Smart Clothing Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Product Type (Upper Wear, Lower Wear, Innerwear, and Others), By Application (Healthcare, Sports & Fitness, Fashion & Entertainment, and Military & Defense), By Distribution Channel (Retail Outlets/Offline and E-commerce/Online), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The global smart clothing market size was valued at USD 1.65 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow from USD 1.88 billion in 2024 to USD 5.86 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 15.26% during the forecast period. North America dominated the Smart Clothing Market with a market share of 38.79% in 2023. 

Smart clothing, also recognized as smart wear, high-tech clothing, ultra-smart textiles, or electronic textiles, provides data such as the user’s temperature, pulse rate, physical movement, muscle stretch, and heart rhythm. Electronics installed into smart clothes transmit this data to external devices via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The increasing product use for medical, sports, fitness, and entertainment purposes triggers global market growth. In addition, the rising number of tech-savvy consumers and the growing tech clothing trend has resulted in several key players, including Under Armour, Sensoria, and Wearable X, developing smart clothes, such as shorts, socks, and yoga pants with multiple features, which further boosts market expansion.

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic negatively influenced the global market, notably in 2020. The crisis led to raw material shortages due to cross-border limitations, lockdowns, and transportation restrictions throughout countries. This factor significantly affected the product's manufacturing and sales. However, the pandemic has increased consumer consciousness regarding health and physical fitness, which will accelerate product demand in the near term.

Smart Clothing Market Trends

Technological Advancements to Provide Growth Opportunities

Growing technological advancements in areas, such as connectivity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and wearable technology will provide potential growth opportunities for companies operating in the high-tech clothing market. Clothes integrated with wearable sensors elevate their functionality by tracking the fitness of the user and fuel product demand among fashion enthusiasts. Moreover, smart clothes, including artificial intelligence technologies, offer monitoring capabilities by capturing data, such as calories and heart rate. As a result, the incorporation of these technologies assists in harnessing significant data regarding personal well-being and helps consumers make informed decisions. In this respect, technological advancements enhance smart clothing’s’ functionality and overall quality and trigger product sales.

Smart Clothing Market Growth Factors

Growing Consumer Awareness Regarding Fitness and Health to Boost Product Demand

The rising consumer consciousness regarding a healthy lifestyle drives demand for smart clothes as it assists in monitoring the user’s health condition. It tracks the individual’s sleep quality, including the time they wake up and fall asleep. This factor fuels product adoption among individuals having insomnia or an irregular sleep pattern, as smart clothes assist them in tracking their sleep cycle. High-tech clothing is also designed to harness data regarding movement patterns and muscle activities, which assists in improving exercise routines. This factor further triggers product demand, notably among fitness enthusiasts and athletes, as it helps them plan workouts and optimize performance and fitness levels. In this respect, the growing consumer knowledge regarding the importance of fitness and health drives market growth.

Increasing Consumer Interest in Smart Products with Enhanced Capabilities to Trigger Market Growth

The growing consumer inclination toward smart and advanced products with innovative features supports global smart clothing market growth. Smart or intelligent products use digital technologies to expand product functionalities and capabilities. The reliability, convenience, and quality of these products make them an attractive option for consumers. Smart clothes are also intelligent products with enhanced capabilities designed to improve the user’s lifestyle. Integrated technologies in these clothing add functionalities, such as wireless connectivity and biometric data collection. It also monitors the individual’s brain activity, breathing rate, electrodermal activity, sweat composition, pressure, and location, along with environmental characteristics, including UV index, temperature, pollution levels, and humidity. These innovative features accelerate smart clothes sales, notably among tech-savvy consumers globally.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Privacy Risks and High Cost of Smart Clothes to Impede Product Sales

The advanced technologies incorporated in high-tech clothing increase their cost considerably compared to traditional clothing. Moreover, high-end brands, such as Ralph Lauren Corporation and Tommy Hilfiger, charge a premium price for smart clothes. In this regard, the high product price declines demand among low and middle-income consumers due to budget constraints. Furthermore, smart clothing requires the collection of the user’s private data, which needs to be secured properly as there can be connectivity risks, such as unauthorized access and hacking, which result in privacy breaches. This factor also affects product sales and negatively influences global market expansion.

Smart Clothing Market Segmentation Analysis

By Product Type Analysis

Increasing Availability of Smart Upper Wear in Various Designs and Features to Boost Segment Expansion

Based on product type, the market is segmented into upper wear, lower wear, innerwear, and others. The upper wear segment will dominate the market throughout the forecast timeframe. Upper wear, including jackets, shirts, and tank tops, is available in various designs, sizes, and features to fulfill the needs of end-users. Moreover, increasing development of smart upper wear with innovative features boosts product adoption and supports segmental growth. For instance, in June 2019, Dainese, an Italy-based apparel and accessories company, introduced its new smart jacket, which includes D-air technology that is used to predict accidents.

The lower wear segment will grow at the highest CAGR, benefitted from the increasing development of a wide range of smart yoga pants, shorts, and leggings to suit consumer requirements, triggering sales.

By Application Analysis

Rising Product Demand Among Athletes and Fitness Enthusiasts to Favor Sports & Fitness Segment Growth

Based on application, the market has been divided into healthcare, sports & fitness, fashion & entertainment, and military & defense. The sports & fitness segment held the highest global smart clothing market share in 2023, favored by high product adoption among athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Smart clothes equipped with sensors monitor breathing rate, heart rate, and movement and provide feedback on the user’s physical state. This assists fitness-focused individuals in adjusting their efforts and improving endurance. The biometric data provided by the product also assist athletes in enhancing their performance, training, and recovery process.

