Home → Blog → Resources → 20 Textile Technology Trends That Are Changing the Textile Industry for the Better
At Polygiene, we believe technological innovation can help us create a better world. We recognize that the textile industry must transition to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach. But we also want it to thrive. Crucially, new technologies enable the textile sector to do both.
With this in mind, we are constantly exploring and analyzing new textile technologies. We know from experience with our own anti-odor Freshness solutions that brands and consumers continually seek new features and qualities that distinguish their clothes, make them stand out, and improve how they look, feel, and perform. From biodegradable textiles to advanced robotics in manufacturing, a whole host of innovations are changing the way textile brands do business. A comprehensive understanding of how these developments are influencing the sector gives us a better insight into where it is headed and what it may look like in one, two, or even ten years’ time.
Drawing on our industry insight and expert knowledge, we created this guide to the key textile technology trends that are changing the industry for the better.
Textile technology is advancing rapidly. Brands announce exciting developments regularly, making it a challenge to narrow it down to a select few technologies. However, ultimately, our team settled on 20 core technology trends transforming the textile industry.
Antimicrobial additives are changing how brands think about textile design by ensuring fabrics stay fresh between washes. As many of the unpleasant odors on our clothes result from bacterial growth, antimicrobial additives stop smells at the source and enable consumers to wear items more and wash them less frequently. In turn, this extends products’ expected lifespans and makes them much more sustainable.
Our industry-leading Polygiene StayFresh™ solution is an excellent example. Based on silver ion technology, the solution’s active ingredient is silver chloride, a salt that occurs naturally in soil and water. Skin-safe and capable of providing antibacterial protection for a product’s entire lifespan, Polygiene StayFresh prevents bacterial growth, keeping textiles odor-free in the process. Capable of reducing a garment’s overall environmental impact by a third, Polygiene StayFresh is helping fashion brands usher in a new age of sustainable design.
While natural fibers have always been popular, it’s fair to say that synthetic fibers now dominate large parts of the textile industry, particularly when it comes to low-cost or performance wear. In 2025, we expect a shift back towards natural textiles. But not necessarily those brands relied on in the past. While cotton, silk, wool, and linen will all continue to play a prominent role in textile manufacturing, a new generation of plant-based natural fibers will also emerge.
Broadly, we can divide these new textile technologies into two categories – those made from plants grown for the express purpose of producing textiles and those derived from plant-based waste products created in other manufacturing processes. Cactus, jute and seaweed are good examples of plants that fit into the first category and bananas, olives and hemp fall into the second. As these are natural fibers, they tend to be better for the environment. The fact that some are manufactured from by-products further enhances their sustainability. While it is unlikely that any of these new plant-based textiles will be manufactured in sufficient quantities to replace or overtake any of the current top crop, we expect to see their market share grow.
New manufacturing technologies (some of which we will explore in greater detail later in this article) are allowing textile manufacturers and fashion brands much greater flexibility in their manufacturing processes. When combined with digital design solutions that enable consumers to quickly and easily propose personalized design features, these technologies should facilitate greater customization in the textile industry and make unique, highly personal textile products more affordable and accessible.
While the cost of facilitating greater customization means the trend will predominately influence the upper end of the textile industry – those brands producing higher-value items – we should see it trickle down to more affordable brands, too. The growth of e-commerce platforms that cater to customizable textile printing has demonstrated that the demand is there, and it is only a matter of time before more prestigious brands begin incorporating personalization technologies into their product offerings.
Digital printing is a textile technology trend that has already had a significant impact on the textile industry, changing the way brands apply patterns and designs to fabrics. However, new developments in digital printing technology are drastically improving print quality, efficiency and cost, allowing for more intricate designs without compromising the overall finish. At the same time, they are reducing waste and contributing to greater sustainability in the printing process.
Many of these changes are being driven by improved inks that are more vibrant and durable but less harmful to the environment. Innovative print heads are also allowing for more precise and quicker printing. Finally, AI technology is being incorporated into print systems, facilitating automated maintenance and print error prediction – both of which reduce overall printing costs.
Despite their best efforts, many high-end brands are struggling to combat a flourishing fashion black market. Fake designer goods are still being produced in astounding quantities, affecting these brands’ bottom lines, intellectual property and reputations. While many consumers purchase illegitimate goods knowing that they are not authentic, many buy believing them to be real. When they inevitably fail to meet expectations, the brand suffers and their image is tarnished.
To counter this, more textile brands are investing in authenticity technologies, such as Addmaster’s Verimaster solution. More effective than traditional verification technologies like holograms and watermarks, which are easy to forge, Verimaster is an anti-counterfeit additive that manufacturers can use to identify authentic consumer goods and that cannot be replicated or reproduced by illicit groups. It can also be used for batch traceability, enabling manufacturers to easily determine the age and origins of a particular product.
