Home → Blog → Resources → 8 Game-Changing Technical Clothing Technologies to Try in 2025
In recent years, textile technologies have evolved at an astounding rate, changing the way manufacturers design and manufacture performance apparel, and ensuring any brand that fails to invest in new textile solutions quickly falls behind. At the same time, consumer habits and preferences have shifted drastically, with a significant proportion of customers embracing performance-oriented textiles. These changes mean technical clothing is no longer the reserve of professional athletes. Instead, it is now one of the most dynamic and exciting sectors in the global market.
From innovative odor control additive technologies to fabrics that incorporate moisture-activated temperature cooling features, this article explores the latest textile technology trends and the hottest technical clothing developments in the industry. We’ll highlight standout performance clothing innovations, including odor-neutralizing fabrics, antibacterial finishes, biodegradable clothing, and even augmented reality apparel.
In particular, we’ll spotlight Polygiene’s three core Freshness technologies – Polygiene® StayFresh, Polygiene® OdorCrunch, and Polygiene® StayCool – and explore the many ways they’re treading new ground in the performance clothing sector.
First off, let’s begin with a quick definition of technical clothing. What does it encompass? Put simply, technical clothing refers to garments that feature advanced materials and textile technologies designed to enhance performance, comfort, and durability. In this respect, technical apparel differs from traditional apparel, which often emphasizes style over functionality and isn’t designed for strenuous activity or challenging conditions. Functional benefits in technical clothing include things like:
Whereas a traditional cotton T-shirt often absorbs sweat, stays damp for an extended period, and becomes heavy and uncomfortable, a technical T-shirt is optimized to wick moisture away from the skin and dry more efficiently. Because the designs offer improved performance in most respects, they are becoming increasingly popular in any clothing category designed for physical exertion, including sportswear, outdoor gear, and workwear. At the same time, consumers are also integrating performance items into their everyday wardrobes, reflecting a wider embrace of leisure and sportswear on the streets.
The demand for technical clothing has surged over the past decade and shows no sign of slowing. Research suggests the global market will grow from USD 9.75 billion in 2024 to USD 22.92 billion by 2033, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10% over that period (DHR).
Several key factors are responsible for this growth:
Technology integration – the rise of wearable devices has boosted demand for clothes that work with or contain smart tech. Consumers want biometric, health, and performance data, and technical clothing can play a role in providing that.
Several notable textile trends are having a big impact on the industry and proving exceptionally popular with consumers. We’ve selected our favourite technologies and provided you with an overview of how they work and what benefits they provide.
How it works
Rather than originating with sweat, most unpleasant smells in clothing are actually the result of odor-causing bacteria that thrive in damp and dark environments. Antibacterial odor control technologies like Polygiene StayFresh utilize a long-lasting, skin-safe solution based on silver chloride. This additive technology is applied to the fabric during product manufacturing and stops the growth of bacteria, preventing associated odors in the process and keeping clothes fresher for longer.
Benefits
Use cases
Polygiene StayFresh is often found in technical clothing such as sportswear, outdoor apparel, travel apparel, and everyday fashion. It is valued by athletes, commuters, and frequent travelers who want reliable freshness throughout the day.
Why it matters
With sustainability high on the agenda, Polygiene StayFresh directly addresses environmental concerns by ensuring consumers can wash their clothes less frequently. This reduces resource consumption, meaning less water, electricity, and detergent are required. At the same time, it maximizes product value for consumers by extending product lifespan.
Unlike Polygiene StayFresh, which prevents odors from forming by dealing with the bacteria that cause them, environmental odor control technologies like Polygiene OdorCrunch tackle smelly molecules like sulfur. A silica-based technology, it captures, crunches, and disperses these molecules, neutralizing smoke, food, and some body odors in the process.
Great for commuter wear, office attire, everyday clothing, and professional uniforms, Polygiene OdorCrunch performs well in any setting where environmental odors are a concern and users want to keep their clothes smelling fresher for longer.
Much like antibacterial odor protection, we can make a compelling sustainability case for the widespread adoption of technologies like Polygiene OdorCrunch. At the same time, environmental odor control solutions also enhance user comfort and self-confidence while reducing the effort required to maintain apparel.
For many years, professional athletes have understood that body temperature plays a critical role in sporting performance and found ways to regulate it. Now, we’re seeing the inclusion of thermoregulatory and cooling technologies in the general consumer market. Polygiene® StayCool is the most important and effective of these technologies.
Designed to enhance moisture-wicking capabilities to facilitate improved evaporation and more effective cooling, the solution also features a moisture-activated thermo-reactive polymer matrix that activates upon contact with sweat and cools the fabric between 2 – 3°C (4.3 – 5.4°F). This produces a long-lasting cooling effect that keeps users feeling light, dry, and comfortable throughout the day.