The healthcare segment will grow significantly during the forecast period as the product helps in monitoring the health of the patient and assists with their treatment. It can also diagnose symptoms of health issues, including asthma and pneumonia, which will increase product demand across hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

By Distribution Channel Analysis

Growing Interest in Online Shopping to Accelerate E-commerce/online Segment Expansion

Based on distribution channels, the market has been bifurcated into retail outlets/offline and e-commerce/online. The retail outlets/offline segment will dominate the market over the forecast period. Offline stores, including brand outlets, specialty stores, and hypermarkets, provide consumers the opportunity to personally check the fitting and quality of the garment before making the purchase decision. This factor makes retail outlets a suitable option for shopping smart clothes and drives segmental growth. The e-commerce/online segment will grow at a considerable rate in the near term, backed by growing interest in online shopping due to its convenience and several online channels, such as Amazon.com and Hexoskin, offering a wide range of smart clothes.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

Based on geography, the global market of smart clothing is divided into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, South America, and the Middle East & Africa.

North America led the global market for smart clothing in 2023 and benefitted by increasing product adoption by security agencies for surveillance purposes. For instance, in September 2023, the U.S. government introduced a new program, SMART ePANTS, under which smart clothes, including shirts, underwear, and pants featuring cameras and sensors, will be developed. The location of the individual wearing these garments will be trackable, and they will be able to record audio and videos. The government has invested around USD 22 million in these smart garments, which will be designed to be washable, stretchable, and comfortable. In addition, the ready-to-wear clothing will be used by national security organizations and agents under counterterrorism and intelligence agencies. Moreover, prominent market players including Sensoria, Wearable X, and Siren emphasize offering various smart clothes with innovative features throughout the region. The increasing North American consumer inclination toward technologically advanced products will further boost product sales in the near term. In addition, the rising interest in various sports such as football and basketball in the U.S and Canada results in the increasing number of athletes and drives product adoption.

Europe is the second-dominating region in the global market. Europe’s market growth is backed by increasing consumer inclination toward innovative products with advanced and intelligent features that assist in improving lifestyles, which drives the demand for smart clothes across the region. Moreover, the rapidly growing sports and healthcare industries throughout Germany, the U.K., and France, are expected to fuel product adoption in the forthcoming years. Numerous market players, such as AiQ Smart Clothing and Xenoma Inc., offer smart clothes with advanced features, and an increasing number of tech-savvy consumers across countries, such as China and India, demand smart products that support Asia Pacific smart clothing market expansion. 

Growing Individual’s interest in physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle, notably since the COVID-19 outbreak, is expected to increase high-tech clothing sales across South America in the coming years. The increasing prevalence of health problems such as heart diseases and respiratory issues in the Middle East & Africa will increase demand for smart clothes that efficiently track heart and breathing rates. For instance, according to the World Heart Federation, a Switzerland-based organization prioritizing cardiovascular disease prevention, cardiovascular diseases cause the death of nearly 1.4 million individuals yearly (over one-third of total deaths) in the Middle East and North Africa.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Investment in R&D to Develop Products with Multiple Advanced Features Drive Market Growth

The global market has a highly competitive landscape, with numerous players investing in research and development to manufacture products with enhanced functionalities and capabilities. Moreover, rising social media influence has resulted in industry participants, such as Sensoria, Wearable X, and AiQ Smart Clothing Inc., expanding their presence on platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to attract more customers. Furthermore, expanding online distribution channels will assist companies in accelerating sales in the coming years.

List of Top Smart Clothing Companies:

• AiQ Smart Clothing Inc. (Taiwan)


• Vulpes Electronics GmbH (Germany)


• Toray Industries Inc. (Japan)


• Myontec (Finland)


• Sensoria (U.S.)


• Applycon (Czech Republic)


• Carre Technologies Inc. (Canada)


• Siren (U.S.)


• Wearable X (U.S.)


• Adidas AG (Germany)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• February 2020: Google, a California, U.S.-based technology company, announced plans to launch its new smart wear in collaboration with Electronic Arts (a U.S.-based video game company) and Adidas (Germany-based footwear & apparel company).


• October 2019: Levi’s, a San Francisco, U.S.-based denim brand, launched its new smart jacket, which integrated jacquard technology from Google. The product allows users to play music, answer calls, and take pictures by providing access to digital services.


• June 2024: colourXn, a Silicon Valley, U.S.-based smart clothing startup, introduced its new smart shirt, which can automatically change color through a mobile application. The product was launched on Snapdeal, an India-based e-commerce company.


• January 2019: Kymira, a U.K.-based smart textile company, unveiled a new heart-monitoring T-shirt that transmits the user’s heart rhythm and reduces the risk of heart attacks.


• February 2019: KBS Fashion Group Limited, a China-based menswear company, announced plans to acquire Tribe Wearables, a Komotini, Greece-based smart clothes technology company.

REPORT COVERAGE

The report analyzes the market in-depth and highlights crucial aspects such as prominent companies, product type, applications, and distribution channels. Besides this, the report provides insights into the market trends and highlights significant industry developments. In addition to the aspects mentioned earlier, the report encompasses several factors contributing to the market's growth over recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation