According to Gartner, the worldwide shipments of wearable devices will reach 225 million this year, a 25% increase over last year. Gartner also revealed that the smart clothing industry is poised to become one of the fastest-growing industries out there, growing from 4.12 million units shipped in 2017, to an estimated 19.91 million by 2022.
We have touched on multiple smart fashion innovations such as AI-enabled silk (read here) and fabrics that are temperature-regulated (read here). These advancements are just getting started and there is no end in sight.
Let’s look at some of the latest innovations and advancements driving the smart fashion movement.
Smart Textiles & Wearables
The future of fashion isn’t just the creative elements or the color schemes and patterns that you’ll expect to see on runways. It’s also about integrating technology into textiles. Smart textiles are being developed everywhere and they have extremely promising applications.
From textiles that can harvest energy from raindrops to threads fitted with motion sensors that will change color with the wind, these advancements will provide more creative freedom for brands to create a unique product experience for their end-consumer!
Smart textiles are poised to disrupt markets with unimagined applications in the years to come. Looking at the sheer number of innovative startups popping up all over the world, it’s safe to say that smart textiles will become one of the backbones of fashion.
Thanks to smart textiles, the world of wearables has infinite potential.
You can already use wearable devices to monitor your health or answer any questions you have. And this is just the beginning. For example., the innovative minds at Kyorene Graphene Fiber, and Yarn have taken wearables into the heart of textiles with a range of yarn that’s actually antibacterial, anti-UV, and that also deters bugs!
Wearable technology is more than just about the fashion. These styles leverage the latest in the Internet of Things (IoT) technology and use fast networks, such as 4G/5G, to be constantly connected. They gather data about all manner of things related to the user and the environment and provide that data to Big Data and Analytics technologies to work their magic. Brands, users, and everybody in the ecosystem benefit from these insights.
Sustainable Materials
The conscious consumer has ensured that sustainability will always be at the heart of smart fashion. Fashion brands know (and agree) that it should not take 3,000 liters of water to produce one cotton t-shirt. This is why fabrics like jute, hemp, and even bamboo are gaining popularity in the fashion industry.
With sustainability becoming a focal point in all industries, companies are focusing heavily on how to improve their processes to be more eco-friendly. More brands are realizing that there are simple changes to be made without sacrificing quality and price.
Read more about sourcing sustainable fabrics.
Beyond the consumer
Of course, smart fashion aims to provide smart and fashionable applications for the consumer, but it offers benefits beyond just an enhanced customer experience. It can help the fashion industry make a meaningful difference as it is currently the second largest polluter in the world. Clearly we stand on the threshold of a seismic shift in the fashion industry. As brands of all sizes look to do their part in this movement, innovative entrepreneurs can use smart fashion to be one step ahead.
Learn how we help your brand integrate technology through each step of your supply chain.