In the past, the cost of generating interest and awareness in a brand or product ensured disruptors found it difficult to break into a textile market dominated by big brands with enormous marketing budgets. However, social media and the rise of the influencer have made it easier than ever to spark a buzz and capture the attention of a large number of consumers with a new technology or innovation. While social media is nothing new, businesses are now well-versed in its use, and even the freshest startup knows how to leverage it effectively.
This has given rise to a new generation of textile brands and businesses that can launch successfully with a relatively niche product based on a single (but valuable and effective) innovation. By making it easier for consumers to discover disruptors and removing obstacles to the initial brand launch phase, digital marketing tools and social media are driving rapid innovation in the textile sector and rearing a fresh generation of small but successful fashion brands that bring new and exciting ideas to the table.
Digital technologies are also permeating the textile dyeing sector, where they are enabling more environmentally friendly dyeing techniques that reduce water consumption, energy use and chemical pollution. This promises to revolutionize traditional dyeing techniques and address an aspect of the textile manufacturing process that has struggled with sustainability concerns.
In other areas, dye manufacturers are also incorporating additive technologies into their products and producing recycled dyes with the aim of improving environmental performance. The recent collaboration between Polygiene and Officina+39 is an excellent example of how sustainable dye manufacturing processes and effective additive technologies can combine to deliver outstanding value to consumers and contribute to a more sustainable approach to textile dyeing.
Biodegradable textiles are gaining ground as fashion brands become increasingly interested in sustainability and want to ensure products are environmentally friendly across their entire lifecycle, including end-of-life disposal. Biodegradable textiles are an innovative textile technology that enables consumers to dispose of their clothes safely and sustainably. They’re an excellent alternative to recyclable textiles.
Textiles that do not degrade naturally are usually consigned to landfills, where they remain for a long time. Polyester clothing can take up to 200 years to decompose, depending on fabric quality and thickness (UofW). By developing and utilizing biodegradable textiles, brands address one of the most pressing sustainability issues in the fashion industry.
Brands are also becoming much better at upcycling materials to create new products. Several businesses have launched successful upcycling programs. Patagonia’s Worn Wear initiative is an excellent example. It allows customers to trade in their old Patagonia gear for credit. The clothing is then upcycled for resale.
Some brands are taking things further and basing their entire business model and product range on upcycled items. For instance, Paris ReMade takes high-end designer items and deadstock and repurposes them, creating new products. Renowned for its out-there designs, the brand demonstrates that upcycling is not incompatible with the catwalk.
While 3D printing has been transforming traditional manufacturing processes for several years, the fashion industry was a little slower in recognizing its potential. However, 3D printing has now well and truly arrived, and brands are using it extensively and in a variety of innovative ways.
3D printing is a textile industry technology that allows for incredibly intricate designs, enabling brands to add elaborate decorative embellishments and performance-enhancing features. For instance, 3D printing has considerably impacted trainer design, allowing designers to create lightweight but strong soles by allowing detailed cut-outs.
We are all familiar with wearables—from FitBits to Apple Watches- and they are everywhere. These devices monitor our heart rate, temperature, sleep quality, and other biometrics. Until recently, these wearable devices were typically incorporated into watches, bracelets, or similar accessories. Now, smart textiles are taking their place.
Featuring an array of tiny sensors, smart textiles can monitor the wearer’s health metrics or external conditions, providing consumers with important information and feedback. We could soon see a t-shirt that alerts the wearer when they need to apply sunscreen or records their daily exercise. This textile technology is already widely used in medical and military applications. Over the next few years, we expect it to become more common in everyday consumer clothing, becoming one of the fastest-growing textile technology trends.
When we sweat, the damp, dark conditions make textiles the perfect breeding ground for odor-producing bacteria. Fabrics also soak up environmental odors, like body odor, smoke, and cooking smells. That’s why our fitness clothing or workwear gets smelly pretty quickly. Clothes that smell bad also affect our comfort and self-confidence, often preventing us from fully focusing and fulfilling our potential.
Fortunately, new anti-odor additives offer a solution. While antibacterial solutions, like Polygiene StayFresh, tackle those odors caused by bacteria, Polygiene OdorCrunch™ attacks environmental smells. It does so using natural silica particles. These silica particles attract the molecules responsible for environmental smells (most notably sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen), absorb them, and crunch them, breaking them down and releasing them.
Nanotechnology concerns itself with the tiny. It refers to technologies that are 1 to 100 nanometres in size and we are only just starting to exploit its potential in textiles. Broadly speaking, nanotechnology brands use nanotechnology to improve textile performance. For instance, designers can integrate specific nanoparticles into textiles to improve certain performance characteristics. They could make them more water-resistant or enhance the UV protection they provide the wearer.
Combined with existing antimicrobial solutions, nanotechnology is a new textile technology that could usher in a new age of self-cleaning fabrics. This would reduce the amount of washing required and extend a product’s expected lifespan.
