smart fabrics report november 21 2016 - deborah weinswig€¦ · research company marketsandmarkets...

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DEBORAHWEINSWIG,MANAGINGDIRECTOR,FUNGGLOBALRETAIL&[email protected]:917.655.6790HK:852.6119.1779CN:86.186.1420.3016Copyright©2016TheFungGroup.Allrightsreserved.

Deep Dive: Smart Fabrics:

The Future of Apparel?

D E B O R A H W E I N S W I G M a n a g i n g D i r e c t o r ,

F u n g G l o b a l R e t a i l & T e c h n o l o g y d e b o r a h w e i n s w i g @ f u n g 1 9 3 7 . c o m

U S : 6 4 6 . 8 3 9 . 7 0 1 7 H K : 8 5 2 . 6 1 1 9 . 1 7 7 9

C N : 8 6 . 1 8 6 . 1 4 2 0 . 3 0 1 6

1) In this report,weprovidean overviewof the smart fabricsmarketandidentifytwomainsegmentswithintheindustry,nanofabrics, which are textiles with special properties thatare created using nanotechnology, and connected fabrics,whichhaveembeddeddigitaltechnology.

2) Apparelandfootwearmadewithsmartfabricsstillrepresentanichepartoftheoverallmarket.However, it isagrowingsegment and represents an opportunity for apparelmanufacturersandretailers.

3) Smartfabrictechnologyisversatileandcanfindapplicationsin a number of industries. In this report, we highlightexamples of nanofabrics and connected fabrics in fashionandsportswear.

4) We also evaluatewhether smart fabrics have the potentialtobecomethefutureofapparelbasedontwocriteria:theirabilitytosolvegenuineproblemsandaddrealconvenience,andtheirresilienceinthefaceofcompetingtechnologies.Inour view, nanofabrics hold more potential in these areasthanconnectedfabricsdo.

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TABLEOFCONTENTS

EXECUTIVESUMMARY...........................................................................................................3

INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................4

DEFININGSMARTFABRICS.....................................................................................................4NANOFABRICS:NEWPROPERTIESWITHOUTCOMPROMISINGTHEORIGINALFABRIC.........................5CONNECTEDFABRICS:THEFUTUREOFWEARABLETECHNOLOGY........................................................5

STILLASMALLMARKET,BUTGROWINGFAST........................................................................7

VERSATILITYOFSMARTFABRICS...........................................................................................8

APPLICATIONSINAPPAREL....................................................................................................9STAIN-RESISTANTFABRICS:DROPELANDINDUO..................................................................................9NANOPARTICLES:SCOUGHANDADIDAS..............................................................................................10WEARABLETECHNOLOGY:OMSIGNALANDATHOS.............................................................................11OTHERSMARTFABRICSANDCONNECTEDFABRICS.............................................................................13

ARESMARTFABRICSHERETOSTAY?...................................................................................15

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EXECUTIVESUMMARYIn this report, we analyze the smart fabrics market. Smart fabrics aretextiles with embedded technology that enables the clothing made fromthemeithertoperformfunctionsthatregulargarmentscannotperformortohavespecialcharacteristicsthatregularclothingdoesnothave.Wefocusontwosegmentswithinsmartfabrics:

• Nanofabrics are smart fabrics manufactured with the use ofnanotechnology. Nanoparticles are embedded in regular fabrics toenhance or give new properties to the material. For instance,integratingsilvernanoparticles intogarmentscanmakethemodor-resistant.Othernanotechnologyapplicationscanmaketextilesstain-resistantandwaterproof.

• Connected fabrics are smart fabrics that incorporate digitaltechnology.Thetechnologyisusuallyemployedinsportswear,anditoftentakestheformofsensorsembeddedinthefabricsalongwithacore that collects the information from the sensors and thentransmitsittoanotherdevice,suchasamobilephoneortablet,forvisualization andanalysis. This systemallowswearersof connectedgarments to track their athletic performance by collecting andanalyzingbiometricdataduringworkouts.

