Annual smart clothing shipments to hit 31 million units by 2022

The volume of smart clothing shipments is set to reach more than 31 million units annually by 2022, rising from about 5 million units this year. These figures represent a CAGR of 45 percent, according to the latest study by technology market intelligence firm ABI Research.

Although not yet able to reach mass market appeal, the smart apparel industry is on a steady growth because of its highly targeted consumer applications within the sports, fitness and wellness markets.

The majority of shipments will be primarily driven by consumer applications, with growing enterprise applications in worker safety and monitoring over the next few years,” said Ryan Harbison, research analysts at ABI Research.

Delicate sensors that are unable to with stand sweat, machine washing and extreme temperatures, however, are hindering the market from achieving full-scale mass production.

Currently, most smart clothing feature detachable sensors, which must be removed before washing. Those attached or embedded in the garments can be washed, but even the most advanced sensors can only last between 60 and 70 washes being needing replacement.

"Before smart clothing reaches mass adoption, the technology behind its embedded sensors need to improve," Harbison said. “The sensors have to withstand conditions that other wearables don’t, such as body sweat, wash cycles, and extreme temperature variances. Vendors will have to solve this through innovative manufacturing and do so before consumers voice these concerns,” he added.

Among the companies driving smart clothing innovation are Sensoria, OMsignal and Enflux. Prominent brands dipping their toes in the market include Ralph Lauren, which launched a smart shirt in 2015, and Google and Levi's teaming up to release the Commuter Trucker Jacket for cyclists that links mobile devices to Bluetooth.