The concept of the circular economy is everywhere, pervading all industries and influencing all manufacturing organizations. The textile industry is no exception. In a closed-loop circular economy, businesses limit the amount of material, energy, and other components entering or leaving the manufacturing cycle. This places greater emphasis on recycling, reusing, and renewable energy sources.
In textiles, several technologies are improving brands’ abilities to implement closed-loop systems. While we have already mentioned upcycling, chemical recycling techniques are another good example. They enable manufacturers to break textiles down into raw components, which can then be used to produce new fibers, reducing their reliance on new, virgin resources.
We are also seeing advancements in hydrophobic textile technology. This kind of solution improves fabric water repellency and prevents textiles from absorbing moisture. As you might expect, the sports and outdoor industries are particularly interested in this technology.
However, we can also use hydrophobic technology to equip products with self-cleaning properties. Hydrophobic coatings cause water droplets to roll off surfaces. As they do, the drops carry away accumulated dirt and debris, keeping the item clean and reducing the amount of washing required.
While brick-and-mortar stores still play a critical role in the clothing, fashion, and textile industries, digital technologies and sales tools are revolutionizing how consumers approach shopping. Augmented reality apps enable customers to see how clothes will look and fit before making a purchasing decision, so they don’t even have to leave their homes to try on outfits.
At the same time, body-scanning technologies ensure customers get the right size every time, reducing returns, making for a more streamlined experience, and improving customer satisfaction. As this new textile technology develops, we can expect to see it used to facilitate bespoke tailoring and personalized designs, too.
AI is everywhere right now – including the textile industry. We anticipate it affecting the sector in two main ways. First, AI will play a role in analyzing consumer behavior, trends, and preferences, helping brands identify market movements and opportunities. They can use this information to inform textile design and development, limiting costly design failures and better meeting consumer demand.
Second, AI will help textile businesses optimize manufacturing processes and improve efficiency. Again, this will reduce overall operating costs by reducing resource use and minimizing manufacturing errors. Savings made via innovative AI textile technology can then be invested in other areas.
Synthetic and lab-grown materials are also changing how we think about natural resources and our relationship to traditional textile crops, such as cotton. The ability to synthesize new materials and produce them at scale in a controlled environment means that we do not require the harmful pesticides and chemicals used to grow natural fibers and can better manage our resource use.
Lab-grown materials also enable us to create fibers with desirable qualities and performance characteristics. For instance, we can bioengineer synthetic spider silk that is stronger, lighter, and more durable than traditional fibers. We can create textiles that perform better in extreme heat or cold or respond to specific environmental conditions, such as high humidity.
Finally, synthetic, lab-grown materials give us greater control over how a textile looks, feels, and interacts with other fibers. It allows brands to create entirely new designs that break the rules associated with traditional fibers and gives them much more creative freedom.
With the emergence of a truly global economy and the promotion of a fast fashion philosophy, much of the Global North’s traditional textile manufacturing emigrated to countries in the Global South, where it was cheaper to produce. However, this has resulted in concerns over ethical labor practices and sustainability.
In recent years, advanced robotics seems to have overcome one of the main obstacles preventing textile manufacturing from returning to the Global North – cost. Though the initial investment required is significant, robotics in manufacturing allows for low-cost, ethically responsible textile production. As a result, we are seeing some innovative brands set up new manufacturing facilities in countries that lost their textile sector decades ago.
Knowing where materials come from and how they move through the manufacturing process is essential for sustainability. How can a business claim a product is ethical if we do not know how they source their raw materials? In the past, supply chain transparency was a complex issue, and there was little transparency.
Today, organizations such as bluesign® and OEKO-TEX® assess, monitor, and accredit companies seeking to promote their sustainable processes. However, brands are also considering blockchain technology as a potential solution. Blockchain technology facilitates secure and transparent tracing, helping us track materials as they move through the supply chain. While this makes it easier to assess whether a product truly is ethically produced, it also reduces opportunities for counterfeiting.
Emphasizing performance, comfort, and sustainability, Polygiene solutions are a fantastic example of how you can leverage innovative textile technology to improve products, offer consumers better value, and distinguish your brand. Whether you want to integrate Polygiene StayFresh, Polygiene OdorCrunch, or both into your textiles, the process is relatively simple and easy to implement.
Both solutions are added to textiles at the point of manufacture, so the additive permeates the material and is IN the fabric rather than on it. This prevents leaching and ensures the product benefits from 24/7 anti-odor protection for its entire lifespan. Our technologies are entirely skin-safe, compliant with the EU’s REACH legislation, and certified by both bluesign® and OEKO-TEX.
By tackling odors at the source, Polygiene solutions reduce the washing required to keep products fresh and smell-free, drastically reducing their environmental impact. An excellent way to make your products more sustainable, the solutions also save end-users valuable time and money while helping them stay comfortable and confident throughout the day.
Learn more or reach out to the Polygiene team if you have any questions or want to discuss incorporating Polygiene into your products.