Currently, the smart fabrics category is still a niche segment within theoverall apparel and footwear market. However, it is growing, and itrepresents an opportunity for apparel manufacturers and retailers. Thesmartfabricscategoryisexpectedtogrowatadouble-digitrateinthenextfewyears,accordingtoouranalysisofdatafromMarketsandMarkets.Thisiswellaheadofthebroaderapparelandfootwearmarket.

Smart fabrics are versatile andmanufacturers are finding applications forthem in a number of industries, including transportation, military,healthcare,fitness,andsportswearandfashion.Inthisreport,weprovideanumber of examples of nanofabrics and connected fabrics in fashion andsportswear.Wealsoassessthefutureprospectsofsmartfabrictechnologyaccordingtotwocriteria:

1. Itsabilitytosolvegenuineproblemsandaddrealconvenience.

2. Itsresilienceversuspossiblecompetingtechnologies.

Inourview,thetwomainsmartfabricsegmentshavedifferentprospects,asnanofabricsbettermeetthesetwocriteria thanconnected fabricsdo—butcostisacommonobstacletothemainstreamadoptionofboth.

Currently,smartfabricsarestillanichesegmentwithintheoverallapparelandfootwearmarket.However,itisagrowingsegment,anditrepresentsanopportunityforapparelmanufacturersandretailers.

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INTRODUCTIONIn this report, we provide an overview of the smart fabrics market. Wedefinethesmart fabricscategories,provideanassessmentof thesizeandgrowth of the market, list the potential applications of such fabrics indifferentindustries,andhighlightexamplesofthetechnologybeingusedinapparel and sportswear. Finally, we assess the future prospects of smartfabrics and analyzewhether the technology is here to stay or if itwill beovertakenbyother,moreinnovativetechnologies.

There are two main segments in smart fabrics. The first is nanofabrics,which are materials manufactured with nanoparticles. Different kinds ofnanoparticles can give fabricswaterproof, stain-resistantor odor-resistantpropertieswithoutchangingthetextureandfeelofthetextile.Thesecondsegment is connected fabrics, which are fabrics embedded with digitaltechnology. Sportswear that incorporates connected fabrics enables usersto monitor and measure their biometric signals in order to analyze theirathleticperformance.

Source:Shutterstock

DEFININGSMARTFABRICSSmart fabrics are textiles with embedded technology. The technologicalcontentenablesclothingmadewithsmartfabricstoperformfunctionsthatregulargarmentscannotortohavepropertiesthatregulargarmentsdonothave. In this report, we divide smart fabrics in two main categories:nanofabrics,which employ nanotechnology, and connected fabrics,whichareembeddedwithdigitaltechnology.Nanotechnologyisatermthatreferstoscience,engineeringortechnologythatisconductedatnanoscale.(Foramorestructureddefinitionandin-depthdiscussionofnanotechnology,seeour2015reportNanotechnology:TheNextSmallThing.)

Synthetic fabrics with special properties have been around for years. Forinstance,Teflon—apolymerthat isused inclothingandotherproducts torepel water and oil—was invented in 1938. Gore-Tex—a polymer that islayered together with regular fabric to makes a waterproof, breathablefabricmembrane—wasinventedin1969.However,fabricsmadewiththese

Smartfabricsaretextileswithembeddedtechnologythatenablesclothingtoperformfunctionsthatregulargarmentscannotortohavespecialproperties.

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polymersarenotembeddedwithnanotechnologyordigitaltechnologyand,so,arenotdefinedassmartfabricsinourreport.

Nanofabrics:NewPropertiesWithoutCompromisingtheOriginalFabricNanotechnologyisembeddedinregularfabricstocreatenanofabrics,whichhave special features but retain the properties of the original textile. Byemployingnanotechnologyintextileproduction,manufacturersareabletomaketheirproductsmoreinnovative.Forinstance,fabricsembeddedwithsilver nanoparticles have antibacterial properties. Manufacturers employdifferent types of nanotechnology to producewaterproof, stain-repellent,odor-resistantandantibacterialfabrics.

