Home → Blog → Resources → Clothing Technology Trends to Watch out for in 2026
In recent years, the clothing sector has undergone a profound transformation. Moving away from the fast fashion ethos that has dominated the industry for too long, clothing brands are embracing greater sustainability, advanced textile technologies, and innovative manufacturing methods. Apparel of all kinds is no longer defined primarily by style and price point – performance and durability are now equally important factors.
Whether it’s odor-control base layers for hiking or temperature-regulating sportswear, additive textile solutions are also playing a pivotal role in facilitating this transition. By enabling brands to create garments that perform better, last longer, and have a smaller environmental footprint, these technologies are shaping the future of clothing design.
In this article, we explore the impact of new technologies on various types of clothing, including leisurewear, outdoor apparel, and sports gear. Highlighting existing products that demonstrate the power of emerging textile technologies, we take a comprehensive look at how the clothing sector is changing.
Innovative textile technology is helping the clothing industry tackle some of its most pressing challenges, while also enabling it to take advantage of emerging opportunities. These include:
For consumers, smart clothing technology guarantees real value. For manufacturers, it helps them meet their environmental and sustainability obligations while also ensuring they’re more agile and capable of responding to rapidly changing market conditions.
Antibacterial technology has had a particularly powerful impact on hiking apparel, where it tackles one of the main causes of unpleasant smells. By preventing the growth of odor-causing bacteria, additive antibacterial technologies keep clothing fresher for longer, eliminating the need for frequent washing. This ensures the clothing is well-suited to multi-day use, enhancing comfort and confidence while reducing environmental impact.
Benefits
Product
The Stone Glacier Helio Hoody is a highly breathable and warm synthetic mid-layer designed for all-season use. It features Polygiene® StayFresh antibacterial protection for advanced odor control and a fresher-for-longer feeling, making it ideal for multi-day adventures.
Research has clearly demonstrated the link between body temperature and physical performance, and many athletes now take temperature regulation extremely seriously. On warm days, cyclists regularly wear ice vests before the start of stages, and clothing breathability is a significant concern for all high-performance athletes. Today, technologies like Polygiene® StayCool are taking cooling clothing technologies to the next level. Integrated into textiles during manufacturing, the solution features a thermo-reactive polymer matrix that activates on contact with sweat, cooling the fabric between 2-3°C (4.3-5.4°F) almost instantly.
Having only just been launched, Polygiene StayCool is currently being integrated into the first generation of cooling products. Keep an eye on the Polygiene blog for upcoming announcements about new StayCool-treated products.
In changeable weather conditions or activities where you expect to perspire heavily, quick-drying materials make a considerable difference to comfort. They’re also a practical option for multi-day activities and regular wear, as fast-drying turnaround ensures they’re good to go relatively soon after washing (or if you’re caught in a downpour). While some textiles are naturally quick-drying, many brands are engineering special fabrics to achieve the desired effect. Hydrophobic fibers are used extensively as part of this clothing technology, ensuring the fabric doesn’t absorb moisture, so it can evaporate easily. For this reason, carefully designed polyester blends are a popular choice.
Forloh Men’s Deep Space Half Zip is an award-winning base layer designed for hunting and outdoor use. Guaranteeing warmth and comfort no matter the conditions, the base layer also features dual-action Polygiene StayFresh and OdorCrunch odor control. Its quick-drying capabilities are achieved through the use of NASA-developed textile technology.
As we come to better understand the threats posed by the sun and UV radiation, more brands are integrating solar protection into clothing designs. Consumers are increasingly concerned with sun exposure, and are looking for smart clothing technology that enables them to enjoy beach time without worrying about skin damage and other concerns.
The Women’s O’Neill Polygiene UPF 50+ T-Shirt features a range of innovative technologies, most notably UPF 50+ protection. Boasting a slim fit and a lightweight hybrid knit, it also incorporates moisture-wicking capabilities and Polygiene odor control.
While it may seem counter-intuitive to wear an extra layer during physical exercise, modern lightweight base layers can improve temperature regulation and moisture transfer, keeping you cooler and more comfortable in the process. This is particularly true of advanced base layers that incorporate lightweight mesh weaves and sit tight to the skin. By moving outer layers away from the skin and facilitating evaporative cooling performance, many athletes find they’re better able to manage body temperature.
The GripGrab Ultralight Mesh Short Sleeve Base Layer is a short-sleeve base layer designed specifically for cycling in warm weather. Its featherweight open-weave mesh construction ensures improved breathability and moisture-wicking performance, and a more comfortable feel on hot days.
Moisture-wicking fabrics aren’t new – merino wool has been used for hundreds of years. However, in recent years, manufacturers have drastically improved moisture-wicking performance in synthetic materials. This has made moisture-wicking more affordable, and these materials are now much more common in the leisurewear sector. Moisture-wicking fabrics utilise a process known as capillary action, whereby specially engineered fibers pull sweat away from the skin and spread it across a garment’s outer surface to facilitate quick and easy evaporation. The result is a dryer, cooler, and more comfortable design.
