Others

• Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2030)

  • Offline

  • Online

• End-user Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2030)

  • Military & Defense

  • Sports & Fitness

  • Fashion & Entertainment

  • Healthcare

  • Mining

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • France

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • Japan

    • India

    • South Korea

    • Australia

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

  • Middle East and Africa (MEA)

    • Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)

    • UAE

    • South Africa