Source:Shutterstock

Integrating composite fabrics with nanoparticles enables the fabrics toexhibit the properties described abovewithout significant changes to thefabrics’ weight, texture or thickness. Examples of nanotechnologyapplicationsinfabricmanufacturinginclude:

• Nanowhiskers: thesefilamentsenablefabrictobecomewaterproofandstain-proofbypreventingtheabsorptionofliquidsandoils.

• Silvernanoparticles: theseparticleskill thebacteria responsible forodors.

• Nanopores: these are tiny holes that allow transpiration withoutlettingexternalagentsthroughthefabrics.

ConnectedFabrics:TheFutureofWearableTechnologyConnectedfabricsarethoseembeddedwithwearabletechnology.Clothingmade with connected fabrics has the ability to connect to other devices,such as smartphones and tablets. The technology is usually applied tosportsweartoenablewearerstotracktheirathleticperformance.

In our report The Disruptors of Sports: Smart Sports Equipment, wediscussed US sportswear company Under Armour’s 2016 launch of itsHealthBoxconnected-fitnesssystem,atrackerthatconnectswithallother

Thefutureofwearablesliesinmovingfromdedicateddevicestoembeddingfitness-trackingfunctionsinsmartclothing.

https://fungglobalretailtech.com/research/disruptors-sports-smart-sports-equipment/

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UnderArmoursmartwearablesanddevices.Thesystemisacombinationofwearable devices, including a wristband and chest strap, but does notincludeanygarmentwithembeddedfitness-trackingtechnology.However,thecompanyhasindicatedthatitseesthefutureofwearablesmovingfromdedicated connected devices to smart clothing with embedded trackingfunctions. Garments made with connected fabrics do not require thewearertouseadedicatedgadgetinordertocollectandanalyzefitnessdataand,so,aremoreconvenientforthewearer.

Figure1.UnderArmour’sEvolutionofConnectedFitness

Source:Underarmour

Connected fabricshave thepotential tomake smart accessoriesobsolete.Thisisarecurringthemeinconsumerelectronics.Forexample,consumersused MP3 players in tandem with mobile phones, but as smartphonetechnologyprogressedtoincorporatefurthermusicstorageandfile-playingfeatures,MP3playersbecameredundant.Weexpecttoseethesametrendasconnectedclothingincorporatesmorefunctionscurrentlyperformedbysmartaccessoriessuchasfitnesstrackers.

Source:Shutterstock

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STILLASMALLMARKET,BUTGROWINGFASTThesmartfabricsmarketisstillsmall,butitisgrowingrapidlyandpresentssignificantopportunitiesforbusinessexpansionforapparelandsportswearmanufacturersandretailers.

Research companyMarketsandMarketsestimated theglobal smart fabricsmarkettobeworthUS$1.2billionin2015.Thisequatestolessthan0.1%ofthe total global apparel and footwearmarket value of US$1,646.8 billionrecordedbyEuromonitorInternationalfor2015.

According to trade association Industrial Fabrics Association International,theglobalmarket forsmart fabricsgrewby18%from2012through2015,andMarketsandMarketsestimatesthatitwillgrowtoUS$2billionby2018.According toour calculations, thatequates toa compoundannualgrowthrate (CAGR) of 18.6%. By way of comparison, Euromonitor expects theworld’sapparelandfootwearmarkettogrowataCAGRofjust5.0%duringthesameperiod.

Figure2.EstimatedGlobalSmartFabricsMarketValue:2015–2018(USDBil.)

