According to experts, intelligent textiles are not yet a case for the mass market. “Fashion is rarely an issue,” said Kay Ullrich from the Thuringia Vogtland Textile Research Institute. “That’s part of it, but there is a different price pressure.” The growth drivers for textiles that have conductive threads woven into them are currently the automotive industry or medicine.
The managing director of the Textile, Shoes and Leather Goods Trade Association, Axel Augustin, also says: “At the moment it is definitely exotic.” It is not clear why you need a sports shirt that monitors fitness data when there are already devices for this.
According to the General Association of the German Textile and Fashion Industry, the market volume could double from up to 3.2 billion euros in 2023 to 2026. “Despite the growing interest, the group of buyers for intelligent textiles still forms a specialized market,” said Johannes Diebel, head of research at the overall association’s Textile Research Board.
However, he assumes that as the technology continues to develop, it will increasingly enter the mass market. However, this depends on the price, the benefit for the consumer and the recyclability of the products. (dpa)