The Como Travel Polo is optimised for absolute comfort without compromising on style. Made from a soft, moisture-wicking fabric, it is ideally suited for long travel days. The crease-resistant design also helps you stay looking your best, no matter what you put it through.
Sports gear gets smelly pretty quickly. All that heavy exercise means a lot of sweating and other associated odors. While many of these smells are the product of bacterial growth, others are caused by particularly odorous molecules, like sulphur. Polygiene® OdorCrunch is designed to eradicate these environmental odors by capturing the molecules responsible and breaking them down for safe release. This makes it the perfect clothing technology for sports equipment and other apparel used in environments where smells are likely to stick to textile fibers, such as kitchens.
Made by one of the biggest names in ice hockey, the CCM Jetspeed FT8 Hockey Gloves feature both Polygiene OdorCrunch and Polygiene StayFresh. As all hockey parents know, getting rid of the notorious post-practice rink stink is a real challenge. Polygiene tech helps prevent odors from developing and reduces the need for washing, making these gloves the most practical and convenient option available.
Clothing manufacturers are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with insulation, making increasingly lightweight designs without compromising heat retention. Today, textile insulation is capable of keeping the wearer warm and comfortable while also integrating other desirable performance attributes, such as excellent breathability. Crucially, the designs boast a remarkably small packdown size, making them more versatile and easier to travel with.
The Mountain Equipment Eclipse Hooded Jacket utilises Pontetorto® Tecnostretch 238 Fleece fabric to provide fantastic thermal performance in a packable design. Ideal for ski tours and cold-weather hikes, it incorporates Polygiene technology and features three zipped pockets, so the wearer enjoys plenty of storage.
With sustainability a concern for both manufacturers and consumers, more brands are looking to reduce the environmental impact of their clothing through clothing technology. This can be achieved by moving away from environmentally-damaging materials, such as intensively grown cotton, and embracing new, more sustainable fibers. While bamboo and linen are excellent natural options, we’re also seeing recycled polyester (rPET) used more frequently.
The Marinepool Ocean Recycled Polo is made from 100% recycled polyester and reflects Marinepool’s commitment to protecting the “spirit of the ocean.” Designed for a lightweight, comfortable fit, the innovative clothing technology of this product boasts all the properties of the classic Marinepool polo but packages them in a sustainable, ocean-friendly design.
Advanced textile technologies and improvements in fabric manufacturing are also helping to usher in a new generation of flexible stretch fabrics. These textiles are ideal for uses where freedom of movement and mobility are essential, such as sports and outdoor activities. By removing obstacles to free movement, the clothing guarantees enhanced comfort and improved performance.
The Keela Outdoors Men’s Trail Pro Trousers are built from the company’s innovative Strech-Tec fabric to ensure they work with the natural movement of the body, rather than against it. Coupled with Polygiene odor protection, this makes them ideally suited to long walks and multi-day hiking.
Today, sustainability is one of the most powerful drivers of innovation in the clothing sector. Consumers are increasingly aware of the environmental cost of clothing – whether it’s the water required to grow crops or fast fashion waste. Consequently, they are actively pursuing environmentally-friendly designs. At the same time, textile manufacturers are facing ever-tighter environmental regulation and many are setting ambitious sustainability targets.
These pressures make technologies like Polygiene StayFresh, which reduces energy use associated with washing and maintaining garments while also improving product durability, a valuable addition to clothing designs.
Advanced manufacturing technologies are also revolutionising clothing production. Robotics, AI-driven design, and on-demand manufacturing approaches enable brands to shift away from traditional business models and embrace agile, sustainable processes that make them more resilient and responsive to consumer trends.
Polygiene partners, Bunker Mentality, are a great example of how forward-thinking brands can adopt progressive clothing manufacturing technologies that reduce textile waste. Its on-demand manufacturing model means it eliminates surplus manufacturing while also enabling it to regularly refresh its designs to meet evolving consumer needs.
Learn more about Polygiene and Bunker Mentality.
Polygiene is a global leader in advanced clothing technologies, helping brands create garments that stay fresher, cooler, and odor-free for longer. Working closely with our partners, we help brands design and launch products that push performance boundaries and deliver greater value for users.
Our groundbreaking Freshness portfolio includes:
All Polygiene solutions are extensively tested, skin-safe, and approved for use in clothing. We are accredited by bluesign, which promotes consumer safety, low-impact manufacturing, and responsible use of resources. We are also certified with the Oeko-Tex Eco-Passport, which supports responsible manufacturing and supply chains.
Contact our expert team today to learn more about Polygiene’s advanced additive textile technologies.