Source:MarketsandMarkets

Therearealreadyanumberofexamplesofhowthesmartfabricssegmentcangeneratesignificantbusinessforapparelmanufacturersandretailers.In2003, Japanese retailerUniqlo launched theHeattech line,which featuresapparel made with a moisture-absorbing, bio-warming textile thattransformsthebody’snaturalperspirationintoheat.Thefabricwascreatedby JapanesechemicalcompanyToray,whichsupplies theretailerwith thehighperformancematerial.

Uniqlo and Toray signed an initial five-year agreement in 2011, whichgenerated¥800billion (US$8.5 billion) in the supply ofHeattech fabric toUniqlo,more thandouble the initial targetof¥400billion (US$4.2billion).Thetwocompaniesannouncedtheirnextfive-yearagreementin2015;thistime, Toray aims to supply Uniqlo with ¥1 trillion (US$9.7 billion) ofmaterial.

1.2

1.5

1.7

2.0

2015 2016 2017 2018

Thesmartfabricsmarketisstillsmall,butitisgrowingrapidlyandcancertainlybeseenasanopportunityforbusinessexpansionforapparelandsportswearmanufacturersandretailers.

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VERSATILITYOFSMARTFABRICSSmart fabrics are being used in many industries besides apparel andsportswear.AccordingtotheIndustrialFabricsAssociationInternational,thetransportation sector is the largest user of smart fabrics, followed by themilitaryandgovernment.Applicationsinsportsandfitnessaccountfor17%of the smart fabrics market, and the fabrics are also being used inhealthcare.

• Transportation:Withinthetransportationindustry,smartfabricsaremainlybeingusedinthemanufactureofvehicleinteriors,suchasinsmartseatbeltsandseats.AEuropeanUnionprojectcalledHarkenisdevelopingaseatbeltandcarseatthatmeasureadriver’svitalsignsin order to detect drowsiness and alert the driver if those signalsemerge.

• Military:TheUSDepartmentofDefenseannouncedaplantoinvestUS$75millioninresearchonwearabletechnologyundertakenbytheMassachusettsInstituteofTechnology.Thetechnologymaybeusedtomakeuniformssensitivetolight,inordertoenablethedetectionof lasers, or to create thermal bodymaps to identify injuries evenwhensoldierscannotreportthem.

• Fitness apparel and sportswear: Athletic apparel and sportswearmade with smart fabrics embedded with sensors can measureathletes’ performance and even help prevent injuries via dataanalytics. Smart athleticwear can be connected to smart sportsequipmentaspartof the InternetofThings (IoT).Weanalyzed thissegmentindepthinour2016reportTheDisruptorsofSports:SmartSportsEquipment.

Source:Shutterstock

• Fashion: In fashion, smart fabrics are used to enhance theperformanceor functionalityofagarmentor to improveorchangeitsappearance.Examplesincludeclothesthatcanchargethebatteryof the wearer’s smartphone, clothes that incorporatenanotechnologythatmakesthemstain-resistantandclothesthatcanchangecoloraccordingtoexternalfactors.

Thetransportationsectoristhelargestuserofsmartfabrics,followedbythemilitaryandgovernment.Sportsandfitnessapplicationsaccountfor17%ofthetotalsmartfabricsmarket.

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• Healthcare:Smartfabricscanbeusedinhealthcaretohelppreventinjuries related to muscular stress or poor posture. In hospitals,smart fabrics can be used inmattresses, sheets and pillowcases toenabletherecordingandanalysisofpatients’health,andinhospitalgownsthatcanmonitorthewearer’sheartrate,bloodpressureandpulse.

APPLICATIONSINAPPARELSmartfabricsfindmanyapplicationsinapparel.Thesmartapparelsegmentisstillatanearlystageofadoption—clothingmadewithconnectedfabricsand nanofabrics has yet to becomemainstream—but there are already anumberofsmartfabricsavailable,andtheyholdmuchpotentialwithintheindustry. Below, we highlight a number of smart fabrics and discuss howtheyarebeingusedinapparelandfootwear.

