Fashion has always been about more than just clothing. It has been a reflection of culture, innovation, and identity. Today, textiles are stepping into an entirely new role: becoming the foundation of wearable technology. No longer limited to aesthetics or comfort, fabrics are being engineered to sense, respond, and even communicate. From yoga pants that track muscle activity to hospital gowns that monitor vital signs, textiles are transforming everyday garments into intelligent companions.

This fusion of fashion and function is not just futuristic; it is happening now. The global smart textiles market is expected to expand significantly, rising from $6.61 billion in 2025 to $67.62 billion by 2035.1 Designers and technologists are working hand in hand to redefine what people wear and why they wear it. The result? Clothing that does not just look good, but also actively enhances health, performance, and lifestyle.

From Fabric to Function
Traditionally, textiles have been valued for their comfort, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Today, they are evolving into smart textiles, i.e., materials embedded with sensors, conductive fibres, and responsive coatings that allow clothing to interact with the wearer and the environment. This shift is transforming garments from passive fashion items into active devices capable of monitoring health, enhancing performance, and even generating energy.

But what does this transformation really look like?

  • Conductive Yarns and Fibres: Instead of relying on bulky wires, fabrics are now woven with conductive threads made of silver, copper, or carbon. These allow garments to transmit electrical signals seamlessly, enabling functions like heart-rate monitoring or gesture control.
  • Responsive Coatings: Fabrics can be treated with thermochromic or photochromic dyes that change colour with temperature or light exposure, creating clothing that adapts to its surroundings.
  • Embedded Sensors: Miniaturised sensors integrated into textiles can track biometric data such as blood oxygen levels, posture, or hydration. Unlike wearable gadgets strapped to the wrist, these sensors are invisible and comfortable, blending into everyday clothing.
  • Energy Harvesting: Some smart fabrics are designed to generate power from body movement, friction, or even solar energy. For example, a jacket that charges a phone while its wearer walks.

Market Growth and Potential
The global smart textiles market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 32.45 per cent from 2025 to 20352 driven by consumer demand and technological breakthroughs. These figure highlights how textiles are becoming central to the wearable revolution, not just an accessory to electronics.

According to recent reports, nearly 30 per cent of wearable technology innovations now involve textile integration, highlighting how fabrics are becoming the preferred medium for embedding intelligence. The healthcare sector alone accounts for over 40 per cent of smart textile applications, underscoring their role in patient monitoring and preventive care.

This evolution is not just technical; it is also cultural. By embedding intelligence into fabrics, designers are redefining the very purpose of clothing. Garments are no longer static; they are dynamic systems that respond, adapt, and even communicate. In essence, textiles are becoming the interface between humans and technology, bridging fashion with function in ways that were once unimaginable.

Applications Across Industries

Healthcare
Smart fabrics can monitor vital signs such as heart rate, temperature, and hydration. For example, hospital gowns embedded with sensors reduce the need for bulky monitoring equipment.

These textiles are also being used in rehabilitation, where garments can track muscle recovery and provide feedback to patients and doctors. With the rise of telemedicine, smart clothing could become a bridge between patients and healthcare providers, offering continuous monitoring outside hospital walls.

A notable case is Hexoskin,3 a Canadian company whose biometric shirts record ECG, breathing rate, and activity levels, transmitting data to smartphones for continuous monitoring. Similarly, Sensoria4 has developed smart socks that track foot pressure and gait, helping prevent injuries in diabetic patients.

Sports and Fitness
Athletic wear now integrates textiles that track muscle activity, posture, and performance, giving athletes real-time feedback. This allows coaches and trainers to fine-tune workouts and prevent injuries by spotting strain before it becomes serious.

Smart fabrics can also measure sweat composition, helping athletes understand hydration and electrolyte levels during intense training. As fitness becomes increasingly data-driven, these textiles are turning everyday gear into personalised performance labs.

Under Armour’s Athlete Recovery Sleepwear5, infused with bioceramic particles, reflects infrared energy back to the body to aid muscle recovery. Meanwhile, OMsignal6 produces smart shirts that monitor breathing and heart rate during workouts, offering athletes data-driven insights.

Fashion and Lifestyle
Designers are experimenting with fabrics that change colour, light up, or adapt to temperature, merging creativity with utility. Imagine a dress that shifts hues depending on mood or environment, or jackets that warm up automatically in cold weather.

These innovations are not only functional but also open new avenues for self-expression, making fashion more interactive and personalised. With sustainability in mind, some smart textiles are being designed to reduce energy consumption, aligning with eco-conscious consumer trends.

Luxury brands are also exploring smart textiles, with Ralph Lauren’s PoloTech shirt7 offering biometric tracking while maintaining a sleek fashion aesthetic.

Military and Safety
Textiles with built-in communication systems or protective layers enhance soldier safety and occupational performance. For instance, uniforms can be equipped with sensors that detect chemical exposure or monitor fatigue levels in real time.

Firefighters and construction workers are also benefiting from smart fabrics such as smart jackets by Teijin8 that regulate body temperature and provide alerts in hazardous conditions. These industries are improving safety standards while reducing reliance on external devices by embedding intelligence directly into clothing.

Why Textiles Matter in Wearables
Unlike rigid devices, textiles offer flexibility, breathability, and comfort, making them ideal for long-term use. A smartwatch may track steps, but a smart shirt can monitor multiple health metrics without disrupting daily life. Textiles also allow seamless integration of technology into everyday routines, turning clothing into invisible assistants rather than noticeable gadgets.

Beyond comfort, textiles provide surface area and adaptability that rigid devices cannot. Fabrics can cover the entire body, enabling more comprehensive data collection and interaction. They also allow for discreet design, ensuring that technology blends into fashion rather than standing apart as a gadget. Importantly, smart textiles can be machine-washable and durable, making them practical for everyday wear. As sustainability becomes a priority, textiles offer the chance to embed intelligence into eco-friendly fibres, ensuring that innovation aligns with environmental responsibility.

Innovations Driving Change

  • Conductive fibres woven into fabrics enable electrical connectivity without wires. These fibres are often made from materials such as silver, copper, or carbon, which allow electricity to pass through the fabric without compromising comfort. They can be integrated into everyday clothing to support functions like biometric monitoring, gesture control, or even wireless communication. The advantage is that the technology remains invisible to the wearer, making garments both practical and stylish.
  • Energy-harvesting textiles can generate power from movement or sunlight, reducing reliance on batteries. Fabrics embedded with piezoelectric materials can convert body motion into usable energy, while solar-powered textiles capture sunlight through thin photovoltaic coatings. This innovation is particularly useful for outdoor gear, where jackets or backpacks can charge small devices on the go. By reducing dependence on external batteries, these textiles make wearables more sustainable and convenient.
  • Eco-friendly smart fabrics are emerging, aligning with sustainability goals in fashion. Researchers are developing biodegradable conductive fibres and recyclable coatings to ensure that smart textiles do not contribute to long-term waste. Some companies are experimenting with organic cotton or bamboo fabrics infused with smart capabilities, combining eco-conscious materials with advanced technology. This approach reflects the growing demand for sustainable fashion, where innovation must balance performance with environmental responsibility.
  • Eco-friendly smart textiles prioritise circularity and low-impact design. Researchers are developing biodegradable polymers, recyclable coatings and closed-loop systems to ensure garments can be reused or safely decompose at end-of-life. Natural dyes and low-energy finishing processes further reduce environmental impact, ensuring smart fabrics are both technologically advanced and planet-friendly.