Functional fabrics: An overview

01 October 2022, Mumbai:

The technical definition of these types of fabrics is fabrics with attributes of aligning/adjusting in accordance with the respective application areas. · Water Pressure Resistance · Abrasion Resistance Flame-Retardant.

Functional textiles are broadly textile materials manufactured inherently with basic functionalities focused on meeting well-intended end-use applications besides expected to well deliver its requirement apart from their basic purpose & application.

The performance demonstrability of the latest trends in fabric development for the functional textile industry is all about the topical issue of current innovations in high-performance fabrics.

The panorama of the modern-day brands' is the journey of having gone down the path of hitting (Carbon Neutrality) & measurability of the fabrics' performance metrics, formulas, thesis, and theories quantifying as an actionable point is 'key performance parameters and impact factors.

Therefore, they are versatile and attributable to their twin integrated functions of calibrating or aligned to the predictable application.

Sustainability strategy

The functional fabrics segment is sustainably committed to mitigating & minimize the CO2 emissions for this type of fabric used in the apparel/clothing industry to define & re-imagine the Fashion industry's future.

Most simplistically sustainability strategy stems from the quest to re-wire, re-think & reimagine businesses for a “greener product” resting on the principles of imaginative/innovative technologies enabling businesses to sustainably derive meaningful gains in the realms of economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

Therefore, the need of the hour is to design & develop the plant for the abatement of contaminating/polluting plentiful wastewater and its requisite management to the lessen sector's environmental impact.

Product Line

Some of the new age functional fabrics with cutting edge are polyamide pre-consumer recycled warp knit fabric, Sports Fabric, Mesh Fabric, 3M Dry-Fit, Wicking, Coolmax, Water Proof, and Anti-UV amongst many others.

User applications for these fabrics are in the space of Protective Textiles, Medical Textiles, Clean Room Textiles, Nanotechnology, sportswear, urban wear, and athleisure, wherever one has to ensure exceptional performance and contemporary stylization.

With an eye on the talks around sustainability, perfect hi-performance, product design & conscious focus on the end consumer desired lifestyle, comfort & convenience leveraging on the back on digitization, digital adoption, evolving versatile technologies. Again, at the end of the day not overlooking the end product's grained attributes such as enduring value and visual appeal.

The reality on the ground

There are worldwide centers for Functional Fabrics looking at bridging academia and industry in these specialized textiles with the core aim of pivoting the textiles of the future and the world is getting very positive about this.

According to DREXEL UNIVERSITY RESEARCH MAGAZINE," “Functional fibers,” unlike traditional fabrics, integrate yarns and fibers engineered to see, hear, sense and communicate".

One of the studies conducted way back in 2020," Technical textile is where the spotlight is currently accounting for approximately 13% of India's total textile".

Taiwan's textile industry single-handedly contributes to as high as 70% of the world's market share of functional fabrics strongly attained out of the innovative prowess, heft & capabilities honed through decades by Taiwan's textile industry as a front runner, according to the Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF) supporting industry tapping into opportunities like well-known international outdoor, shapewear, swimwear, sports-inspired and sportswear marquee brands of the world through the years.

What is right for the industry is right for all of us and let us not get caught in the noise and survive in the new normal!

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