Stain-ResistantFabrics:DropelandInduoDropel is a New York–based startup that has launched fabrics thatincorporate invisible hydrophobic polymers into cotton to create aprotective layer thatmakes clothingwater- and stain-resistant. The smartfabrics retain the natural texture and feel of traditional fabrics. Theformulation also enables fabrics to minimize odors and maintainbreathability.

Figure3.DropelFabrics

Source:DropelFabrics

Induo, a company wemet at a startup event in London, also launched asmart fabricwithwater-and stain-resistant properties. The firm, based inParis, produces a coated fabric that repels oils and water and itmanufacturesshirtsmadewiththespecialtextile.

DropelisaNewYork–basedstartupthathaslaunchedfabricsthatincorporateinvisiblehydrophobicpolymersintocotton.

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Figure4.Induo

Source:Induo.co.uk

Nanoparticles:ScoughandAdidasScough isaUS–basedcompanythathascreatedstylishscarvesmadewithsmartfabricsthathelpprotectthewearerfrombacteriaandpollution.Thefabriccontainsactivatedcarbonimpregnatedwithsilvernanoparticles.Theactivated carbon filters out pollution, while the silver nanoparticles killgermsandbacteria.

Figure5.Scough

Source:WearaScough

In2014,AdidaslaunchedClimachill,asportswearcollectionthatincludesT-shirtsandshortsmadewithsmartfabricsthathaveembeddedtitaniumandaluminum particles, which help to cool down the wearer’s bodytemperature.Theparticlesareactivatedbythewearer’sbodyheat,sothecoolingsensationoccursonlyduringperiodsofactivity.Thesilverparticlesalsokillbacteriaandmakethefabricodor-resistant.

ScoughisaUS–basedcompanythatcreatesstylishscarvesmadewithsmartfabricsthathelpprotectthewearerfrombacteriaandpollution.

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Figure6.AdidasClimachillTee

Source:Adidas

WearableTechnology:OMsignalandAthosTheOMbraandAthosgarmentsareexamplesofwearabletechnologybeingembedded into sportsapparel.TheOMbra isa smart sportsbra launchedbyCanadiancompanyOMsignal.Thebra tracks thewearer’sbodysignals,suchasheart rate,breathing rateandcaloriesburned, thanks toa sensorbox embedded in the garment. The data is then transmitted to theOMsignalmobileappforvisualization.

Source:OMsignal

The systempromises to deliver amore accurate tracking of bodymetricsthanotherwearabledevicesbecausethesensor laysclosetothewearer’sbody and to the vital organs. Thanks to the precision of the metricscollected,theappisabletoprovidetheuserwithmorepersonalcoachingassistance.

TheOMbraisasmartsportsbralaunchedbyCanadiancompanyOMsignal.Thebratracksthewearer’sheartandbreathingrates.

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The company will soon launch the OMshirt, a connected running T-shirtaimedatmalerunnersthatworksthesamewayastheOMbra.

Figure7.OMbra

Source:OMsignal

USfitnessapparelstartupAthoslaunchedalineofsportswearthatrecordsthewearer’sbodymetricsinordertohelpoptimizetraining.Thegarmentscontainintegratedsensorsthattrackthesignalsofhowthemuscleswork;acore and sensors that capture body signals using electromyographytechnology are embedded in the clothing. These signals are thentransferredviaBluetoothtoanappontheuser’ssmartphonethatenablesthe real-time visualization and analysis of the muscles worked and theintensityoftheworkout.

Figure8.AthosSmartFitnessApparel

Source:LiveAthos

Athoslaunchedalineofsportswearthatrecordsthewearer’sbodysignalsinordertooptimizefitnesstraining.

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OtherSmartFabricsandConnectedFabricsBelow, we highlight selected companies that have created smart orconnectedfabrics.