Cooling technologies are valuable in technical clothing intended for high-intensity sports and activities, as well as any hot and humid environment. This means you’re likely to see it in summer apparel, outdoor sportswear, cycling gear, and uniforms for workers in hot climates.
With rising global temperatures and more frequent heatwaves, cooling fabrics are critical for both safety and performance. By dropping the temperature upon contact with sweat, Polygiene® StayCool can also help reduce perspiration, making users more confident and comfortable at work and during day-to-day activities.
Biodegradable fabrics feature natural fibers or engineered polymers that break down under composting conditions, so the clothes return to the earth without contaminating it with microplastics. Adopting biodegradable textiles will be a significant move towards a more circular and sustainable textile industry.
Biodegradable fabrics can be used in activewear, casualwear, and high-end fashion. Essentially, they’re well-suited to any textile application and are a fantastic option for eco-conscious consumers and progressive fashion brands.
Biodegradable clothing is a tangible solution to one of fashion’s most pressing problems – textile waste and plastic contamination. We’re likely to see the textile sector move towards more sustainable fabrics in a big way over the coming years. Biodegradable fabrics can facilitate that transition.
Currently, augmented reality in the fashion sector is primarily utilized to facilitate Virtual Try-Ons. This enables consumers to overlay digital elements over real-world images to see how apparel will look without having to physically visit a store. It is proving incredibly popular among consumers, who enjoy the process of digital shopping, as well as brands, which are seeing a lower return rate with AR try-ons. In the future, we could see AR clothing expand to include features that interact with AR-enabled wearables, such as glasses, enabling designers to add extra AR-exclusive features to items.
While AR Try-On experiences can be hit or miss depending on how well-designed the apps are, we expect to see them rolled out across a growing number of retailers as physical brick-and-mortar stores decline in importance. For tech-forward shoppers and younger consumers, AR-enabled design could become the norm very soon.
Why it matters in 2025
As the line between digital and physical fashion blurs, AR adds new revenue streams and engagement opportunities, while also helping retailers find alternatives to brick-and-mortar stores.
Smart clothing that integrates with wearable technology facilitates more data gathering and ensures measurements are more accurate. By integrating biometric sensors to monitor heart rate, hydration, muscle activity, and even posture, clothes can become an extension of the digital wearables that a growing number of consumers use to monitor their health and performance.
While initial use cases will likely revolve around professional athletes due to the greater availability of research funding, we are also likely to see wearable clothing emerge in the medical sector. Here, it can be used to monitor existing conditions, identify potential problems, and facilitate rehabilitation.
The wearables market has grown considerably in recent years, with a huge number of consumers now owning a smartwatch. Smart clothing is an additional revenue stream for manufacturers. At the same time, smart clothing could help facilitate a shift towards more preventative healthcare by helping to identify issues early.
Replacing toxic perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), sustainable water-repellent finishes use bio-based or silicon-based coatings to achieve durable water repellency without damaging the environment. In recent years, consumers have become increasingly concerned about the damage caused by PFCs and are refusing to buy PFC-treated designs. Government regulation is expected to catch up soon, and more sustainable finishes may eventually be mandated.
PFCs are primarily used to waterproof outdoor clothing, so the biggest use cases are in the activewear sector. Here, many eco-aware brands have already moved away from toxic treatments and have integrated non-PFC technologies into their technical clothing. However, PFCs remain prevalent, particularly at the budget end of the market.
With global regulation tightening on PFCs, sustainable water repellency is becoming the new industry baseline. Consumers are also more aware of the damage PFCs cause, and their purchasing power will eventually force brands to make the right decision.
PCMs absorb and release heat as they transition between solid and liquid states, helping fabrics better regulate body temperature. When the wearer’s body temperature rises, the PCM absorbs the excess heat and melts, storing the heat energy in the process and keeping the wearer cool. When the wearer’s body temperature drops, the PCM solidifies, releasing the stored heat energy. This ensures temperature fluctuations are mitigated and helps the wearer maintain a more constant body temperature.
Phase change materials can be used in activewear, sportswear, and everyday casual wear to maintain comfortable body temperature, prevent excess sweating, and enhance user confidence.
In 2025, users expect advanced technology in their apparel. PCMs deliver excellent performance clothing benefits, enhancing the value of the garment and enabling manufacturers to distinguish themselves and their products.
With Polygiene® StayFresh, Polygiene® OdorCrunch, and Polygiene® StayCool, Polygiene is at the forefront of textile innovation in 2025. In keeping with our Mindful Living philosophy, we’re driving positive change in the world by creating additive solutions that enhance product sustainability and encourage positive changes in consumer behaviour.
You can learn more about our solutions on our Freshness technologies page.
