The apparel industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by innovative manufacturing practices and sustainable supply chain management and growing importance of technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud, augmented reality, and big data. In the last three years alone, there have been over 2,600 patents filed and granted in the apparel industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Internet of Things in apparel: smart fabricsBuy the report here.

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Data Insights Internet of Things in apparel: smart fabrics

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According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over 41,000 patents to analyze innovation intensity for the apparel industry, there are 20+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Smart fabrics are a key innovation area in Internet of Things

Smart fabrics are textiles that have inbuilt or integrated electronic components that can detect gestures and body language and then respond accordingly. Smart fabrics can transform fashion, healthcare, sports, and military sectors.

GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 100+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established apparel companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of smart fabrics.

Key players in smart fabrics – a disruptive innovation in the apparel industry

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.   

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.  

Patent volumes related to smart fabrics

Company Total patents (2021 - 2023) Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies
New Balance 10 Unlock Company Profile
Artemis 32 Unlock Company Profile
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical 3 Unlock Company Profile
NIKE 203 Unlock Company Profile
Life 13 Unlock Company Profile
Decathlon 7 Unlock Company Profile
Toray Industries 18 Unlock Company Profile
Gunze 6 Unlock Company Profile
ASICS 19 Unlock Company Profile
Shimano 10 Unlock Company Profile
FILA 4 Unlock Company Profile
Markel Group 4 Unlock Company Profile
Berkshire Hathaway 34 Unlock Company Profile
Toyobo 10 Unlock Company Profile
Koninklijke Philips 3 Unlock Company Profile
Wacoal 36 Unlock Company Profile
Goldwin 11 Unlock Company Profile
Asahi Kasei 10 Unlock Company Profile
Leatt 7 Unlock Company Profile
Mizuno 11 Unlock Company Profile
The Carlyle Group 18 Unlock Company Profile
Sanko 11 Unlock Company Profile
LG 7 Unlock Company Profile
adidas 22 Unlock Company Profile
Chartreuse & Mont Blanc 4 Unlock Company Profile
Thuasne 4 Unlock Company Profile
Under Armour 12 Unlock Company Profile
Performance Sports Group 3 Unlock Company Profile
Vista Outdoor 3 Unlock Company Profile
BioSerenity 8 Unlock Company Profile
United Sports Brands 4 Unlock Company Profile
Haydale Graphene Industries 4 Unlock Company Profile
ROKA Sports 46 Unlock Company Profile
OMSignal 4 Unlock Company Profile
Specialized Bicycle Components 3 Unlock Company Profile
BestBill 5 Unlock Company Profile
Charles Owen & Co (Bow) 3 Unlock Company Profile
Loomia 3 Unlock Company Profile
PIP-FUJIMOTO 4 Unlock Company Profile
Shock Doctor 14 Unlock Company Profile
Christian Wenger 26 Unlock Company Profile
FALKE 40 Unlock Company Profile
Rheon Labs 13 Unlock Company Profile
Green Industry Innovators 3 Unlock Company Profile
Blaser Group 3 Unlock Company Profile
HUUB 7 Unlock Company Profile
Eldridge Industries 35 Unlock Company Profile
Prevayl 8 Unlock Company Profile
Pentland Group 14 Unlock Company Profile
Galvani Tech Apparel 4 Unlock Company Profile

Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics

NIKE is one of the leading patent filers in smart fabrics. Some other key patent filers in the space include Prevayl and ROKA Sports. Prevayl launched SmartWear™ in 2022, sportswear enhanced with clinical-grade ECG that can be worn by avid gymgoers, personal trainers, and professional athletes. It is also embedded with other cutting-edge biometric technologies to gather data about the wearer’s body, which can be analyzed through smartphone applications to improve the user’s performance.

In terms of application diversity, Life is leads the pack, while BioSerenity and OMSignal are in the second and third positions, respectively.

By means of geographic reach, FALKE held the top position, followed by Eldridge and Berkshire Hathaway.

The future is very promising for smart fabrics, as these fabrics offer opportunities for self-expression and creativity in the fashion industry. The integration of wearables with smart fabrics can make the wearer feel more empowered due to the technologies used. The healthcare industry can greatly benefit from smart fabrics in monitoring and improving the user’s health.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the apparel industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Internet of Things (IoT) in Retail and Apparel.

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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.