Figure9.SelectedSmartFabricsCompanies

Company Description Website

InternationalFashionMachine

Makeselectronictextileswithconductivematerialsincorporateddirectlyintothefabrics.

www.ifmachines.com/index.html

Spiber Manufacturerofspidersilk,averyresistantproteinbasedfabrics.

www.spiber.jp/en/endeavor

BASF Hasacomprehensiveportfolioofinnovativefabrics

www.basf.com/en/products-and-industries/textile-leather-and-footwear.html

AiQSmartClothing

Integratesstainlesssteelyarnsandthreadsdirectlyintoclothing,creatingfashionable,functional,lightweight,washableandeasy-to-useproducts

www.aiqsmartclothing.com/

CrailarFTI Makesaflaxfiberthatlooksandfeelsalmostidenticaltocotton,butwhichrequiresfewerchemicalsandlesswatertoproduce

www.crailar-fti.com/

OdegonTechnologies

Makesnanofabricsthatabsorbunwantedodors

www.odegon.com

Nanex Makesanaerosolnanotechnologycoatingthathelptoprotectclothingagainststainsandwater

www.nanexcompany.com

Speedo MakesFastskinfabric,whichisusedinswimsuitstosimulatethetextureofsharkskin;itincreasesaswimmer’sspeedbyreducingdragthroughwater

www.speedo.co.uk/technology/fastskin

Source:Companywebsites/FungGlobalRetail&Technology

Nanexhascreatednanotechnology-basedcoatingsthatmakeclothingstain-andwater-resistant.

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Figure10.SelectedConnectedFabricsCompanies

Company Description Website

Myzone Makesasportsbraandcheststrapthattrackbodysignals,includingheartrate;designedtoimprovefitnesstraining

www.myzone.org

TommyHilfiger Makessolar-poweredjacketsthatcanchargesmartphones

www.cnet.com/uk/news/tommy-hilfiger-launches-solar-power-jackets-to-charge-your-phone/

Joe’sJeans Makesjeanswithaspecialpocketforchargingsmartphones

www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/joes-hello-jeans-charge-iphone

Sensoria Manufacturerofconnectedsportsapparel. www.sensoriafitness.com

NuMetrex Makesgarmentswithheart-rate-monitoringtechnologyknitteddirectlyintothefabric

www.numetrex.com

Visijax Makestheworld’sfirstLEDcyclingjacketwithhigh-visibilityLEDsandmotion-activatedturnsignals

www.visijax.com

Footlogger Makessensorsembeddedinshoesinsolestotrackthewearer’sperformance

www.footlogger.com

Hexoskin Manufactureshigh-endsportswearthatmonitorsheartrateandotherbodymetrics

www.hexoskin.com

RalphLauren Thecompany’sPoloTechShirtcollectsandtransmitsreal-timeworkoutdatatoaniPhoneorAppleWatch

press.ralphlauren.com/polotech

Owlet Makessmartbabysocksthatdetectbabies’bodysignals www.owletcare.com

Mimo TheMimoSmartBabyMovementMonitorusesasmart,washablecribsheettocollectdataonababy’ssleepactivityandmovement,whichissenttoaparent’ssmartphoneortablet

mimobaby.com

Clothing+ Manufacturessmarttextilesthatcombinedurability,easymaintenance,arefinedprocessandfulltechnicaltesting

www.clothingplus.com/index.php

NieuweHeren Makesajacketwithasensorthatregistershazardousmoleculesintheair

www.nieuweheren.com/project/aegisparka

Source:Companywebsites/FungGlobalRetail&Technology

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ARESMARTFABRICSHERETOSTAY?Thesmart fabricsmarket isexpected togrowatadouble-digit rate in thenextfewyears,accordingtoouranalysisofdatafromMarketsandMarkets.That growth, while impressive, would be from a very low base, as smartfabricsremainanichesegmentoftheapparelmarket.Butaresmartfabricsgoing to become mainstream? Or will they be overtaken by othertechnologies?

Inour2015publicationTheWearablesReport:TheIntersectionofTechandFashion,wehighlightedtwocriteriathatwearabledevicesneedtosatisfyinordertoachievelongevity:

1. Abilitytosolveagenuineproblemoraddrealconvenience.

2. Resiliencyinthefaceofpotentialcompetingtechnologies.

The first criterionhelpsusanalyzewhether smart fabricsactually respondto consumers’ needs better than conventional products do, while thesecondhelpsusestimatewhetheranewtechnology—oranewapplicationof an existing technology—is likely to replace smart fabrics or connectedgarmentsinthelongrun.

Weassessednanofabricsandconnectedfabricsseparatelyagainstthetwocriteria above, and we think that nanofabrics respond well to both.Nanofabricsprovidebetterperformancethanconventionalfabricsdo,giventhattheyprovidewaterproof,stain-prooforodor-resistantproperties.ThetechnologyalsohasanedgeoverolderproductssuchasTeflonandGore-Texbecausenanoparticles—whichareembedded incotton,woolorothermaterials—donot alter the natural texture and feel of the original fabric.Therefore,wedonotforeseeanothertechnologyovertakingnanofabricsinthenearfuture.

Source:Shutterstock

Connected fabricsalso respondwell to the twocriteria,butwesee scopefor further improvement in these fabrics. Connected fabrics do provideextraconveniencecomparedwithwearabletechnologyaccessories,astheyfunction both as sportswear and as biometric data collectors. Moreover,

Aresmartfabricsgoingtobecomemainstream?Ormighttheybeovertakenbyothertechnologies?

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theirprecisionisgreater,sincetheembeddedsensorsinconnectedfabricsoftenlieclosertothecentralpartofthebodyanditsvitalorgansthan,say,a wristband does. One drawback compared with nanofabrics is that thenumber of users who will be interested in recording their biometrics orworkout statistics is likely to be far lower than the number attracted byfeaturessuchaswaterresistance,whichnanofabricscanprovide.

As we highlighted in TheWearables Report: The Intersection of Tech andFashion,westill see scope for improvement in termsof conveniencewithconnected fabrics. Asmost users wash their sportswear items after eachworkout,usersofconnectedsportsgearmayneedmorethanonepieceofthe same item in order to be able to alternate wearings and guaranteeconstant measurement of their athletic performance across frequentworkouts.

So, theemergenceofanewtechnologythatmeasuresbiometricswithoutthe impracticalities associated with connected fabrics could make thecategory obsolete. Such technology could take the form of a noninvasivedevice—such as a sticker or a temporary tattoo—that can be applieddirectlytothewearer’sbodyandthenthrownawayafteraworkout.

Finally,coststill representsabarrier to themass-marketadoptionofbothnanofabrics and connected fabrics. Traditional products are still muchcheaper.Moreover,theriseofaffordablefastfashioninthelastfewyearshas changed consumer behavior and made mainstream consumersincreasinglyreluctanttospendonapparelwithhighpricetags.

Source:Shutterstock

Coststillrepresentsabarriertothemassadoptionofbothnanofabricsandconnectedfabrics.

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DeborahWeinswig,CPAManagingDirectorFungGlobalRetail&TechnologyNewYork:917.655.6790HongKong:852.6119.1779China:86.186.1420.3016deborahweinswig@fung1937.comJohnMercerSeniorAnalyst

FilippoBattainiResearchAssociate

HONGKONG:8thFloor,LiFungTower888CheungShaWanRoad,KowloonHongKongTel:85223004406LONDON:242-246MaryleboneRoadLondon,NW16JQUnitedKingdomTel:44(0)2076168988NEWYORK:1359Broadway,9thFloorNewYork,NY10018Tel:6468397017

FungGlobalRetailTech.com

smart fabrics report november 21 2016 - deborah weinswig€¦ · research company marketsandmarkets...

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